Administrative and Academic Officers Organizational Chart
Dr. Laurel Williamson
Deputy Chancellor and College President
Phone 281-998-6184
Email: laurel.williamson@sjcd.edu
A lifelong learner, Dr. Laurel V. Williamson is an innovative, visionary leader with over 25 years of career experience in education and leadership in a community college setting. She is a respected leader, instructor, and administrator with success in budget management, grant development, strategic planning, accreditation, curriculum and program development, and community outreach. She has a substantial background in overseeing programs in professional/technical, academic, and community and continuing education and in leading staff development and training.
Dr. Williamson has served as academic officer of Valencia Community College in Florida and Lower Columbia College in Washington. She also served as Director of Curriculum Development at Southwest Mississippi Community College.
Dr. Williamson is a member of the Board of Directors of the Victorian Interdisciplinary Studies Association of the Western United States. She holds a doctorate in English Literature and has published essays and poetry. She is a veteran of the U.S. Army.
Ms. Teri Crawford
Vice Chancellor, External Relations, and Executive Director, San Jacinto College Foundation
Phone: 281-998-6152
Email: teri.crawford@sjcd.edu
Ms. Crawford has nearly 20 years of experience in marketing/communications management and started her career as a graphic designer, editorial assistant, and photographer. Through her leadership, Mrs. Crawford has implemented branding and advertising campaigns, streamlined marketing operations, initiated the communication plan for the passage of two bond referendums, and led an effort to redesign the College website. Ms. Crawford has seen two pieces of legislation signed by the President at the Federal level and works extensively with state and local elected officials in her government affairs role.
Ms. Crawford has an A.S. in Business Administration from Arapahoe Community College, a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina – Charlotte, and a MBA from Liberty University.
Dr. Allatia Harris
Vice Chancellor, Strategic Initiatives, Workforce Development, Community Relations and Diversity
Phone: 281-459-7140
Email: allatia.harris@sjcd.edu
Dr. Allatia Harris was named Vice Chancellor of Strategic Initiatives – Workforce, Community and Diversity in March 2013, after serving successfully for five years as the president of the North Campus of San Jacinto College. In her current role as Vice Chancellor of Strategic Initiatives, she works with business and industry leaders to ensure San Jacinto College workforce programs are aligned with the varied industry needs of the greater Houston region. She chairs the Workforce and Education committee of the Economic Alliance – Houston Port Region and serves on the Workforce Development Committee of the East Harris County Manufacturers Association. Her work with the Greater Houston Partnership’s UpSkill Houston, the Aspen Institute’s Communities That Work Partnership, and the Texas Talent Pipeline Management (TPM) have greatly influenced her efforts with workforce development.
She serves with an array of community organizations that increase access and opportunity for San Jacinto College’s diverse student body. She is on the Board of United Way Thrive and BakerRipley Cleveland Campus. She is currently Board Chair of the North Channel Area Chamber of Commerce and a board member of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce. She is past president of North Shore Rotary and a Paul Harris Fellow.
Nationally, Dr. Harris serves on the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Commission on Diversity, Inclusion and Equity. She is a current board member and past president of the American Association for Women in Community Colleges.
Dr. Harris holds a doctorate in educational administration with a specialization in community college leadership from the University of Texas where she has been recognized as a Distinguished Graduate. She has pursued doctoral studies at the University of Southern California in communication, and earned master’s and bachelor’s degrees in speech communication, both from the University of North Texas. Dr. Harris came to San Jacinto College from the Dallas County Community College District (DCCCD), where she began her career as a faculty member and later served in a variety of roles at several colleges and in the system office.
Dr. J. Aaron Knight
Provost
Phone: 281-998-6150 x3204
Email: aaron.knight@sjcd.edu
Dr. Aaron Knight began his tenure as San Jacinto College South Campus Provost on July 20, 2020. A native Houstonian, he has more than 25 years of experience in higher education.
Dr. Knight began his career as an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Texas A&M International University in Laredo, Texas. He spent the last 20 years at Houston Community College where he served as Government Instructor, Program Coordinator, Department Chair, and Interim Dean of Academics, Northeast College. For the past five years, he held the system-wide position of Dean, Social and Behavioral Sciences.
Dr. Knight is a recipient of the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Award for teaching and has a demonstrated commitment to building pathways to advance students success. He has extensive experience in curriculum development, fostering partnerships between instructional leaders and advisors, dual credit, and championing the use of Open Education Resources (OER).
Dr. Knight holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Sam Houston State University, as well as a Ph.D. in Political Science from Texas A&M University at College Station. In his field of expertise, he has been a contributing editor, reviewer, and author of textbooks and has written articles and book reviews in refereed Political Science journals. Over the years he has authored or edited numerous instructional supplements as well.
Dr. Alexander Okwonna
Provost
Phone 281-998-6150 x7315
Email: alexander.okwonna@sjcd.edu
Dr. Alexander Okwonna began as Provost of the San Jacinto College North Campus on July 20, 2020. Prior to being named to the Provost position, he served as the Dean of Natural Science and Health Science at the College’s South Campus. A transformational leader, Dr. Okwonna had primary leadership responsibility for curriculum and instruction strategy. He oversaw the operation of five science programs (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geology, and Engineering) and six allied health programs (Associate Degree Nursing, Vocational Nursing, Pharmacy Technician, Physical Therapy Assistant, Occupational Therapy Assistant, and Personal Training).
Dr. Okwonna is a registered pharmacist and has over 17 years of experience in community and hospital settings. He has also served in the roles of Pharmacy Technology Professor, Pharmacy Program Director, and Health Sciences department Chair, in addition to his eight years in the United States Army as a heavy construction equipment operator.
Active in a number of professional, health, industry, and community organizations, Dr. Okwonna serves on the Pearland Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital Advisory Council. He is also a board member for Texas Association of Black Personnel in Higher Education (TABPHE) and American Association of Blacks in Higher Education (AABHE). In addition, Dr. Okwonna is a proud member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Dr. Okwonna has received several awards including the U.S. Army Certificate of Achievement for Outstanding Performance as Class Leader, San Jacinto College’s Distinguished Faculty Award, League for Innovation in Community College’s John & Suanne Roueche Excellence Award, and Houston Community College’s Distinguished Alumni Award.
Dr. Okwonna is a proud community college graduate. He received an Associate of Science degree from Houston Community College and a Doctorate in Pharmacy from Texas Southern University.
Ms. Sandra Ramirez
Vice Chancellor, Human Resources, Organizational and Talent Effectiveness
Phone: 281-991-2648
Email: sandra.ramirez@sjcd.edu
Ms. Ramirez was named Vice Chancellor, Human Resources, Organizational and Talent Effectiveness in January 2019. With more than 20 years of experience, Ramirez oversees all aspects of human resources, including organizational and talent development, talent acquisition, employment, compensation, benefits, employee relations, performance management, HRIS, and records management.
Prior to her appointment as vice chancellor, Ramirez served seven years as vice president of human resources at San Jacinto College. In that role, she was accountable for the oversight of recruitment, selection, employment, compensation, benefits, employee relations, performance management, HRIS, and records management. Ramirez was integral in the College’s 10-year accreditation reaffirmation by serving as a Task Force lead to support and comprehensively document the College’s compliance with SACSCOC (The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges) requirements. Ramirez and her team led the enterprise-wide implementation of a talent management system at the College that includes an applicant tracking system, recruiting/onboarding and performance management modules; and implemented process improvements through a team project affording a reduction in operating costs by revitalizing the College’s ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system through various technological enhancements in exit and transfer workflow and web-time entry.
Ramirez holds a Master of Arts in Human Resources from the University of Houston – Clear Lake and received her Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resources from the University of Texas at San Antonio. She holds both Senior Professional Human Resources (SPHR) and Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) certifications and is also a Six Sigma Green Belt.
Mr. Rob Stanicic
Chief Technology Innovations Officer
Phone: 281-929-4673
Email: rob.stanicic@sjcd.edu
Mr. Rob Stanicic is the chief technology innovations officer for San Jacinto College. Mr. Stanicic began serving San Jacinto College in July of 2006. Through his leadership, Mr. Stanicic has improved the College’s digital presence and the technology available for students and staff through many initiatives that include the revitalization of the College’s contact center, website, online student services and information systems, classroom technology in new and existing building construction, and underlying technical infrastructure.
Mr. Stanicic has over 20 years of international experience as a management consultant and senior executive for professional services firms including Arthur Andersen and Ernst & Young. He has worked extensively across the globe delivering enterprise-wide business solutions that leverage emerging technologies. His work has included business strategy development, information technology innovation, and organization transformation.
He holds an MBA from Oxford University in England, and bachelor’s degrees in Commerce and Information Technology from the University of Queensland-Australia and Queensland University of Technology-Australia, respectively.
Mr. Van Wigginton
Provost
Phone 281-542-2000
Email: van.wigginton@sjcd.edu
Mr. Van A. Wigginton is one of three San Jacinto College campus provosts. Mr. Wigginton began his career at San Jacinto College as a government professor in 1995. Since that time, he has served as the department chair for the department of social sciences and dean of liberal arts and sciences.
Mr. Wigginton has worked closely with local independent school districts (ISDs) in developing and expanding the College’s dual credit offerings. He also coordinated the GEAR Up Program with Pasadena ISD and is active in supporting numerous ISD partnership programs. He has also taught as a lecturer in political science at the University of Houston-University Park. Mr. Wigginton served on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Undergraduate Education Advisory Committee that serves as a forum for problem solving and the generation of good ideas to improve undergraduate education. Mr. Wigginton currently serves on the Texas Chiropractic College Board of Regents.
He has also served on the San Jacinto YMCA Board of Directors. He is a graduate of Leadership Deer Park sponsored by the Deer Park Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Wigginton has also served as Chairman of the La Porte Bayshore Chamber of Commerce for 2017 and President of the Rotary Club of La Porte.
Mr. Wigginton holds a doctorate in jurisprudence from the University of Houston. He has also pursued graduate studies in political science at the University of Houston, and earned a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor’s degree in government, both from Lamar University.
Ms. Teri Zamora
Vice Chancellor, Fiscal Affairs
Phone: 281-998-6306
Email: Teri.Zamora@sjcd.edu
Teri Zamora was named Vice Chancellor of Fiscal Affairs in January 2018. She came to San Jacinto College from Houston Community College (HCC) where she served as senior vice chancellor of finance and administration.
In her role at San Jacinto College, Zamora oversees facilities services, contracts and purchasing, auxiliary services, internal audit, safety and risk management, budgets, accounting and financial services, grants management, and the police department.
Mrs. Zamora has more than 20 years of increasingly responsible senior leadership experience in higher education. At Houston Community College, she was at the center of reimagining the institution as the college moved through a complete transformation process. She has also served at Paris Junior College as vice president of business services and in the Texas State Technical College System as executive vice president of financial and administrative services and associate vice chancellor of institutional research.
Mrs. Zamora embraces her role in higher education, and is excited about the role of the community college in impacting the lives of our students. She works to further the community college influence by serving as President of the Texas Association of Community College Business Officers (TACCBO), and sat for many years on the Community College Constituency Council of the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO).
Prior to entering higher education, Zamora had a career as a controller in the maquiladora industry in Mexico, and was also part owner of her family’s retail business for many years.
She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of North Texas, and a Master of Accountancy from the University of Texas – Pan American.