A Q&A with Dr. DeRhonda McWaine
Dr. DeRhonda McWaine is the dean of arts and sciences at the San Jacinto College Central Campus. January 2026 will mark her 25th year with the College. She believes three words best describe her role at San Jac: support, development, and innovation.
Describe what you do for the College.
Supporting students has always been at the core of what I do. Having previously served in student services for a decade, I have always been aware of what our students bring to the table. They are intelligent, resourceful, and willing to work hard for their education. For that reason, I have always remained focused on student success when making decisions. As it relates to development, I really enjoy developing, coaching, and mentoring others. I had the opportunity to develop students in the classroom when I was a full-time faculty member. I’ve served as a mentor to many faculty and staff across the district, and I believe my role is not only to support colleagues but to also develop other leaders. As for innovation, I often use that in my role as I strategically approach both opportunities and challenges. I also encourage others to think outside of the box and to experiment and try new approaches because that is the best way to learn.
We believe every employee contributes to the College’s goal of student success. How do you feel your work supports this?
I search for opportunities to help and support others. If that means serving on a committee to hire new talent, I am willing. If an individual wants to strategize and brainstorm regarding a new initiative to try with students or develop a new program that contributes to student success, let’s meet and chat. I also believe in supporting our community because the surrounding community represents our students and their families so being engaged with the community is a high priority for me.
What keeps you at San Jac?
I have been with San Jac for nearly 25 years. What keeps me here are the relationships I have developed with others, all the professional growth opportunities I have been afforded, the ability to be creative, and the collaborative environment that exists. I also enjoy being surrounded by people who also care about students, each other, and being the best at what they do. All those factors keep me motivated and are the reasons why I have chosen to remain at San Jac.
Favorite thing about your job?
Working with my husband, Lamar. We have both been at San Jac about the same amount of time and working together has always worked well for us. Also, getting to know people on an individual level is another favorite. I think everyone brings something unique to the table and the more I learn about a person, the more intrigued I am about their individual story.
What did you want to be when you were a kid?
I always thought I would be a lawyer. From a very young age, whenever someone asked me “What do you want to be when you grow up," that was always my response. However, I distinctively remember taking a psychology class in the 9th grade, and that changed everything for me. From that moment, I knew I would pursue a PhD in psychology, and that decision was 100% the right choice for me.
What is your most tried-and-true method of stress relief during the workday?
I definitely have a routine that I have implemented. I’m very good at keeping my stress level low and at a minimum, and that is intentional. If my day starts in my office, the first thing I do when I enter is pick out a scent for my diffuser (my favorite scents are rose, jasmine, lavender, and chamomile). Once the diffuser is going, I find music to listen to. The activities for the day will determine how I choose music. If my stress level happens to be elevated at the time, I’ll listen to something slow, mellow, and soothing. If my day is full of exciting activities that I am looking forward to, I am going to listen to something fast and upbeat. If I need to completely focus, it will probably be music without words (instrumental), so music is always playing in my office. I always start with setting a positive environment to keep me in the right frame of mind. As soon as you walk into my office, you will see a large wooden sign that says “Relax.” That sign serves as a reminder to me and to anyone else who happens to drop by.
What is something that never fails to make you laugh out loud?
I would say the conversations I have with my family (Lamar, Sierra, and Logan). I think they are the funniest people ever but in very different ways. They tell jokes and engage in friendly banter to elicit laughs, and it works every time. They get my quirky sense of humor, and each one knows how to make me laugh.
What was your favorite college/university class, and why?
I took a Greek Mythology class as an undergraduate, and it has remained one of my favorite courses. I not only enjoyed the content and topic in general, but the professor also included a lot of theoretical and philosophical discussions that I found fascinating. Taking that class was 100% for my enjoyment and really filled my need just to learn something new.
What is something others would be surprised to learn about you?
I absolutely love to sew. It enables me to be creative, to completely focus on a singular activity (goal), and in the end, I have produced something that is useful and practical. I often wear some of my creations to work. It all started in college. One day, I decided to teach myself how to sew. I bought a sewing machine and just practiced until I actually knew what I was doing! I will say in the past year, I have returned to it and it is not only enjoyable but also helps me to decompress at the end of the day. I have made dress suits, pant suits, jackets, shirts, skirts, dresses, matching outfits; basically, any type of clothing you can think of. I really like sewing invisible zippers and pockets because it is a challenge to get it just right, so I do a small victory dance each time I'm successful.
What is something you feel is essential to living your best life?
Having a close relationship with my husband, Lamar, and my two children, Sierra and Logan. I am at my best with them because I know regardless of what the situation is, they are always there to lift me up and support me. So, for me, the ingredient to living my best life is the close relationship I have with my family.
Write your memoir in six words.
She always gives her very best.
About San Jacinto College
Surrounded by monuments of history, evolving industries, maritime enterprises of today,
and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has served the people of East Harris
County, Texas, since 1961. The College is ranked second in the nation among more than
1,100 community colleges, as designated by the Aspen Institute and was named an Achieving
the Dream Leader College of Distinction in 2020. As a Hispanic-Serving Institution
that spans five campuses, plus an online college, San Jacinto College serves approximately
45,000 credit and non-credit students annually. It offers more than 200 degrees and
certificates across eight major areas of study that put students on a path to transfer
to four-year institutions or enter the workforce. The College is fiscally sound, holding
bond ratings of AA+ by Standard & Poor’s and Aa2 by Moody’s. San Jacinto College is
accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
