Rinehart leads with passion and purpose
For Shelley Rinehart, San Jacinto College became more than a place to earn a degree — it’s where she found purpose and built a career guiding countless others toward success.
In fall 1991, fresh out of Pasadena High School, she became a San Jacinto College student. After a rocky start during her first semester, she decided to pause and work full time for a few years.
With encouragement from her husband, the time finally felt right to give it another try, this time full speed ahead.
“Eventually, I quit working and became a full-time student,” she said. “I was active in student organizations, specifically the Texas State Teachers Association. At the time, I wanted to be an early childhood teacher.”
Rinehart graduated in summer 1998 with a social sciences degree and started at the University of Houston–Clear Lake that fall. She participated in San Jacinto College’s fall commencement, wanting to celebrate a milestone that meant a lot to her.
While pursuing her education degree, Rinehart soon realized her passion lay elsewhere.
“I became very active at UHCL in student government,” she said. “I had a mentor that was our student government advisor who saw something in me that I didn't see in myself, and she had a profound impact on me.”
While working on her graduate project, Rinehart returned to San Jacinto College for an internship designing a leadership challenge program, which became her capstone and confirmed her desire to work in higher education.
In 2002, she joined the College as a retention specialist, helping students stay enrolled and launching mandatory new student orientation. She also spearheaded the College’s first student success centers. Later, as director of educational planning and counseling, she oversaw advising, counseling, disability services, and more. As dean of student development, she took on broader leadership of admissions, dual credit, veteran centers, and additional student services.
“That's where I started my career, and I just really wanted to give back the same experience that I received,” Rinehart said. “Dedication to school and being an active student leader really changed my life and helped shape me into the person I am today.”
Now in her 23rd year at San Jacinto College, Rinehart serves as assistant vice chancellor of instructional and support program efficacy, building industry partnerships, aligning workforce programs, and connecting technical students with career and professional growth opportunities. She believes in creating space for innovation and supporting her team through challenges and triumphs.
Rinehart credits her success to the strong support and mentorship she received early on and has since made it her mission to do the same for others.
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.
