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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E45]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONGRATULATING DR. BRENDA HELLYER, CHANCELLOR OF SAN JACINTO COLLEGE
______
HON. BRIAN BABIN
of texas
in the house of representatives
Thursday, January 16, 2020
Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate an exceptional
educator, San Jacinto College Chancellor Dr. Brenda Hellyer, on
receiving the prestigious Quasar Award for Economic Development
Excellence from the Bay Area Houston Partnership (BAHEP). BAHEP
presents its renowned Quasar Award to an outstanding elected official
or business leader who has demonstrated a strong and continual effort
to support the business foundations of the greater Bay Area Houston
communities.
Dr. Hellyer grew up in Hays, Kansas, a small town of nearly 12,000 in
the heart of wheat and cattle country. She is the second of four
children--three girls and a boy. Her father was a truck driver for
Rainbow Bread and later served as a custodian at the local elementary
school. Her mother was a housewife until her youngest sister started
school, and then began a career as a school cook and baker.
Dr. Hellyer earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Fort
Hays State University, and both her master's degree in business
administration and a doctorate in community college leadership from the
University of Texas at Austin. She received the Distinguished Graduate
Award from the College of Education at the University of Texas at
Austin in spring 2009. Dr. Hellyer is also a Certified Public
Accountant (CPA) licensed in Texas. While in college, she received many
scholarships that helped finance her education and credits her success
to the generosity of University donors.
Working for Fortune 500 companies in accounting and finance,
eventually led Dr. Hellyer down to Houston where she met her husband,
Rusty. Together, Rusty and Brenda worked with several small businesses
they owned in the Deer Park and Pasadena communities. She strongly
believes in serving the community, and her first involvement with San
Jacinto College was as a volunteer with the San Jacinto College
Foundation.
Since 2009, Dr. Hellyer has served as Chancellor of San Jacinto
College, a notable Houston institution with nearly 30,000 students,
four primary campuses, and an annual budget of $252 million. Her
involvement with the College began in 1996 as an inaugural director for
the San Jacinto College Foundation. She later served in a number of
executive positions at the college, including Executive Vice President
for Resource Development, Vice Chancellor for Fiscal Affairs, Chief
Financial Officer, and Executive Vice Chancellor.
After becoming Chancellor of San Jacinto College in May 2009, Dr.
Hellyer led a rigorous strategic planning process to transform the
image of the college. During her tenure, the college has made major
infrastructure renovations and developed award-winning programs
including its Maritime Training and Technology Center, Generation Park
Campus, Aerospace Training facility, and the LyondellBasell Center for
Petrochemical, Energy, and Technology.
These efforts have transformed San Jacinto College into a modern
community college, offering students education in collaborative
classrooms and hands on training with equipment they will encounter as
they move into the workforce.
Madam Speaker, I thank Dr. Hellyer for her dedication as Chancellor
of San Jacinto College, and for her outstanding community engagement in
the greater Bay Area.
____________________