[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 10 (Thursday, January 16, 2020)]
[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.

                          ____________________