BIOGRAPHY
Brenda A. Rangel, Ed.D., is the assistant dean for the Rice Center for Education, part of the Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies, leading in developing ideas and concepts that further support the strategic goal of the University's PreK-12 educational outreach programs and mission. Brenda provides leadership and strategy for the Center for Education, including managing all Center for Education PreK-12 program team members and directing the creation of new programs or enhancement of existing offerings related to the Center for College Readiness (CCR), School Literacy and Culture (SLC), Summer Pre-College and Rice Education programs. She oversees the campus-wide integration and the comprehensive branding of the University's PreK-12 programs. As the assistant dean, her passion is teaching novice teachers and emerging leaders across the Center for Education portfolio. Additionally, she serves as one of the primary Rice representatives for external PreK-12 partners and co-lead for potential funding opportunities.
Brenda has over 25 years of experience working in Texas' traditional public school systems and open-enrollment charter schools. Her experience includes serving as chief academic officer of an award-winning public charter school system, district area director, performance and continuous improvement manager, principal, bilingual teacher, and middle and high school principal.
Brenda is engaged in the Houston community, mentoring emerging leaders through a group she founded, Latina Leaders Learning Group. In addition, she is a member of the Texas Association of College Technical Educators (TACTE), Consortium of State Organizations for Texas Teacher Education (CSOTTE), Houston Region Teacher Pipeline, Texas Council of Women School Executives, ED Trust Educator Advisory Council and Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA). She volunteers with the Texas MS Foundation and Mariachi Festival Foundation. She is a former board member of the Association of Hispanic School Administrators, Power on Heels and the YMCA Houston.
Brenda was born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley, TX. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Spanish from Sam Houston State University, a Master of Science in Curriculum & Instruction from Houston Baptist University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership & Policy from the University of Texas at Austin.
When not at work or participating in community outreach, Brenda enjoys walking her dog Suki, cycling, and supporting her two children, Miranda, who lives and works in D.C. as a congressional legislative director, and Noah, in his third year of college.