Bryan Campus Advisory Committee Meeting
Tuesday, October 14, 2025
Location: Meeting Room B, Room 202B, Bryan Administration Building, 2608 E. Villa Maria Rd., Bryan, TX
Meeting Minutes
The Bryan Campus Advisory Committee met on October 14, 2025, in Meeting Room B, Room 202B, located in the Bryan Administration Building at 2608 E. Villa Maria Rd., Bryan, TX.
Committee Members Present
Chair Kenny Lawson, Secretary Jason Cornelius, Mr. John Bush, Mr. Larry Hodges, Mr. Jason Jennings, and Mr. Boyd Sheffield.
Committee Members Absent
Ms. Ginger Carrabine, Ms. Marca Ewers-Shurtleff, and Dr. Tim Harkrider.
Also present at the meeting was Dr. Bryan Merrell, Bryan ISD Deputy Superintendent, on behalf of Ms. Ginger Carrabine.
Representatives of Blinn College
Dr. Mary Hensley, Mr. Leighton Schubert, Mr. Jay Anderson, Dr. Clen Burton, Dr. Becky McBride, Dr. Jimmy Byrd, Mr. Chris Marrs, Dr. Bennie Graves, Mr. Richard Bray, Mr. Craig Jeffrey, Ms. Roxanne Berry, and Ms. Melissa Alvarez.
The meeting was called to order by Mr. Kenny Lawson at 12:20 p.m.
A moment of silence was respectfully given to former advisory committee member Mr. Ron Schmidt, who recently passed away.
Election of Officers
Mr. Kenny Lawson made a motion to re-elect all current officers of the committee, Kenny Lawson as Chair, Mr. Larry Hodges as Vice-Chair, and Mr. Jason Cornelius as Secretary. The motion was seconded by Mr. Boyd Sheffield and approved unanimously.
Approval of Minutes
The minutes from March 18, 2025, meeting were approved with a motion by Mr. Jason Cornelius, seconded by Mr. Boyd Sheffield.
Legislative Update
Presented by Mr. Leighton Schubert, Executive Vice Chancellor
Mr. Schubert provided a brief overview of House Bill 8 and its impact on state funding for community colleges. He gave new updates regarding state appropriations, recent actions taken by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and the tuition and fee freeze implemented by Governor Abbott.
Enrollment Update
Presented by Dr. Becky McBride, Vice Chancellor for Student Services
New Student Registration (NSR) ran from April 15 to August 5, 2025. The NSR events achieved a 90% participation rate among incoming students receiving advising and enrollment support. Student Services continues to communicate with prospective students through the use of targeted mailers and email campaigns as well as attending recruitment events around the state.
Bio Technologies Program
Presented by Ms. Roxanne Berry, Program Coordinator/Instructor, Biotechnology Laboratory Science
Ms. Berry discussed the Genetic Engineering and Biomanufacturing programs, highlighting their focus on producing therapeutic products such as cell therapies for use in medical treatments.
She outlined the variety of program offerings, which include an Occupational Skills Award, Level One and Level Two Certificates, an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree, and an Advanced Technical Certificate for students who already hold a related degree. Approximately half of the program's graduates enter the workforce directly, while the other half transfer into bachelor's degree programs. Enrollment data shows that students are nearly evenly split between part-time and full-time, with most earning a Level Two Certificate and/or an AAS degree.
Ms. Berry also shared examples of career outcomes for former students, noting entry level positions such as Clean Room Technician, Solution Preparation Technician, and Quality Assurance Specialist. Some of the local employers hiring graduates from these programs include Fujifilm, ST Genetics, and BioVeritas. Students leave Blinn ready for the workforce.
Architectural Program
Presented by Mr. Craig Jeffrey, Assistant Academic Dean of Arts, Kinesiology, and Agriculture
Mr. Jeffrey provided an update on the Architecture Program at Blinn College, emphasizing its role in advancing education and inspiring design. The program began in Spring 2009, and has experienced steady growth, now serving over 900 students in the fall semester. As the program continues to expand, the need for updated equipment and facilities has increased. Recent enhancements include the expansion of the studio by 900 square feet, the addition of a fabrication lab for model-making and prototyping, and the installation of new dual-monitor workstations.
Mr. Jeffrey noted that he and his team have developed a strong rapport with students, providing ongoing academic advising and mentorship.
Announcements
Presented by Dr. Jimmy Byrd, Executive Dean of the Bryan Campus
Dr. Byrd will confirm and communicate the date of the next Advisory Committee meeting.
With no other business, the meeting was adjourned by Mr. Kenny Lawson at 1:15 p.m.