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Dr. Madeline Burillo-Hopkins received an inheritance of wisdom and education from her parents.
She’s determined to pass it on, not just to her own children and grandchildren, but to as many people as possible.
She’s determined to bring “transformative impact” to students and community members and create “doors of access” as president of Dallas College’s Brookhaven Campus. She started Aug. 12.
As a first-generation college student, Burillo-Hopkins walked through that door, opened by her parents, and said she honors and respects the sacrifices her parents made by continuing to be an instrument of help and change and a voice for others.
“We can’t do it by ourselves … I see all the needs, and I see all the opportunities the college offers to be an agent of transformation,” she said.
She’s familiar with the roads to success in North Texas, having driven up frequently from Houston to visit her grandchildren and daughter in Denton County. She spent the last 25 years climbing the leadership ladder at Houston Community College’s Southwest Campus, serving as president from March 2016 to August 2024, and vice chancellor of workforce from December 2020 to August 2024.
“I don’t need the GPS to get here,” she said with a laugh.
While the move and transition to the Brookhaven campus of Dallas College has been “fast and fabulous,” she said she knows without a doubt that the timing is providential. “I said it will always happen in God’s timing … in my heart, I know he’s guiding my path.”
Dallas Collage was her top choice, both because of the location but also because she understands the change management needed at the school, which in recent years has added bachelor’s degrees in nursing and education among many other changers.
“I was familiar with Dallas College’s transformation from seven different colleges to one accredited institution,” she said. “I’ve been through that. I hopefully can help the chancellor and my colleagues through that.”
That Dallas College is designated a Hispanic-serving institution by the U.S. Department of Education was also a draw for Burillo-Hopkins, because her goal is to support everyone in the community to pursue their education.
It’s important to her because her parents. Her father immigrated from Spain when he was 14 years old to escape the Spanish Civil War. Her mother, who was orphaned with eight siblings when she was 9 years old, was from Puerto Rico.
Burillo-Hopkins grew up in Puerto Rico.
She said her parents passed on their wisdom to her, and she knew a college education would be her inheritance from them.
Helping others achieve upward mobility through education is one of the ways she continues to honor her parents.
“We can’t do it by ourselves,” she said.
The Farmers Branch community and Metrocrest area have welcomed Burillo-Hopkins. She’s already joined Leadership Metrocrest, the Metrocrest Chamber of Commerce’s leadership academy, and met with Tracy Eubanks, CEO of Metrocrest Services, for which Burillo-Hopkins said she is the Dallas College liaison.
“I’m already in love with Farmers Branch and the whole Brookhaven community,” she said. “I feel very welcome to the area by everyone.”
Eubanks said he is very excited that Burillo-Hopkins was chosen as president of Dallas College's Brookhaven College, but that she's the liaison between the college and Metrocrest Services.
"Not only does she the possess the skills required to lead a diverse and growing college, she has a proven record of being able to weave the values and priorities of a college into the fabric of the community that surrounds it. We've been very impressed and encouraged by her passion for underserved communities, not only from an educational perspective but she clearly sees the relationship between providing basic needs such as food and housing with academic success," he said. "Metrocrest Services is convinced the Dr. Bujillo-Hopkins is the right leader at the right time for Dallas College and for our community. We look forward to strengthening our relationship with Dallas College."
Adding more programming for community members and expanding partnerships with community organizations are Burillo-Hopkins’ biggest challenges at the Brookhaven campus.
She listed a range of assets the campus has but she doesn’t think aren’t spoken enough about: Beautiful campus and facilities, college newspaper, award-winning sports teams, the Texas A& M Engineering Academy that allows students to earn an engineering degree from Dallas College’s Brookhaven Campus.
She also pointed out that the campus has three art galleries and a performing arts center that are open to the public.
“We basically need to toot our own horn … Let the community know the great things,” she said.
In addition, there are plans to launch a bachelor’s degree in applied science in artificial intelligence and data analytics by the end of next year, add science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) camps for middle school and high school students and offer technology awareness classes for senior citizens.
She plans to hold community town halls in the spring to invite the community to see the college but also to provide input about what community members would like to see in their campus.
She’s also looking at continuing education and workforce training, which pleased Metrocrest Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Michael Gallops, who was on the committee that interviewed the last two candidates for the Dallas College Brookhaven president.
“She’s very, very strong in workforce development, which is a passion of mine,” he said. “She’s jumped right in. She’s very dedicated. I think she’s going to be a huge asset to this area.”
Dallas College said Burillo-Hopkins is noted for her efforts to raise private sector funds to support students and educational programs and will oversee and help improve workforce training.
“We are thrilled to have Dr. Burillo-Hopkins join Dallas College. Her extensive experience working with community colleges will undoubtedly serve us well as we navigate the evolving landscape of higher education in Texas and beyond,” said Dallas College Chancellor Dr. Justin Lonon.
Burillo-Hopkins said she’s settling in the for the long-haul.
“Listen. I’m not doing this transition again. I’m here to stay. Signed, sealed and delivered,” she said. “I hopefully will retire from Dallas College. All the motives align.”
Now to sell that house in Houston.
