Flickinger to retire from San Jacinto College Board of Trustees

PASADENA, Texas – San Jacinto College Board of Trustees Chair Marie Flickinger is retiring from the Board after dedicating nearly 30 years to the institution’s success. Flickinger announced her retirement at the Nov. 4 Board meeting.

“I have been fortunate in my lifetime to do a lot of things, but what has given me the most satisfaction has been serving on the San Jacinto College Board of Trustees,” said Flickinger. “When you serve alongside individuals who are passionate, dedicated, and focused on student success, it makes you feel good about the work you’ve done. I know that my fellow trustees will continue the important work and that this institution will continue to be a leader in higher education.”

In 1995, Flickinger was elected as the first woman on the San Jacinto College Board of Trustees. She has championed San Jacinto College since day one, putting students and employees at the heart of every decision. During Flickinger’s nearly three decades on the Board of Trustees, the College has grown its enrollment, added new campuses, unified as one College, increased its programs, simplified tuition, and become one of the top 10 community colleges in the nation.

Flickinger helped implement policy that aligned processes for more seamless admissions and ensured College personnel could focus on student success strategies. As one of the first Board members to attend the Achieving the Dream Trustee Institute, she encouraged the College to pursue and maintain designation as an Achieving the Dream Leader College. In addition, she helped pass bond referendums in 2008 and 2015 for infrastructure, security, and facility upgrades College-wide.

“I thank Marie Flickinger for giving close to 30 years of service to San Jacinto College,” said Dan Mims, San Jacinto College Board of Trustees Member. “Marie’s positive impact on our college is immeasurable and will continue to be felt for years to come. On a personal note, I thank Marie for her mentorship and friendship. Her presence on this Board will be sincerely missed and I thank her for her tireless service.”

In May 2010, the Flickinger Scholarship was established with the San Jacinto College Foundation to help students attend college. To date, the scholarship has assisted 59 students. Flickinger and her husband, David, have supported the Foundation throughout her tenure on the Board as gala sponsors and Promise Partners.

Flickinger has earned numerous awards over the years for her dedication to the community and local schools. In 2018, she received the Governor’s Commission for Women Disaster Relief Award for her work following Hurricane Harvey. Dobie High School inducted her into its Hall of Fame, and in 2015, Pasadena Independent School District named her its Distinguished Citizen.

Statewide, Flickinger humbly accepted the Association of Community College Trustees’ Trustee of the Year recognition in 2013. She is past chair of the Board of the Community College Association of Texas Trustees and the Two-Year College Stakeholder Committee with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

In her professional career, Flickinger co-founded the South Belt-Ellington Leader newspaper, where she currently serves as publisher. She is well known for helping to uncover the impact of the toxic Brio Superfund site. She served on two Mayoral Transition Committees for the City of Houston, and throughout the years, her leadership and humanitarian efforts regionwide and statewide have been recognized. Flickinger’s involvement in the South Belt community also includes coordinating the annual Fourth of July parade and numerous Christmas drives for needy families. Her efforts have helped the South Belt area flourish.

“Marie’s dedication to San Jacinto College will leave a legacy,” said Dr. Brenda Hellyer, San Jacinto College Chancellor. “She genuinely cares about the welfare of our students and employees, and she has helped make this institution what it is today. On behalf of the entire College community, I applaud her commitment and thank her for her nearly 30 years of selfless service to our institution.”

The Marie Spence Flickinger Fine Arts Building on the San Jacinto College South Campus is named in her honor.

Flickinger’s retirement became effective after the Board of Trustees meeting concluded last night. The College will hold a reception in her honor on Tuesday, Dec. 3, from 4 to 6 p.m., in Building S-1 on the San Jacinto College South Campus.

About San Jacinto College
Surrounded by monuments of history, evolving industries, maritime enterprises of today, and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has served the people of East Harris County, Texas, since 1961. The College is one of the top 10 community colleges in the nation as designated by the Aspen Institute and was named an Achieving the Dream Leader College of Distinction in 2020. The College is a Hispanic-Serving Institution that spans five campuses, serving approximately 45,000 credit and non-credit students annually. It offers more than 200 degrees and certificates across eight major areas of study that put students on a path to transfer to four-year institutions or enter the workforce. The College is fiscally sound, holding bond ratings of AA+ by Standard & Poor’s and Aa2 by Moody’s.

For more information about San Jacinto College, visit sanjac.edu.