Madeline Burillo-Hopkins, has officially begun her tenure as the president of Dallas College Brookhaven Campus, bringing in a plethora of experience and grand passion for student success to the position. During her first few weeks on campus, Burillo has been seen actively engaging with students and faculty, familiarizing herself with the campus community she now leads.
Burillo, a New York native, grew up in Puerto Rico. She said she was always told by her parents that going to college was an undeniable expectation. “My parents moved us back when I was 4, and from the start, it was clear … I was going to college,” she said. “There was no other option.”
ACADEMIC JOURNEY
After graduating high school, she enrolled at the University of Puerto Rico, first planning to pursue a degree in medicine. However, after facing challenges in her calculus and biology courses, she decided to explore various other fields. “I realized I didn’t have a passion for medicine,” she said. “So I took a semester of trying different courses like sociology, economics and even a swimming class.” It was during this period, she found out what she liked and worked for her. “I found my passion, and I decided to major in economics.”
After completing her bachelor’s degree, she moved to the mainland to pursue her master’s degree where she finished prerequisite courses at Oklahoma State University and earned a Master of Arts in organizational management from the University of Phoenix. While in Oklahoma, she navigated through both cultural and language barriers while taking on a position in the financial aid office, a job that ignited her interest in higher education administration.
Her journey eventually led her to the neighboring state of Texas, where she earned a doctorate in educational leadership at Sam Houston State University. During that time, she balanced full-time work with her studies, often commuting with fellow colleagues to attend classes after a long day at the office. She said the experience not only deepened her commitment to higher education but also equipped her with the tools to advocate for student success at every level.
BEFORE BROOKHAVEN
One evening in Houston, Burillo came upon an article on a Puerto Rican chancellor leading a major college. She said the story touched her heart and made her realize there is nothing limiting somebody with enough resilience. “I was deeply touched by her story,” she said. “Here was a woman from a small town in Puerto Rico achieving so much, and it made me think that if she could do it, why not me?”
This prompted her to apply for a position at Houston Community College, where she began as a director, involving herself in the development of programs such as health care and technology. Burillo’s role expanded as she took on the position of associate vice chancellor for workforce and extended learning, where she worked on programs for incarcerated individuals. “It’s about breaking barriers and offering opportunities to those who are often overlooked.” Her subsequent promotion to vice chancellor of workforce saw her engaging in leadership programs and envisioning a future where education could drive systemic change.
CAMPUS AMBITIONS
As president of the Brookhaven campus, Burillo said she is excited to see that Dallas College is launching a bachelor’s degree in applied technology that is focused on AI and data analytics. “I’m excited about that because I started the first bachelor’s degree in applied technology in Houston, so coming here, I’m excited to support the faculty in this vision they have.”
She said, “We as educators need to [look] 10-20 years ahead to think about how we can prepare the students for the future.” She said she sees the advances across all kinds of career fields and has the privilege to work with professionals and faculty that agree with this vision and are actively working on adapting for what the future holds. She said, “They represent not just academic advancement, but a chance for our students to be at the forefront of technology.”
To leave one last message to Brookhaven Campus student body and faculty, Burillo said everyone on campus has their own role in inspiring and supporting each other.
“To focus on our similarities rather than our differences, in that way we can be more receptive to learning from each other’s differences,” she said. “I mean, there’s a reason there are four seasons, right? Yes, nature needs all four seasons. Every season has a purpose. We each have a purpose.”
