Mar 6, 2025
THE DAILY NEWS – College of the Mainland trustees Thursday afternoon announced three finalists for college president ahead of the impending retirement of Warren Nichols in July.
Trustees named Helen Castellanos Brewer, J. Kyle Dalpe and Joseph Seabrooks Jr. as finalists for the position and have planned a series of public forums to interview them between Monday and Wednesday, according to a college spokesman.
Nichols on July 22 announced his retirement from the college after a 42-year career in education
Trustees will hold the first forum at 2:30 p.m. Monday with Seabrooks at the campus Learning and Resource Center in Texas City. Brewer’s open forum is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in the same room. Dalpe’s open forum will be at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in the same room.
Brewer is the executive vice president for Academic and Student Affairs for the college and previously served as vice president for Student Services.
She holds a doctorate in education leadership, management and policy from Seton Hall University; a master of arts in counseling from Trinity Washington University; and a bachelor of arts in psychology from University of Maryland-College Park.
Dalpe is president of Western Nevada College and previously has served as provost and senior vice president of Western Nevada College.
Dalpe earned a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Nevada, Reno; a master of arts in journalism/speech/political science from the University of Texas at Tyler; and a bachelor of arts in photojournalism from the University of Connecticut.
Seabrooks is president of Dallas College, Cedar Valley Campus and previously has served as president of Metropolitan Community College in Missouri.
Seabrooks earned a doctorate in interdisciplinary, urban leadership and policy studies and a doctorate in education from University of Missouri-Kansas City; an education specialist degree in higher education administration from University of Missouri-Kansas City; a master of arts in higher education administration from University of Missouri-Kansas City; and a bachelor of arts in psychology from University of Missouri-Kansas City.
College officials invited and encouraged residents to participate in the open forums, spokesman Jose Salazar said in a statement.
“Forums will be made accessible to all faculty, administrators, staff, students, and the general public,” he said. “There will be a brief introduction of each candidate, followed by a question-and-answer session.”
Nichols’ salary is about $352,478, officials have said.
Nichols was selected in 2017 among four finalists for the College of the Mainland job after he impressed trustees with his commitment to becoming involved in the community and his desire to work with senior staff, officials said.
Nichols has received widespread credit for leading a $162.5 million bond referendum that voters approved in 2018. Bond referendums failed in 2007 and 2011.
The bond money financed construction of three new buildings on campus, the first significant capital improvements on campus since 1970. Improvements on several existing facilities, including the fine arts building, were financed by the bond as well.
Nichols earned an associate degree in applied science in law enforcement from Tarrant County College, a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice and a Master of Arts in criminal justice administration from the University of Texas at Arlington and a doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Houston.
The Fort Worth native is the former president of Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin, Tennessee., vice president for academic affairs at Darton State College in Albany, Georgia and the vice chancellor of Tennessee’s community college system.
College of the Mainland announces finalists for president | Local News | The Daily News