SLCC Welcomes Dr. Brenda Madore as New Vice President for Student Affairs

After an extensive national search, Salt Lake Community College is pleased to announce that Dr. Brenda Madore will join the College on February 1 as its next vice president for Student Affairs.

"Dr. Madore brings a deep understanding of student success work and has spent her career creating programs that remove barriers for students and open doors to opportunity," said SLCC President Greg Peterson. "We look forward to the experience and energy she will bring to SLCC in her new role and recognize in her a leader who is truly committed to student success."

Dr. Madore comes to SLCC after serving four years as chief of staff and institutional advancement officer at Howard College, a rural community college in Big Spring, Texas. There, she helped guide strategic initiatives and strengthen institutional culture. She is widely recognized for leading the Open Roads Promise Program, a tuition‑free access initiative that significantly increased recruitment, persistence, and completion across four Texas counties.

"Open Roads Promise was a labor of love for me, and I had the privilege of leading it from concept into fruition," said Madore. "Like all community colleges, Howard College is filled with people who put their hearts into their work and are deeply committed to student outcomes."

Prior to her time at Howard College, Madore served at Ranger College, where she led dual enrollment efforts. Under her leadership, enrollment increased, course offerings expanded, and she implemented a US Department of Education Pell Grant Dual Enrollment Pilot, enabling more first‑generation and underserved students to begin college with financial support and confidence.

Madore holds an EdD in Community College Leadership from Kansas State University and a Master in Management and Leadership from Western Governors University Texas.

A Leader Committed to Students — and to Community Colleges

Madore describes herself as a proud community college graduate who understands the challenges many students face.

"I know how hard it can be to pursue education while balancing life," she said. "I was a nontraditional student — a working mother of four attending a community college. I know what it's like to not know how you are going to pay all the bills, afford childcare, and to persist and persevere. I want to make education at SLCC as accessible and supportive as possible for students."

She shared that her first visit to SLCC made a lasting impression.

"When you walk onto a campus, the culture is communicated through the feeling you get, just looking around. On my first visit to SLCC, I could feel that this is a place where people love their work and are passionate about what they do."

As vice president for Student Affairs, Madore says she is most excited to connect with people — students, faculty, staff, and community partners.

"In any leadership role, relationships are key," she said. "One of my responsibilities is to remove barriers so others can do their best work. In Student Affairs, we help students grow — not only academically and professionally, but as human beings and community members. It's an honor to support them on that journey."

Madore grew up in Caldwell, Idaho and is eager to return to the Intermountain West after a 20-year leave.

"I'm excited to stand in my yard and look up at the mountains, to experience four seasons again, and to enjoy Utah's outdoor lifestyle and its culture so full of art, music, and athletics," said Madore. "I'm thrilled to become part of the community at the college and here in Utah."