A reception to honor San Jacinto College North President Dr. Charles Grant will be held Thursday, May 1, 2008, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the College’s fine arts theater, located at 5800 Uvalde Road. The reception is free and open to the public.

Dr. Charles Grant stands beside a wall display of his college degrees. The table displays mementos from the North Shore Rotary Club that express appreciation for his service to the North Channel community.

Grant plans to take advantage of an early exit program offered by the College and will remain in the role of the North campus president until July 31, 2008. The longtime educator does not plan to retire after leaving San Jacinto College and has talked about either teaching educational leadership at a regional college, or pursuing a career in private business.

Grant has served San Jacinto College North for 25 years in several positions first as an instructor. He was then named the Director of Continuing Education, and moved up the ranks to Dean of Continuing Education, Vice President of Instruction and President.

The outgoing and friendly campus president is well known and esteemed in the North Channel area, particularly because of his volunteer community service involvement through the North Shore Rotary Club, Boy Scouts, the Wendel Ley YMCA and the North Channel Chamber of Commerce. Largely through Grant’s community involvement and outreach efforts, San Jacinto College North has developed into a hub for the North Channel area, serving as a popular meeting site for various community events and activities.

The reception honoring Grant will feature photos and memorabilia chronicling his life as an educator, family man and avid promoter of the community.

After graduating from North Shore High School in 1965, Grant attended San Jacinto College and earned an associate degree in 1967. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in business from Stephen F. Austin State University, a master’s degree from Sam Houston State University and a doctorate from Texas A&M University.

Grant began his education career as a fifth- and sixth-grade teacher at Galena Park Elementary School in 1969. Four years later, he became assistant principal at the school, a position he held for six years. He began his tenure at San Jacinto College North in 1983, serving as a Management Development instructor. In 1985 he accepted his first administrative position as Director of Continuing Education and was named the College’s president in 1998.

Grant and his wife Gail have an adult son and daughter. Christy is an elementary school teacher in Kyle, a town near Austin. Chad works for the Texas Attorney General’s Office. Gail Grant recently retired after serving 35 years as an elementary school teacher for Galena Park ISD.

Grant fondly recalls highlights of his years at San Jacinto College.

“There are three highlights that are particularly important,” he remarked. “One is that the faculty, staff and students have made the North Campus the hub of the North Channel area through the events we host for area schools, companies and service organizations. Another highlight is that this campus, in less than 10 years, has secured more than $20 million in grant money to help fund student programs. And another highlight is that our academic and technical programs have earned state and national awards for excellence.”

As he prepares for a new chapter in his life, Grant says the future looks promising for San Jacinto College. “As long as the College continues to meet the needs of business and industry, as long as the College maintains high academic standards and offers quality programs, and as long as the College keeps its status as the heartbeat and hub of the community, then San Jacinto College has a bright future,” he commented.