New Leadership

Lone Star College hired new leadership in the summer and fall 2023. Along with a new chancellor, the college system welcomed an executive vice chancellor, Operations; vice chancellor Legal Affairs and general counsel and three campus presidents.

“Lone Star College is committed to student success and the first step is hiring faculty, staff and administrators who believe in this mission,” said Mario K. Castillo, J.D., LSC chancellor. “The college is excited to welcome its new leaders who will take our system to the next level.”

Bridgett N. Johnson, M.B.A., executive vice chancellor, Operations, oversees system-wide operations, including the Office of Technology Services and Analytics and Institutional Research divisions. She was the South Texas College of Law Houston chief administrative officer and managed Information Technology, Finance and Administration, Property Services, Human Resources, Procurement, Safety and Security, and Risk Management. Prior to that, Johnson held various positions at LSC, including senior associate vice president, Administrative Services.

“Lone Star College has a long history of playing an important role in the community and I am eager to continue that mission of ensuring our students get the support they need to be successful,” said Johnson. Johnson earned a Master of Business Administration degree from LeTourneau University and is pursuing a Doctor of Education degree from Sam Houston State University.

Nancy M. Molina, J.D. became the vice chancellor, Legal Affairs and general counsel after serving as the LSC deputy chief operating officer and associate general counsel. Before joining LSC, Molina worked as a labor, employment, and benefits associate at Monty & Ramirez, LLP, in Houston. She has represented public and private employers before the National Labor Relations Board, the Department of Justice and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

“I am deeply honored to be working with such a talented team of litigators to help ensure the college is positioned to remain in compliance with all state and federal laws,” said Molina.

Molina received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Houston Law Center and her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Houston, with the highest honors. She specializes in employment matters relating to the Affordable Care Act, ERISA, COBRA, FMLA, FLSA, Americans with Disabilities and other state and federal laws impacting employee benefit plans.

De' Reese Reid-Hart, Ed.D. the new and fifth campus president at LSC-Montgomery, has over 25 years of experience in higher education administration and leadership. She was appointed vice president of Instruction at LSC-Montgomery in 2020 after serving as the Natural Science and Health Occupations Division dean.

“I am honored to lead Lone Star College-Montgomery into its next chapter as we serve the varied needs of our students, employees, community members and local school districts,” said Reid-Hart.

Before LSC-Montgomery, Reid-Hart served as dean of Instruction and Continuing Education, chief student affairs officer as the dean of Student Services, and assistant and associate dean of students at Kennedy-King College in Illinois. Reid-Hart earned a Bachelor of Arts in English/ Pre-Law and a Master of Arts in Education Psychology, both from Eastern Illinois University. She holds a doctoral degree in Education Leadership from National Louis University in Chicago.

Bennie Lambert, Ph.D. is the ninth president of LSC-North Harris, LSC’s inaugural campus, after being interim president. He also served as vice president for Student Success at LSC-CyFair. Lambert began his LSC career in 1991, developing a strong background in admissions, advising and enrollment management and served as an adjunct faculty member. Lambert has extensive experience in higher education, having also worked at Baylor University and McLennan Community College.

“I look forward to working with the faculty, staff and community to ensure our students have the necessary resources to be successful,” said Lambert.

Lambert is a proud product of a community college, having earned an Associate of Arts degree from McLennan Community College before obtaining bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Business and Educational Psychology from Baylor University. He also holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Texas A&M University.

Virginia M. Fraire, Ph.D., is the second president to lead LSC-University Park. She has nearly 30 years of experience in higher education and most recently served as vice provost for student success and strategic initiatives at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). Fraire provided leadership and overall management to academic programs and faculty serving transitioning students and led university-wide efforts to improve transfer student success and engaged learning.

“I look forward to working with faculty, staff and other administrators to ensure Lone Star College-University Park continues to offer innovative programming that will prepare our students to lead the future,” said Fraire.

Fraire served in multiple leadership roles at Austin Community College before her tenure at UTEP. She received an associate of arts in Social Work from Austin Community College through reverse transfer. Fraire graduated from The University of Texas at Austin, earning a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Social Work and a doctorate degree in Educational Administration from the Community College Leadership Program.