Meet COM's New President

Now serving as the ninth president, Dr. Helen Castellanos Brewer brings a bold vision for the future at College of the Mainland (COM). She leads with a deep commitment to student success, cultivating meaningful community partnerships and positioning COM as a catalyst for long-term regional economic prosperity. Under her leadership, COM is building on a foundation of nearly 60 years of progress while charting a bold course for its next chapter of growth, innovation and impact.

Brewer’s vision is shaped by her own journey. Like so many at COM, she began her education as a first-generation community college student. That experience gives her a deep understanding of the challenges and aspirations facing COM students today. It also fuels her determination to create an environment where every student has the support, resources, and opportunities needed to achieve success in college, career and beyond.

She joined COM in 2021 as vice president for Student Affairs and later served as executive vice president for Academic and Student Affairs. In these roles, she guided the College’s transition to 8-week terms, expanded health care programs and helped drive enrollment growth of more than 30 percent. With more than two decades of higher education leadership experience, Dr. Brewer has advanced student success and institutional growth at every level. She is also a published researcher on first-generation student success and an Aspen Institute Rising Presidential Fellow, recognized nationally for her leadership in community college transformation.

Brewer earned a doctorate in education leadership, management and policy from Seton Hall University, a master’s in counseling from Trinity Washington University and a bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park. Her career path, from recruiter and counselor to senior executive and now president, reflects a lifelong commitment to expanding access, advancing student success and strengthening the role of community colleges as engines of opportunity and prosperity.

Close Bio