With his official appointment to the Texas Lyceum Board of Directors, Brandon L. Simmons, the chairman of the Texas Southern University’s Board of Regents, has joined a prestigious group committed to influencing the direction of leadership in the Lone Star State.

Simmons took the oath of office on Jan. 31, 2025, as a member of the Texas Lyceum. This nonpartisan, nonprofit organization has been regarded as Texas’ top leadership institution since its founding in 1980. With 96 members serving two consecutive three-year terms, the Lyceum offers a diversified board representing a range of industries, government, and education in the state.

President George W. Bush, U.S. Senators Ted Cruz and Kay Bailey Hutchison, and Texas Governors Greg Abbott and Rick Perry are among the notable Lyceum alums. Over the years, Lyceum Board alums have significantly impacted civic engagement and public service throughout Texas.

“With a current TSU Chairman and a former TSU Chairman serving together on the 2025 Board of Directors, Texas Southern University is already ringing out in this august body,” Simmons said. “I have no doubt that we will bring the voices of our students with us into conversations about the future of this great state. This is an extraordinary time to be a Texan, and I am grateful for the opportunity to play a role in our state’s future.”

TSU’s participation in the Lyceum Fellows Program demonstrates its dedication to developing student leaders. In recent years, the university has fostered student participation through its Lyceum Fellows Program. Additionally, David Gamble, the former TSU Regent who served as the chair of the Lyceum Board from 1986 to 1987, has contributed to the history of the Lyceum at TSU.