Marlene McMichael

Marlene grew up in South Texas with a childhood love for writing and government service. After committing her life to Jesus while still in college, Marlene initially wondered if the vision she had for her life was the right path for her. Instead, she saw God catapult her into a career driven by her long-held passion.

Marlene has held senior positions with multiple lawmakers within the Texas Capitol, including nearly seven years as the executive director of the largest bipartisan caucus in the Texas Legislature. During a sojourn from state government, Marlene worked for several private entities and eventually opened her own consulting firm, specializing in governmental affairs and community relations. Marlene finished her career back in state government as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Government Affairs at Texas State Technical College (TSTC). There, she served as a liaison at both the state and federal levels for the ten-campus, two-year college system.

Marlene is the author of a coffee table book commemorating TSTC’s 50 years as a Texas teaching institution. Titled TEXAS STATE TECHNICAL COLLEGE: The Vision, The Leaders, The Heart, the book was released in March 2015.

Recently retired, Marlene asserts that her greatest accomplishment is her daughter, Chara. Together, they share a love for public service. Chara has held positions as chief-of-staff for several state legislators and a U.S. Congressman in Washington DC. Now back in Texas, Chara leads the human trafficking division for a multifaceted, Texas-based non-profit. The division serves survivors of all ages and forms of trafficking.