Rate My Professor Brunilda Santiago

Brunilda Santiago is the Department Chair of Mathematics at Tarrant County College's Southeast Campus, where she leads the mathematics department and facilitates student success in mathematics courses essential for STEM pathways. She joined Tarrant County College as a full-time faculty member in 2008, advancing from assistant professor to associate professor before assuming her current leadership role. Prior to TCC, Santiago began her teaching career at Bowie High School in Arlington, Texas, after earning a lifetime public school teaching certificate in mathematics and Spanish. She also taught in Florida and resided in Kennedale upon returning to the area. Born in New York, she relocated to Puerto Rico, where she grew up and studied pure mathematics at the University of Puerto Rico, switching from an initial pre-med major following her pre-calculus course due to positive peer pressure from peers. Her personal experiences with mathematics, including overcoming language barriers in English textbooks by translating into Spanish and using visual representations, inform her dedicated approach to education.

Santiago has been honored with significant awards for her outstanding contributions to teaching, receiving the Chancellor’s Starpoint Employee Excellence Award for Innovation and Creativity in 2012 as a Southeast Campus math instructor and the Chancellor’s Award for Exemplary Teaching in 2014 as an associate professor of mathematics. She teaches a range of courses including College Algebra, Beginning Algebra, developmental mathematics, and physics, employing innovative strategies such as humor to alleviate math anxiety—likening her classes to support group meetings—personalized tutoring, high expectations, and encouragement for students to seek help early. Her methods emphasize visualization, persistent practice, and developing analytical skills applicable across disciplines, fostering student retention and achievement. Students praise her relatability, passion, sense of humor, and commitment to their success, with former students continuing to seek her guidance even in graduate-level work. Through these efforts, Santiago exemplifies excellence in mathematics education at the community college level and proudly represents the Hispanic community in her accomplishments.