The Honorable Brandon L. Simmons

The Honorable Brandon L. Simmons is Distinguished Professor of Business and Program Coordinator for Wiley University’s MBA program. Simmons also contributes leadership to Wiley’s workforce development initiative based at the historic Pemberton High School complex recently acquired by Wiley.  Prior to his appointment as Distinguished Professor, Simmons served as Entrepreneur in Residence at Wiley for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Simmons is a technology entrepreneur, board member, and education innovator. He is a recognized expert in governance and leadership, having advised board members and management extensively and having served on governing boards across business, philanthropy, and education. Simmons has served on corporate boards and in executive leadership for early and growth-stage companies in the energy and technology sectors. In venture capital, he has served as a general partner, venture partner, and advisor to emerging managers. Simmons is also an experienced attorney, having served as general counsel to a global energy tech company and in the corporate practice of Hogan Lovells, counseling technology companies and investors on transactions and corporate governance.   

Simmons serves as the Chairman of the Texas Southern University (TSU) Board of Regents after being appointed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott in February of 2023 and unanimously confirmed by the Texas Senate in May of 2023. At TSU, he has led with a focus on ensuring that education provides a clear path to careers in the thriving Texas economy. In his first term as Chairman, TSU hired its first global leader as President, saw its endowment soar to over $100M for the first time in history, and secured its most successful legislative session on record.

Simmons launched and personally hosts a national mentoring series sponsored by Amazon that connects young people with inspiring business role models to raise awareness of private sector career paths, especially in the technology sector.  Simmons is also a creator of innovative entrepreneurship, governance, and economics curricula.

Simmons delivered the Convocation Address at The Imani School in 2024 and the Honors Convocation Address at Wiley University in 2025. 

In recognition of his educational leadership, Simmons was honored as a “Legendary Scholar” at the Community of Faith Houston’s 2024 Black History Month Celebration. In recognition of his statewide leadership, in 2025 Simmons was appointed to the board of directors of the Texas Lyceum, the Lone Star State’s premier statewide leadership organization. 

Simmons earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Berkeley and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Stanford Law School. Following college, he was awarded the John W. Gardner Fellowship, a joint honor of Stanford University and the University of California. Following law school, he served as a law clerk for Chief Judge J.L. Edmondson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.