The Honorable Brandon L. Simmons / Wiley University

The Honorable Brandon L. Simmons is Distinguished Professor of Business at Wiley University, where he teaches and mentors MBA and undergraduate students with a focus on business, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Simmons also contributes 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 2024-25 academic year.

Simmons is a technology entrepreneur, board member, attorney, 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 served as 23rd Chairman of Texas Southern University’s (“TSU”) Board of Regents. Brandon led TSU into a new era of student success focused on ensuring that education provides a clear path to careers in the thriving Texas economy. During his term as Chairman, TSU hired its first global leader as President, saw its endowment soar to over $100M for the first time in history, forged new relationships with category-leading employers, including Apple and Google, and secured its most successful legislative session on record.

For decades, Brandon has been an advocate for the transformational power of capitalism and a hands-on contributor to efforts that unlock opportunity and success for individuals and families. Brandon hosts a mentoring series that connects young people with inspiring business role models to raise awareness of private sector career paths, especially in the technology sector. Brandon has developed and taught innovative entrepreneurship and economics curricula and programming. His work highlights the opportunities created by our free market system and equips young people from all backgrounds with the tools and mindset to be successful participants in the economy. Brandon’s areas of academic focus include both urban and rural workforce development programming.

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 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.