Homecoming Honoree: Brooke Flores
Outstanding Staff - Class of 2011 & 2013 (B.A., M.S.)
In the ever-changing and competitive arena of attracting dual-credit students, Brooke Flores is Angelo State’s calm amidst the chaos.
“My brother had graduated from ASU a couple of years earlier, so I thought, ‘let’s try it,’” Flores said. “With the help of a Carr Scholarship, I was able to complete my undergraduate degree debt free and my master’s degree at an affordable cost. ASU ended up becoming my family, and San Angelo my home.”
Shortly after earning her two psychology degrees, Flores and her husband, Chris, headed to the Dallas area, where she started her career in higher education at Dallas County Community College and then the University of North Texas Health Science Center.
“While I was a student at ASU, I worked for Career Development, and that’s what turned me on to higher ed as a career possibility,” Flores said. “With Dallas County Community College, I worked in several areas, including admissions, advising, career services and student life. Then I got my first real taste of recruiting at UNT Health Science Center, and I thought it was fun going out and promoting the school. So when I came back to ASU, admissions was a really good fit.”
Since joining the ASU staff in 2016 as an admissions counselor, Flores has utilized her varied experience to move up to assistant director of dual credit operations, where she actually enjoys the unpredictability of her role in helping ASU continually set new records for dual-credit enrollment.
“I never really know what my day is going to look like, which can be scary at times,” Flores said. “But it’s also never boring. There is always something going on, even during the summers. I may end up working with a student or a school counselor or one of the dual-credit instructors. Dual credit reaches so many different places, and I’ve learned a lot about ASU and higher education in general. It has really broadened my perspective.”
And never was Flores’ unique perspective needed more than this past academic year after a new state-funded program was introduced that yet again changed the way scholarships are coordinated for dual-credit students.
“Dual credit reaches so many different places, and I’ve learned a lot about ASU and higher education in general. It has really broadened my perspective.”
“The program was rolled out very quickly last fall, so it was definitely stressful figuring it out,” she said. “But it’s a really good thing for the students, and the high schools have really jumped on board. It’s also an ever-evolving process, and we still had to get all our other work done, so it’s been an interesting learning process.”
As interesting as her current job is, though, Flores still jumps at the chance to stay involved in admissions events, like helping with outreach tours and Ram Preview Days.
“Any time the admissions team needs help with campus events, I’m happy to pitch in whenever I can,” Flores said. “It’s nice to get out of the office and see some of the new students. Some of them probably took our dual-credit courses, so it’s fun to get to see their excitement when they visit campus.”
For her stellar job performance, willingness to go above and beyond, and direct contributions to ASU’s record enrollment, the Alumni Association has named Flores its 2024 Outstanding Staff.
“I’m very honored just to be nominated, much less selected.”
“I was definitely surprised,” she said. “I’m very honored just to be nominated, much less selected. I was excited to tell my husband and my kids, and they are so excited for the Homecoming parade and walking out onto the football field. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
