Name: Mary Bralley
Office Sought: Amarillo College Board of Regents
What is your age? 56
What is your educational background? Please list any degrees or certificates earned and any institutions attended.
Associates of Business Administration, Amarillo College and Bachelors of Business Administration, Wayland Baptist University
What is your occupation?
Executive Director, Window on a Wider World
Please list any civic boards or commissions (non-profit, government, union, political, etc.) on which you have served as a board member or equivalent.
The most recent are:
• Amarillo Chamber of Commerce Business Council
• AmTech Leadership Academy
• Barrio Neighborhood Planning Committee
• The Districtwide Educational Advisory Council, AISD
• Executive Leaders Circle (Amarillo Area Foundation)
• Friends of the Amarillo Public Library
• Leadership Amarillo & Canyon
• Power Church, GROW Christian Network
• Region 16 Policy Council
• Santa Fe Depot Railroad Museum
Have you previously held or do you currently hold any elected office? If so, what office(s)?
I was an Amarillo ISD Trustee
If your campaign has any online campaign resources where voters can learn more about you, such as social media accounts or a website, please list them below.
marybralleyforac.com
facebook.com/marybralleyforac
Why did you decide to run for this office in 2025?
I was a young single mother who held two jobs just to make ends meet. I knew I could do better but sometimes felt defeated knowing that I had to work extra hard just to pay rent and care for my daughter. I enrolled at AC when my daughter was in middle school and said she wasn't going to college because I didn't go and I was doing ok. It stopped me in my tracks and I knew I had to be a better role model. Since then, I have been a dedicated advocate for student success. I can be a representative of the average student at AC since I have been in their shoes. I want all students to have a clear, well-supported pathway to completion, whether their goal is to earn a degree, transfer to a four-year institution, or enter the workforce with a credential of value. I want every student to have the resources, guidance, and support necessary to reach their educational goals the most efficient way possible.
If elected, what will be your top three priorities in office?
AC works well with WTAMU but I would like us to expand to other four-year institutions to ensure seamless credit transfer, that will minimize loss of time and precious financial resources for students. Especially those close to Amarillo like Texas Tech, ENMU, OPSU, Wayland Baptist University.
AC has a great student success program but needs to ensure a more proactive approach to help students get paired with and meet with an advisor on a regular basis. Students who have an advocate are more likely to stay on track to graduate. Had someone invested their time in me, I might have graduated with my associate's degree and started my bachelor's studies more quickly.
AC does well in investing in programs such as Nursing and Business. What about other areas like non-profit? Amarillo has hundreds of non-profit organizations that offer amazing careers yet I don’t hear of any offerings to promote that type of career. This would also encourage students to give back to our community and help foster a sense of purpose, leadership, and civic responsibility.
What is an issue you believe has gone overlooked in your race and how will you address it if elected?
I would say using data-driven systems to identify and assist students at risk of falling behind. We need to increase graduation rates but in order to do that, we need to know why they aren't graduating and fix those issues.
What is your position on the issue of taxpayer-funded lobbying? Please explain.
I do not know a lot about the issue but I do not want to see us spend millions of dollars for lobbying when the money could be used better in a different way. I will have to research this more to be better informed.
Why are you the best candidate for voters to support for this position?
My heart is in helping others succeed. I am a first generation student and can attest to getting a higher education has changed the trajectory of my life, my daughter's life, and now my 18 year old grandson's life. Life is short, and I want to make a difference in the lives of others.