San Jac Community Connections invites the public to fall lecture series

San Jacinto College invites the community to North Campus this fall for San Jac Community Connections, a free evening lecture series designed to bring neighbors together for learning and conversation.

The series will kick off Tuesday, Sept. 22, at the Grant Fine Arts Center (N1), 5800 Uvalde Road in Houston. The evening begins at 6:30 p.m. with 30 minutes for conversation and connection, followed by a lecture from 7-8 p.m.

The inaugural presentation, “From Akokisa Homeland to Frontier Community: The Early History of the Sheldon, Crosby, Channelview and North Shore Communities,” will be presented by Cody Pogue, San Jac government professor.

Pogue, who grew up in the North Channel area, designed San Jac Community Connections to connect the College with the place he calls home.

“This community and the College are important to me,” Pogue said. “The hope is to help establish San Jac as a vibrant hub of knowledge, wisdom, and lifelong learning here in the North Channel community.”

The series has two primary goals: to make learning opportunities accessible to a wide range of people, from middle schoolers to lifelong learners, and to provide a place where community members can gather outside of work and home.

The idea was partly inspired by Robert Putnam’s 2000 book “Bowling Alone,” which explored declining social connections in American communities. Pogue saw an opportunity for North Campus to help bring neighbors together while encouraging learning and curiosity.

“I want to open up learning opportunities to the widest possible range of people,” Pogue said. “I also want to help combat the loneliness epidemic by offering people a place where they can create their own community.”

Community Connections is also intended to help families see the College as a place where they belong.

“Many San Jac students are the first in their families to attend college. The series gives students an opportunity to invite their parents and grandparents on campus to experience a classroom setting and meet faculty members,” Pogue said. “San Jac has a duty not only to serve our students, but also the members of our community at large.”

Each Community Connections gathering will feature a different San Jac faculty member presenting on a topic designed to spark curiosity and conversation. Attendees also can visit the North Campus Gallery, and future events may include performances and contributions from faculty members with expertise related to the evening’s topic.

Fall 2026 San Jac Community Connections schedule

All sessions are free and open to the community. Each event begins at 6:30 p.m. with conversation and connection, followed by the lecture from 7-8 p.m.

• Tuesday, Sept. 22: “From Akokisa Homeland to Frontier Community: The Early History of the Sheldon, Crosby, Channelview and North Shore Communities,” presented by Cody Pogue, government professor
• Tuesday, Oct. 27: “Echoes in the Night: Tracking Bats in a Major Metropolitan Landscape,” presented by Tyler Olivier, STEM and behavioral sciences department chair
• Tuesday, Nov. 17: “A Behind-the-Scenes View of How a Crime Scene Is Investigated,” presented by Corey Rice, criminal justice professor
• Tuesday, Dec. 8: “Inside the Jazz Combo: Reimagining a Classic Christmas Carol,” presented by Travis Maslen, music professor

Location:
Grant Fine Arts Center (N1)
5800 Uvalde Road
Houston, TX 77049

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About San Jacinto College

Surrounded by monuments of history, evolving industries, maritime enterprises of today, and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has served the people of East Harris County, Texas, since 1961. The College is ranked second in the nation among more than 1,100 community colleges, as designated by the Aspen Institute and was named an Achieving the Dream Leader College of Distinction in 2020 and 2026. As a Hispanic-Serving Institution that spans five campuses, plus an online college, San Jacinto College serves approximately 45,000 credit and non-credit students annually. It offers more than 200 degrees and certificates across eight major areas of study that put students on a path to transfer to four-year institutions or enter the workforce. The College is fiscally sound, holding bond ratings of AA+ by Standard & Poor’s and Aa2 by Moody’s. San Jacinto College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.