Texas A&M University-Kingsville President Dr. Robert H. Vela, Jr. will provide the keynote address. Dr. Vela is the university’s 22nd President and began serving in that role on June, 15, 2022. His career has been dedicated to promoting access and opportunity to higher education across the state. Previously, Dr. Vela served as President of San Antonio College, one of the largest community colleges in the nation, from 2014 to June 2022. Under his collaborative leadership, he developed a strategic plan that advanced the Alamo Community College District’s goal of transforming San Antonio College into the best community college in the United States. In 2021, the college earned the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, which is the nation’s premier recognition of achievement and performance among America’s community colleges. Dr. Vela has also served in leadership roles at San Jacinto College and Coastal Bend College. He launched his career in higher education at A&M-Kingsville in 1997, serving in various roles that included Upward Bound Program Coordinator and Director of the Teacher Development Center. In 2021, Dr. Vela joined the Board of Directors of Excelencia in Education, an organization accelerating Latino student success in higher education to address the U.S. economy’s need for a highly educated workforce and civic leadership. As a nationally recognized leader in higher education, Dr. Vela has also served as the President of the National Community College Hispanic Council and on the American Association of Community Colleges Board of Directors. Additionally, his credits include receiving the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award in 2018. Dr. Vela has taught courses in higher education administration and leadership, educational leadership and counseling throughout his 20 years in higher education. A native of Alice, Texas, he earned bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from A&M-Kingsville, and in 2015, Dr. Vela received the Javelina Distinguished Alumni Award.