Keynote Speaker

Guy Bailey, Ph.D.

President, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Dr. Guy Bailey has served as President of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) since its inception in 2015. Under his leadership, UTRGV has become one of the nation’s most accessible and high-performing universities, recognized for affordability and student success.

Dr. Bailey has guided major institutional milestones, including record enrollment; steadily improving retention and graduation rates; and significant gains in research and philanthropy, with more than $300 million raised through private fundraising since 2015. Most recently, UTRGV surpassed $100 million in annual research expenditures for the first time, reporting $103.7 million in FY 2025.

In 2025, UTRGV launched NCAA Division I FCS football and delivered the winningest inaugural season in FCS history (9-3 overall, 7-0 at home), helping create a standout game-day environment with the debut of the Vaquero Marching Band and expanded spirit programs.

In 2025, Washington Monthly again ranked UTRGV No. 1 in Texas for a third straight year and No. 7 nationally, highlighting the university’s performance in delivering value to students and taxpayers. The Wall Street Journal also recognized UTRGV as the Best Value Public University in Texas for the second consecutive year.

UTRGV is one of the nation’s largest Hispanic-Serving Institutions and earned recertification of the Seal of Excelencia in 2024 for its commitment to Latino student success.

Dr. Bailey was also named 2019 Border Texan of the Year for his impact on education and healthcare in the Rio Grande Valley.

Prior to UTRGV, he served as president at The University of Alabama and Texas Tech University, among other leadership roles.