MCALLEN, Texas – South Texas College board trustee Paul R. Rodriguez has announced his re-election bid.
The Pharr native represents District 3, which covers South McAllen, Southwest Pharr, Hidalgo, Southeast Mission, and Granjeno. While serving as a trustee, Rodriguez has held the positions of board chair and secretary.
“It has been my distinct privilege to support and promote the efforts of South Texas College,” Rodriguez said. “The STC faculty, administration, and staff have provided our students, and our communities, with a myriad of educational and career options, ranging from remedial education and GED attainment to dual credit enrollment and baccalaureate degrees.”
Rodriguez was asked to serve as a trustee of the board in 2012 in order to complete the term of office of Mike Allen. The legendary McAllen Economic Development Corporation leader and STC board trustee had passed away in 2010. Rodriguez later ran successfully for the seat.
Rodriguez said that during his tenure on the Board, STC has grown tremendously. He pointed out that it now offers over 125 associate-degree and certificate programs, as well as providing job training for companies in the Rio Grande Valley.
“STC is truly a catalyst for economic development and regional prosperity,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez graduated from Princeton University with a Bachelor of Arts in economics and currently serves as president and CEO of Valley Land Title Co., a real estate title insurance agency with offices in McAllen, Mission, Edinburg, and Weslaco. He accepted this position after retiring in 2005 from a 30-year commercial-banking career, which included roles as president and CEO of national banks in Pharr and Mission.
Rodriguez said he has been able to put his financial expertise to use for the STC Board by focusing his efforts on maintaining the College’s financial integrity. He said the goal has been to minimize the burden on taxpayers.
Rodriguez said he has also played an integral role in helping STC seek additional assistance from the state Legislature and Congress in order to provide students with the educational and financial resources they need to graduate and pursue their careers.
In 2021, Rodriguez served as chairman of the STC Presidential Search Committee following the retirement of Shirley Reed, Ph.D. Reed served as president of STC for 26 years and was the College’s founding president. Following a nationwide search, Ricardo Solis, Ph.D., assumed the role in July.
“South Texas College has successfully weathered the ‘pandemic storm,’” Rodriguez said. “With your vote, I look forward to helping guide its return to ‘normal’ operations and our aggressive pursuit of the College’s mission.”
The South Texas College board of trustees election is May 7, 2022.
Additional Biographical Details on Paul R. Rodriguez
Paul Rodriguez has been married to the former Myrna Hidalgo, a native of Mission, for 42 years. They have three adult children and two grandsons.
He is president-elect of the Texas Land Title Association, a statewide trade association representing nearly 15,000 professionals in the land-title industry.
Public service has been a hallmark of Rodriguez’ life, offering his time, talents, and expertise as he served as board member and charter chairman of the Mission Economic Development Authority, board member and chairman of Mission Hospital, board member and chairman of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, trustee and president of the Sharyland ISD School Board, trustee and charter chairman of the Juan Diego Regional Catholic High School Board, and board member and president of Valley Alliance of Mentors for Opportunities and Scholarships (VAMOS). Rodriguez is a current board member and past president of Affordable Homes of South Texas and a board member and current chairman of Municipal Utility District #1. Each of these has been important to Rodriguez, but serving on the STC Board has allowed him to combine his degree in economics and his vast business experience with his dedication to education and community prosperity.
In 2021, Rodriguez was elected to serve on the board of directors for the Community College Association of Texas Trustees, which oversees 750,000 community-college students across Texas. He also serves on the Latino Association of Community College Trustees and has held the position of treasurer.
Editor’s Note: The above news story is one in a series of profiles on the candidates running for South Texas College’s board of trustees. Elections are being held May 7, 2022 for Districts 3 and 4. Look for more profiles in the coming days.
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