Dayra Gonzalez University official is recognized for leadership and commitment to education
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UTRGV President Guy Bailey has been named the 2025 Educational Champion by Teach For America Rio Grande Valley, recognizing his leadership and honoring his efforts to advance educational access in South Texas.
Bailey will receive the award during the organization’s 35th annual Honor Roll Gala on March 28, 2026, according to a news release issued Oct. 15.
Now in its eighth year, the Honor Roll Gala honors individuals and partners who have helped transform education in the region through innovation, collaboration and a shared belief in the power of education, according to the release.
Bailey said the recognition is meaningful both personally and professionally but emphasized it represents the university as a whole rather than an individual achievement.
“That recognition really reflects the university,” he said. “This is less about my personal championship than the university’s championing for higher education.”
Bailey said UTRGV’s success lies in its mission to provide high-quality, affordable education to Valley students. He said about 91% of full-time Texas-resident students pay no tuition or fees, demonstrating the institution’s commitment to access.
According to Bailey, the university has also expanded its educational and health-related programs, including schools of medicine, podiatric medicine and optometry, allowing students to pursue professional careers without leaving the region. The university has also opened new health facilities, such as a cancer center and a diabetes management center, to meet community needs.
He said the recognition reflects the collective work of UTRGV’s faculty, staff and students. Bailey added the university’s bilingual and bicultural mission connects to Teach For America’s goals by giving students an advantage as speakers of two of the most widely used languages in the world.
Patrick Gonzales, vice president for University Marketing and Communications, said the award is a significant way to close UTRGV’s 10th anniversary.
“It’s quite an honor for the university to have Dr. Bailey be recognized as a pivotal leader whose vision has helped redefine higher education for the Rio Grande Valley,” Gonzales said.
He added the recognition aligns with UTRGV’s decade of growth and national visibility, graduating more than 60,000 students since its founding in 2015 and reaching an enrollment of about 35,000. The university has also surpassed $300 million in fundraising, $100 million in research expenditures and recently launched its Division I football team.
Gonzales said the acknowledgment from Teach For America will elevate the university’s image beyond the region.
“Everybody’s talking about UTRGV now,” he said. “This award … will just help us in elevating … and strengthening our brand even more than it is now.”
Bailey said he will accept the Educational Champion Award on behalf of the entire UTRGV community.
“I’ll be accepting this award for our students, faculty and staff, and for the institution as a whole,” he said. “This isn’t a personal but an institutional recognition.”
According to Teach For America, the Rio Grande Valley region, founded in 1991, partners with schools and universities to expand educational access for students in underserved communities. The March 2026 gala will also celebrate the organization’s 35th anniversary in the region.
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