Patrick L. Valdez, PhD

Dr. Patrick L. Valdez is an accomplished higher education leader with 25 years of experience in developing and executing academic and student success programs. Dr. Valdez is former Chancellor and Professor of Education at the University of New Mexico - Taos. He has held senior-level positions at the College of Mount St. Vincent in New York City, the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), the Association of Public and Land - grant Universities (APLU) and CUNY - Lehman College - developing and executing academic and student success programs. He is a graduate of St. Edward's University with a bachelor's degree in International Studies, a master's degree in student personnel administration from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a doctorate in higher education administration from The University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Valdez has conducted research and practice on the challenges and obstacles facing first-generation college students, given presentations on executive leadership, African American faculty experience at a tier-one university, increasing the number of underrepresented students in STEM, and bridging the gap between higher education and the community. His primary research focuses on the policy formation of Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) legislation and the role that HSI's will play in educating the nation's fastest-growing student population.