Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González
Dr. Miguel “Mike” Nevarez, President Emeritus of the University of Texas–Pan American, is a figure whose impact on higher education in South Texas is both monumental and enduring. A native of McAllen, born in 1937, Dr. Nevarez has spent a lifetime transforming the academic and professional landscape of the Rio Grande Valley. A longtime Rio-South Texas Education & Community Development Foundation (RSTEF) member, led by CEO Adam Gonzalez, Dr. Nevarez has helped steer the region through decades of social change and educational advancement.
“I was born and raised in the 956,” he often says with pride—a simple phrase that grounds his life’s work in the cultural and geographic heart of South Texas. His deep understanding of the Valley’s unique needs has shaped his leadership philosophy for over half a century.
Dr. Nevarez began his educational journey with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from what is now Texas A&M-Kingsville. His academic ambition took him north for graduate studies, earning a master’s in elementary education from Michigan State University and a doctorate in science education from New York University. Despite opportunities to remain in other parts of the country, his return to the Valley was never in doubt. “I really did want to come back,” he said. “Pan American allowed me to teach, to serve, and to lead.”
That desire to serve led to his historic appointment in 1981 as the first Hispanic president of Pan American University, a position he held for 24 years. “At that time, there were very few Hispanic university presidents in the U.S.,” he reflected. “In fact, I believe I’m still the longest-serving Hispanic university president.” His tenure was transformative: he oversaw the university’s 1987 merger into the University of Texas System and laid the foundation for what is today UTRGV (University of Texas Rio Grande Valley).
Central to Dr. Nevarez’s legacy is his commitment to equity in education. “One of the biggest challenges was pushing back against this idea: ‘Why educate these people?’” he recalled. “That mindset was still very much present.” At a time when the children of migrant workers often left school to follow the harvest, he fought to make higher education both accessible and relevant. “It’s gratifying to see that this is no longer as common as it once was. We’ve come a long way.”
His work with RSTEF further amplified this vision. Dr. Nevarez, A founding member, helped steer the organization’s mission to support college access and economic progress. “We didn’t start with foundations and things like that,” he said. “We started basically helping colleges provide financial aid, helping students graduate, and helping them get good jobs.” Under his guidance, RSTEF helped secure and reinvest over a million dollars into student success initiatives. “We formed the foundation because we wanted to give it back—give it back to the students and the community.”
Dr. Nevarez’s leadership was always focused on the future. When asked what he envisioned for the Valley, he was clear: “Bringing in industry and commerce to create more opportunities for the students.” He was instrumental in advocating for a medical school, recognizing the need long before it materialized. “The chancellor asked, ‘What programs do you want?’ I said, ‘A medical school.’” Today, he sees that dream realized—not only in institutions, but in his own family. “I have three cardiologists who take care of me, and they’re all here in the Valley. That would have been unthinkable back then.”
Equally personal and professional, his advocacy always returned to the student. “More students are going to college, and more are staying here, especially in fields that are critically needed.” His belief in local potential was constant. “You don’t have to move,” he told his granddaughters when they considered leaving for higher education. “There’s opportunity here now.”
He has often spoken about the trials of the migrant experience, recalling times when “families had to head north to work ‘las milpas,’ and that included the children, even if they were in school.” These lived experiences shaped his drive to make higher education more inclusive. “It wasn’t just about financial aid—it was about cultural adjustment. The language was a problem. The way of being was different. The education was different.”
Dr. Nevarez’s legacy is a fusion of vision and action—his fingerprints are on institutions, communities, and policies that continue to uplift generations. His leadership within RSTEF as a board member has invested in individuals and reshaped what’s possible for an entire region.
“We’ve made real progress,” he said simply. “And I’m very proud of that.”
