Texas Border Business
McALLEN, Texas – The Texas A&M University Higher Education Center at McAllen (HECM) has selected Will Wynn ’84 as executive director, effective Monday, July 13, 2026. He succeeds longtime Executive Director Rick Margo, who has transitioned to Texas A&M Health’s Rio Grande Valley Health Education and Outreach as director after years of dedicated leadership and service to the McAllen campus. As executive director, Wynn will help lead day-to-day operations, strengthen campus partnerships and support a student-centered environment at the HECM.
Wynn, a McAllen resident, former mayor of Austin and proud Texas A&M University graduate, brings decades of experience in public leadership, asset management, civic engagement and community development. He is widely recognized for his service as Austin’s 50th mayor, serving two terms between 2003 and 2009, where he helped guide Texas’ capital through a period of significant growth, innovation and regional collaboration.
“Will Wynn brings a rare combination of executive leadership, operational judgment, public-sector experience and deep loyalty to Texas A&M,” said Ernest Aliseda ’88, chief operating officer and associate vice president of the Texas A&M University Higher Education Center at McAllen. “He understands complex organizations, budgets, facilities, infrastructure and, most importantly, people. As a former student and McAllen resident, he also understands Texas A&M University’s mission to develop leaders of character and its commitment to expand opportunity for students in this region.”
In addition to his public service, Wynn’s professional background includes real estate development, public-private partnerships, utility oversight, sustainability initiatives and long-term strategic planning. His experience working across government, business and community sectors will support HECM’s continued growth and its role in serving students and industries across the Rio Grande Valley.
“Texas A&M changed the course of my life, and I am grateful for the opportunity to give back by helping advance the university’s mission in McAllen,” Wynn said. “The Higher Education Center at McAllen represents opportunity and access to a transformative education through Texas A&M. I love this community and have great respect for the people of the Rio Grande Valley. I look forward to working with students, faculty, staff, university leadership and local partners to support the center’s continued growth and success.”
Wynn graduated cum laude from Texas A&M University in 1984 with a degree in environmental design and has earned numerous honors for his public service and leadership, including Austinite of the Year by Austin Under Forty and being named a Distinguished Alumnus of Texas A&M’s College of Architecture.
Information source: Texas A&M
