During the four years Genora K. Boykins ’85 served as chair of South Texas College of Law Houston’s board of directors, the law school celebrated its centennial, hired a new president and dean, experienced success on numerous fronts, and made plans for its second century.
“I believe strong board leadership starts with passion for the institution you’re governing,” Boykins said. “I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am without my education at South Texas. I want that excellent legal education to continue for generations to come. Therefore, I tried to ensure that everything I did as chair would advance the institution and help sustain it for the next 100 years and beyond.”
Select accomplishments by the board and the law school during Boykins’ leadership tenure include:
- Stronger sense of community among the board, faculty, staff, and students
- Broader board perspectives (added members who were not lawyers and/or were not alumni)
- Significant success in key areas focused on by the board, and therefore, the law school (specifically, endowment growth, bar passage rates, career placements, alumni engagement, advancement including the new board of visitors)
- Enhanced board bylaws to strengthen governance, improve processes, and encourage engagement
“We all love the institution and want the school — and its students and graduates — to achieve great things,” Boykins said. “We recognized that leadership starts with the board; if we focus on important outcome measures, the school focuses on those as well. We focused the attention of leadership on some key success areas, and that intentionality has served the law school and its students well.”
President and Dean Rey Anaya Valencia, who began his role July 1, 2025, said, “During Chair Boykins’ tenure, she deftly led the processes to select an interim president and dean and to launch a national search for a new law school leader — for which I’m personally very grateful. She brings great wisdom and experience to the board, and she has been a joy to work with during my first year at the law school. Her moral compass is strong and unwavering. I look forward to continuing that positive relationship as she transitions to her new role.”
Boykins’ favorite aspect of her board leadership role was the opportunity to meet and interact with alumni and students — “to gain a greater understanding of the impact of the actions we take as a board,” she said. “We hear so many points of pride, learning why they enjoyed their time in law school, how they made lifelong friends, and how they’re succeeding in their careers. It’s great to meet them where they are, even if they didn’t have an ideal experience, and learn how we can reconnect as we move ahead.”
Boykins transitioned to immediate past chair of the board Jan. 1, and Randall O. “Randy” Sorrels became board chair.
“Randy is a proven leader,” Boykins said. “I look forward to working with him, and I know he will do a fantastic job because of his strong commitment to the law school. He’s busy growing his firm but he never neglects his responsibilities to the institution. Like me, he is grateful for his legal education, and leadership starts with the heart. He’s very smart and very prepared, and I know he’ll be a great leader to advance South Texas Law into the next century.”
Boykins feels grateful for the way she was received from the start of her chair role, by fellow board members, faculty, staff, students, and alumni. “People shared encouraging thoughts and thanked me for my leadership and calming presence as chair,” she said. “Everyone has been so gracious and kind, and I was honored to serve my law school alma mater in this special way.”
Boykins, originally from Prairie View, earned her bachelor’s degree from Spelman College in 1982 and JD degree from South Texas Law in 1985. She served as regional assistant general counsel of NRG Energy, Inc. and Reliant Energy before retiring to work as part-time counsel in 2018. Genora’s career both within NRG and externally through community service has always focused on improving the lives and careers of others through contracting opportunities, hiring, advancement, and retention for women and minorities in the workforce.
Along with her husband Dwight, former Houston City Councilman, Boykins is active in several community organizations.
She is a member of the State Bar of Texas, currently serving on the Commission for Lawyer Discipline, and is also chair of the board of trustees of The Woman’s Hospital of Texas. Boykins serves in several other capacities around Houston, including with the Downtown Management District, Pyramid Community Development Corp., and Dress for Success Houston.
Boykins previously served on the boards of the Houston Area Urban League and the Houston Area Women’s Center. In 2010, she helped launch La Maison in Midtown, an upscale bed-and-breakfast.
