Reynaldo “Rey” Anaya Valencia, president and dean of South Texas College of Law Houston, was honored Oct. 9 with the Lifetime Achievement – Excellence in Community Service Award from the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) in recognition of his distinguished career in legal education, public service, and advocacy.
The award recognizes Valencia’s longstanding contributions to the legal profession and his commitment to expanding educational opportunity, advancing diversity in the legal profession, and supporting communities historically underrepresented in law.
“Reynaldo Valencia has long been a leading Latino figure in law school education, especially in the critical state of Texas; as such, he has influenced the development of the law today and in the future in immeasurable ways,” said Thomas A. Saenz, president and general counsel of MALDEF. “His work has been and continues to be instrumental in addressing the issues and meeting the needs of the Latino community.”
Valencia said, “As someone who went to law school with aspirations of becoming a MALDEF attorney fighting for the rights of the Latino/a population, but never got there because of my unexpected and unanticipated path to becoming a legal educator, this award brings me full circle. I am so deeply touched, honored, and humbled to be chosen for this honor. I cannot express how grateful I am to receive this award.”
The dean recently participated on a panel focused on “The Pipeline and the Promise: The Future of Latinos in Higher Education” at the Harvard Law School Latino Alumni Reunion. The panel was moderated by Norma Cantu, former UT Austin professor of law and education, and the other panelists were Luz E. Herrera, professor of law at Texas A&M University School of Law; Loretta P. Martinez, senior vice president and general counsel for Loyola Marymount University; and Ramona E. Romero, vice president and general counsel at Princeton University.
Valencia also presented the keynote address in September at the Mexican American Bar Association-Dallas Legacy Gala. The gala celebrated the advancement of the Latino legal community and recognized MABA’s commitment to supporting the Mexican American community.
Dean Valencia shared his journey as the first person in his family to go to college — graduating from Stanford and from Harvard Law — who in 2025 became the first Hispanic individual and first person of color to lead South Texas College of Law Houston.
Speaking to a crowd of judges, state bar officials, legislators, and law students, Valencia also addressed recent developments affecting Latinos. MABA leaders chose Valencia to speak because of his powerful story and the impact he has had on the Texas legal community.
Valencia became president and dean of STCL Houston on July 1, 2025, and is the first Hispanic individual and first person of color to lead the law school. A graduate of Harvard Law School, he previously served as dean and professor of law at Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio. He also served as associate dean for finance and administration and a faculty member at the University of North Texas at Dallas College of Law and held several leadership and teaching positions at St. Mary’s University School of Law.
Throughout his career, Valencia has combined legal scholarship and leadership with a commitment to issues of race, civil rights, immigration, and Hispanic education. From 1999-2000, he served as a White House Fellow in the Office of the Chief of Staff, where he worked on race, civil rights, immigration and Hispanic education issues.
He began his legal career practicing corporate bankruptcy and general corporate law with Jones Day in Dallas while also teaching as an adjunct professor at Texas Tech School of Law. He later built a career in legal education focused on corporate law, corporate bankruptcy, race and gender issues, and the preparation of the next generation of lawyers.
Valencia also has contributed to scholarship examining the history and legal experiences of Mexican Americans. He is a co-author of Mexican Americans and the Law: ¡El pueblo unido jamás será vencido!, a work examining the relationship between Mexican Americans and the U.S. legal system and highlighting significant legal and civil rights cases.
His career has been recognized with numerous honors, including the St. Mary’s University Distinguished Faculty Award and Outstanding Legal Achievement Awards from the Mexican American Bar Association of San Antonio. He also was elected to the Harvard Alumni Association Board of Directors and has served in leadership roles with organizations involved in legal education and accreditation.
As president and dean of South Texas Law, Valencia brings more than three decades of experience as a practicing attorney, professor, legal scholar and academic leader.
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About South Texas College of Law Houston
Founded in 1923, South Texas College of Law Houston is an independent law school located in downtown Houston. The law school provides rigorous legal education and prepares students for careers in law through classroom instruction, experiential learning, advocacy, clinical programs, and opportunities to serve the community. South Texas Law is home to nationally recognized programs in advocacy, dispute resolution, and legal clinics and serves students from across Texas and the nation.
