Raymund Paredes

Raymund A. Paredes, Ph.D. is the former Commissioner of Higher Education at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. After 15 years as the state's commissioner of higher education, Paredes stepped down from his post in August 2019.

Dr. Paredes spent most of his academic career at UCLA where for 30 years he taught as an English professor and served for ten years as vice chancellor for Academic Development. In addition, he served as special assistant to the president of the University of California System in outreach efforts to improve access to higher education for students from educationally disadvantaged communities.

Prior to joining the Coordinating Board, Dr. Paredes was director of creativity and culture at the Rockefeller Foundation, then vice president for programs at the Hispanic Scholarship Fund.

Dr. Paredes is a member of the national board of directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters, was appointed to the Education Commission of the States by Governor Rick Perry, served as a trustee of The College Board and Mercy College of New York, and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Texas Cultural Trust. In 2007, he was named one of Hispanic Business Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Hispanics.

Dr. Paredes was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. He attended The University of Texas at Austin, receiving a B.A. in English. He served in the U.S. Army for two years, including a 14-month tour with the First Infantry Division in Vietnam. After separation from military service, he resumed his education, receiving a master’s degree in American Studies from the University of Southern California and his Ph.D. in American Civilization, from The University of Texas at Austin.