South Texas College Board of Trustee Chairwoman Rose Benavidez was recently inaugurated in New York City as the chairwoman of the Association of Community College Trustees board of directors. She is the first Latina to hold this distinguished position in the organization’s more than 50-year history.

The Starr County native will serve on the national stage, working with leadership from the White House to Congress and the U.S. Department of Education, advocating for higher education and championing the students of the Rio Grande Valley.

“This is a great honor and a greater responsibility,” said Benavidez. “Today we broke barriers and a glass ceiling for all the other women and girls like me that are to come. It’s a privilege having this type of platform to address local and regional issues in higher education, economic progress and workforce development. We have national attention, and we must ensure we address our needs, highlight our successes and the transformational impact we are having in our communities across the RGV.”

ACCT is a non-profit educational organization of governing boards, representing more than 6,500 elected and appointed trustees, It governs more than 1,200 community, technical and junior colleges in the United States. Its mission is to promote high-quality and affordable higher education, as well as a cutting-edge workforce and development training. ACCT also focuses on student success and the opportunity for individuals to achieve economic self-sufficiency and security, that aligns with Benavidez’s local vision.

“At STC, we believe access to higher education should be for everyone and that every resident is entitled to educational and career success whether it’s through academic programs or technical/workforce training,” she said. “It’s a basic need and a basic right.”

Carrying A Tradition

Benavidez follows in her late father’s footsteps, Manuel Benavidez, who was a founding STC Board of Trustee. He served in ACCT as chairman of Diversity Committee, selected as a Regional Trustee of the Year and ultimately received an ACCT Lifetime Membership Award in 2005 for his leadership.

The younger Benavidez was first elected to the ACCT Board in 2017 representing ACCT’s western region. Like her father, she also served as chair of the Diversity Committee.

“I knew of my dad’s efforts and leadership growing up and admire everything he accomplished,” she said. “Being elected to the STC board made his vision clear and helped me establish a foundation to strengthen my resolve to expand access and create opportunities in our community.”

During her tenure with ACCT, Benavidez has successfully participated in advocating for increased federal funds for higher education, alignment of skills training with meaningful wage employment and the promotion of student success across the United States, Canada, Europe and the Pacific Islands.

Benavidez currently serves as the president of the Starr County Industrial Foundation. The non-profit organization is supported by local government and business leaders committed to developing the local economy.

For her contributions, Benavidez is also part of the Rio Grande Valley Walk of Fame. She is a recipient of the “State of Texas Women of Distinction Award” from the Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce. Most recently, she also received the honor of a Woman of Distinction by the Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Benavidez will serve as chair of the ACCT for a one-year term.