AAHHE Sylvia Hurtado University Faculty Award

Victor B. Sáenz, Ph.D. is Associate Dean for Student Success, Community Engagement, and Administration and the L.D. Haskew Centennial Professor in Public School Administration at the University of Texas at Austin’s College of Education. A seasoned higher education leader with over 20 years of experience, Dr. Sáenz previously served as Chair of the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy—his academic home—where he led efforts to strengthen faculty development, expand graduate programs, and elevate the department’s national profile.

In his current role as Associate Dean, Dr. Sáenz oversees a broad portfolio that includes student success initiatives, career engagement, and community partnerships. He also leads the College’s collaboration with three public school districts housed within the College of Education, helping bridge PK–12 and postsecondary systems to expand educational opportunity.

A nationally recognized expert on student success, mentoring, and education policy, Dr. Sáenz co-founded Project MALES (Mentoring to Achieve Latino Educational Success), an award-winning initiative supporting collegiate males through research, mentoring, and community engagement. His scholarship—including three books and over 70 publications—has been cited more than 8,000 times and has shaped national conversations on college access and success. He has presented his work at the White House, the National Press Club, and Capitol Hill, and regularly collaborates with policymakers and educational leaders across the country.

Dr. Sáenz holds faculty affiliations with the LBJ School of Public Affairs and the Center for Mexican American Studies. A two-time Texas Ex, he earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics and a master’s in public affairs from UT-Austin, and completed his Ph.D. in Higher Education and Organizational Change at UCLA. He lives in Austin with his wife, Erica, and their son, Victor.