Dr. Richard M. Rhodes, an educator and leader with more than three decades in higher education, serves as President of Texas A&M University – Central Texas.
Prior to joining TAMUCT, Dr. Rhodes retired from Austin Community College District where he served as Chancellor for 12 years working to improve pathways into higher education, strengthen the awareness of the community college mission, and give students the tools to accomplish their educational, professional, and personal goals. That mission continues as he leads A&M-Central Texas.
Before joining ACC, he served as President of El Paso Community College for 10 years and Vice President for Business Services at Salt Lake Community College for seven years.
A native of Alamogordo, New Mexico, Rhodes received a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting and Master of Arts in educational management and development from New Mexico State University. He earned a doctorate through the Community College Leadership Program at The University of Texas at Austin, receiving its Distinguished Graduate Award in 2001.
Rhodes’ professional associations include past chair of AACC and founding Chair of Trellis Foundation; Chair of Trellis Company, ACT Board Member, vice chair for Capital Area Council of Boy Scouts; past chair of Texas Association of Community Colleges; and board member of Texas Workforce Investment Council, and League for Innovation in the Community College. Rhodes is active in the community, serving as past chair of the board for American YouthWorks as well as serving on the boards of local chambers of commerce and as co-chair of Communities in Schools Central Texas Leadership Circle and the Austin Area Research Organization.
Rhodes is a Certified Public Accountant in Texas and New Mexico. He and his wife, Kate, have four children and nine grandchildren. Rhodes enjoys reading, golf, hiking, running, and spending time with his family.
