Salvador Hector Ochoa, Ph.D. Biography

Salvador Hector Ochoa, Ph.D. is the third president of Texas A&M University–San Antonio. President Ochoa earned his Ph.D. in School Psychology from Texas A&M University in 1989. He later received the 2013 Texas A&M University College of Education & Human Development Outstanding Alumni Award. His career in higher education spans 34 years, including 17 years as a faculty member and 17 years as an upper-level administrator.

Ochoa’s research focuses on bilingual psychoeducational assessment and educational programming for Hispanic students. While a tenured faculty member in educational psychology at Texas A&M University, he received the Texas A&M Association of Former Students Distinguished Achievement Award in Teaching.

President Ochoa has held significant leadership roles at various universities. He previously served as dean of the College of Education at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and at the University of New Mexico. Prior to his appointment as president, he served as provost and senior vice president of academic affairs at San Diego State University.

He has extensive experience in fiscal management and oversight, accreditation, assessment, and faculty development, as well as a successful track record of improving student retention and success.

A proud South Texas native from McAllen, Texas, President Ochoa and his wife, Maricela, have a daughter, Victoria, and a son, Aaron.