Houston Daily

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Adrian Caraves, a graduate student at the University of Houston-Clear Lake, as the new student regent on the University of Houston System Board of Regents. Caraves began his term on June 1 and will serve until May 31, 2026, representing students from all four universities within the UH System.

Caraves is a first-generation college student from Galveston. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Health from the University of Houston and is currently pursuing dual master's degrees in Business Administration and Healthcare Administration at UH-Clear Lake.

“Being appointed student regent is one of the greatest honors of my life. To me, it’s more than a title. It’s a responsibility to represent tens of thousands of students across the UH System, and I am committed to showing up fully engaged, fully informed and fully ready to serve,” said Caraves.

In addition to his studies, Caraves leads two student organizations he founded, serves on boards for several civic organizations including the Hispanic Business Network of Galveston, volunteers at both the Houston Food Bank and UTMB Health, and works full-time to finance his education. He believes these experiences have prepared him for his new role.

“Serving as student regent gives me the chance to elevate student voices at the highest level of our university system,” he stated. “I want to make sure students from all backgrounds feel seen, heard and supported. This is my opportunity to give back to the system that has shaped me, and to help ensure it works even better for future generations of students.”

Caraves succeeds Tomas Bryan as student regent and will collaborate with other members of the UH System Board of Regents on governance decisions affecting the system's universities. While he does not have voting rights on the nine-member board, he represents over 75,000 students within the system.

“I will work closely with my fellow Board members to uphold and advance a sustainable vision for the UH System,” Caraves added. “This commitment will solidify our reputation as a powerhouse of innovation, academic excellence and community impact, setting the standard for university systems across Texas.”