Texas A&M University Higher Education Center at McAllen names new director of Colonias Program

September 9, 2026 - 03:06

The Colonias Program focuses on improving living conditions and access to resources for residents of colonias, which are unincorporated subdivisions often lacking basic infrastructure like paved roads, water, and sewage systems. Under Almaguer's direction, the program is expected to expand its outreach efforts, strengthen partnerships with local nonprofits, and continue its work on housing, health, and education initiatives.

Almaguer replaces the previous director and will oversee a team of field coordinators and researchers. In a prepared statement, he emphasized the importance of listening to residents first. He said his priority is to build trust with families who have long been underserved and to make sure state and university resources actually reach the people who need them most. The appointment comes as Texas A&M continues to deepen its presence in the Rio Grande Valley, a region with some of the highest concentrations of colonias in the state.