Huston–Tillotson University President and CEO Dr. Melva K. Wallace has been selected as an Executive Leader of 2025 by the Greater Austin Business Awards (GABA), one of Central Texas’s most prestigious recognitions of excellence in leadership and innovation. She will be honored on Wednesday, November 19, at the JW Marriott Austin during GABA’s 25th annual celebration.
Dr. Wallace is being recognized for her bold vision, measurable impact, and unwavering commitment to advancing diversity, community engagement, and economic mobility in Austin.
In a statement, Dr. Wallace emphasized the shared nature of the achievement:
“This honor doesn’t belong to me alone, but to the entire Huston–Tillotson University community… It reflects the collaboration and shared vision that have defined this institution for 150 years.”
Since becoming HT’s seventh president, Dr. Wallace has guided Austin’s only Historically Black University through a period of extraordinary institutional growth. Her leadership has strengthened academic programs, expanded corporate and community partnerships, and positioned Huston–Tillotson as a key driver of opportunity and innovation in Central Texas.
The university’s 2025 sesquicentennial year marked several historic milestones, including:
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A record-breaking $150 million gift from the Moody Foundation.
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Recognition as the #1 private HBCU in Texas.
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National rankings from U.S. News & World Report for social mobility and graduate earnings.
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The launch of a bold campus master plan featuring new residence halls, modernized academic spaces, and expanded scholarship opportunities—supported by the Moody Foundation investment.
Founded in 1875, Huston–Tillotson University is Austin’s first institution of higher education and the city’s only Historically Black University. HT is a private, church-related liberal arts institution offering associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees across more than 19 fields of study.