The Board – Lisa D. Cantu

Lisa D. Cantu

Term Expires: May 31, 2026

Lisa D. Cantu of Mission, Texas, was appointed to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board by Governor Greg Abbott in June 2025. She will serve as the board’s student representative through May 31, 2026.

Cantu is a second-year doctoral student at Texas A&M University – College Station. She is pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Administration with an emphasis in Educational Leadership & Policy. Lisa graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science alongside a Master of Public Service & Administration from Texas A&M University in 2024.

Lisa grew up as the youngest of two daughters in her family. As a child in South Texas, she grew a love for education through her mother’s devoted service as a public-school teacher. Her father’s 31 years of dedicated service as a federal agent ignited her passion for public service.

Currently, Lisa remains highly engaged with student life at Texas A&M. A recipient of Texas A&M’s Buck Weirus Spirit Award, Lisa’s passion for positively impacting Aggies has included previous service as the president of the Appelt Aggieland Visitor Center’s tour guides. She serves on Texas A&M’s 2040 Strategic Plan committee and Student Experience committee. Additionally, she currently serves as the Vice President of University Affairs for the Graduate & Professional Student Government as well as the Executive Vice President for the 1879 Society Ambassadors program.

Cantu lives in College Station, Texas, and enjoys engaging with the community as much as possible. After graduation, she hopes to pursue a career in education policy & advocacy.