Dr. Mike Flores assumed the role of chancellor of the Alamo Colleges District on Oct. 1, 2018, after unanimous vote by the Alamo Colleges District Board of Trustees. With more than 20 years of service to the Alamo Colleges District, Dr. Flores possesses the distinction of being the ninth appointed chancellor and the first Hispanic chancellor in the district’s history.
Flores’ vision for the Alamo Colleges District – eliminating poverty through education – is based on his personal experience as a child of migrant farmworkers who pursued education to gain economic and social mobility. Through his leadership, the Alamo Colleges District has launched AlamoPROMISE, a tuition-free college program for graduating high school students in Bexar County and one of the most significant initiatives implemented in the region. The program has served over 16,000 students since its inception, has increased Alamo Colleges’ enrollment to record numbers, and has increased the overall college-going rate in Bexar County. Additionally, Flores spearheaded the launch of AlamoBOOKS+ in 2022, a groundbreaking initiative ensuring access to all required textbooks and instructional materials by the first day of class.
As a leader, Flores supports empowering students for success through high-impact teaching and learning practices, including academic advising, early access to college through high school programs and experiential learning opportunities through apprenticeships, internships, and volunteer experiences. Aligned with the vision for eliminating poverty, Flores has championed the launch of Student Advocacy Centers at each of the district’s five colleges.
During his first year as chancellor, Dr. Flores led the Alamo Colleges District and its five colleges in celebrating the recognition as the only community college system in the nation to be awarded the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation’s highest Presidential honor for performance excellence through innovation, improvement and visionary leadership.
Other achievements during Flores’ leadership as chancellor include: Palo Alto College named Rising Star by the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence (2019); Ellucian Impact Award for using technology to enhance student experience (2020); San Antonio College named winner of the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence (2021); the American Association of Community Colleges Award of Excellence for Student Success (2022); and the Alamo Colleges District’s Certification™ as a Great Place To Work® (2024).
Flores is nationally known as a former coach for Achieving the Dream and as a fellow for the American Council on Education, Aspen Pahara Institute, and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. He conducted postgraduate studies at the Harvard University Institute for Educational Management and is in demand as a speaker at national higher education conferences. Flores was also awarded the Ohtli Award, one of the most prestigious awards given by the Mexican government, acknowledging his work to educate and empower Mexican and Mexican-American students. In 2023, he received the Baldrige Foundation Award for Leadership Excellence in Education.
Flores has also served as a board member and chair of the Governing Board of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, and is a board member of the American Association of Colleges and Universities, Achieving the Dream, Greater: SATX, UP Partnership, and United Way San Antonio. Flores serves on the Policy & Advocacy and Finance & Audit Committees of the Board of Trustees.
Flores holds a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from the University of Texas at Austin, a master’s in Political Science from Illinois State University, and a bachelor’s in political science from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He lives in central San Antonio with his wife Martha, a talented creative director and entrepreneur, and their daughters, Mara and Mia.