Dr. Perez is originally from Rocksprings, Texas and the rural hills of Southwest Texas. A first-generation Mexican American and migrant student, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Texas A&I University and served eight years as an engineer in the semiconductor and aerospace industries. After moving to the Rio Grande Valley, he transitioned to education where he taught high school math and integrated math and science courses in middle school as a founding teacher with IDEA Public Schools. He then earned a Master of Science in Secondary Education from the University of Texas Pan American and served 14 years as a STEM Education consultant with the Region One Education Service Center. He is the recipient of several state and national awards for STEM equity, advocacy, and research and earned a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Texas Tech University. His research focuses on STEM education access, policy and practice as well as the attainment factors of historically underrepresented groups and the educational development of Latinx professionals in the STEM fields. He enjoys solving crossword puzzles, the daily Wordle, playing his collection of acoustic guitars, and family time with his wife, Grace and their 4 children - Lily, Travis, Taylor and Kaylee.
