Carlos Contreras, President & CEO of Goodwill Industries of San Antonio, to Deliver 2026 LBJ School Commencement Address

AUSTIN, TEXAS (March 27, 2026) — Carlos J. Contreras, an alumnus of The University of Texas at Austin’s Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, will return to his alma mater on May 9 to deliver the LBJ School’s 2026 commencement address. The ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m. in the Lady Bird Johnson Auditorium.

“I am deeply humbled to be invited back to the LBJ School and honored to celebrate this incredible milestone with the Class of 2026.  The LBJ School shaped how I think about public service and my responsibility to the community.  It taught me that good public policy is grounded in improving the lives of people around us. To the graduates of 2026, my hope is that you will lead with compassion and humility, and an unwavering commitment to making life better for others.”

Contreras is President and Chief Executive Officer of Goodwill Industries of San Antonio, where he leads a workforce of approximately 1,800 employees serving communities across a 24-county region in Southwest Texas. Since joining the organization in 2021, he has driven significant growth, increasing revenue by roughly 50 percent while expanding access to career training and employment opportunities for thousands of residents.

Prior to his role at Goodwill, Contreras served as Assistant City Manager for the City of San Antonio from 2012 to 2021, where he provided leadership across multiple city departments, including aviation, economic development, convention and sports facilities, government and public affairs, and Pre-K 4 SA. Earlier in his career, he practiced law for nearly two decades and led government affairs for KB Home’s San Antonio division.

“We are honored to welcome Carlos Contreras back to his alma mater in celebration of our graduates," said JR DeShazo, dean of the LBJ School. “In serving his community through transformative leadership at Goodwill and the City of San Antonio, Carlos embodies the values of the LBJ School. Grounded in both public service and social entrepreneurship, Carlos's lessons in how the public, private and civil society sectors can work together are sure to guide and inspire our graduates.”

A dedicated public servant and civic leader, Contreras remains actively engaged in civic and regional initiatives. He serves on the Community Advisory Council for both the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and the Federal Reserve Board of Governors and is a member of the Executive Committee for greater:SATX, a regional partnership focused on advancing sustainable economic growth. He also serves on the board of VelocityTX, supporting innovation in bioscience and technology, and contributes to Early Matters San Antonio, an initiative focused on improving early childhood outcomes.

Contreras holds a Bachelor of Arts from St. Mary’s University, a Juris Doctor from The University of Texas School of Law, and a Master of Public Affairs from the LBJ School of Public Affairs.

The LBJ School is honored to welcome him back to the Forty Acres to share his insights on public service leadership and community impact.

During the ceremony, Contreras will address an audience of approximately 900 attendees, including 120 graduates receiving master’s degrees in Public Affairs (MPAff) and Global Policy Studies (MGPS), an Executive Master’s in Public Leadership (EMPL) and Ph.D.s in public policy. 
 
The LBJ School graduation ceremony will precede the university-wide commencement at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium later that evening, where graduates will participate in the traditional lighting of the Tower.