Nelly Herrera, J.D., will deliver the Sul Ross State University fall commencement address at the ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 14, at 2:30 p.m. at the International Center for Trade in Eagle Pass.

Herrera is the Vice Chancellor and General Counsel of the Texas State University System.

She began her career with the TSUS in 2011, working as an Associate General Counsel. She was promoted to Deputy General Counsel in 2017 and held that position until her appointment in 2020 as Vice Chancellor and General Counsel, providing legal services to the system’s seven member institutions. She also provides legal advice and counsel to the Board of Regents, Chancellor and other TSUS and campus-level leadership.

Prior to joining TSUS, Herrera worked with the Texas Attorney General’s Office for 23 years, where she began her legal career as a law clerk. She first worked in the Consumer Protection Division but soon moved to the Tort Litigation Division where she defended numerous governmental agencies in district and county courts throughout the state. She rose through the ranks of the Tort Division and served as Chief of the Medical Malpractice Section before being promoted to Division Chief.

Herrera is board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in the field of Personal Injury Trial Law and she has maintained this certification since 1997. She is a Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, and the recipient of the 2009 Government Service Award from the Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association.

Herrera is a magna cum laude graduate of St. Mary’s University in San Antonio and received her juris doctor degree from the University of Texas School of Law. Born in Mexico and one of seven siblings, she is a dual citizen of both Mexico and the U.S.

The graduation ceremony will be livestreamed on YouTube at https://youtube.com/live/8i0RuRqcWmg?feature=share.