The University of Texas at Austin’s alumni organization has presented a Distinguished Alumnus Award to a high-ranking administrator with an extensive history of racially inflammatory statements and support for diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.
The award, presented to Dr. Richard Reddick by the Texas Exes during halftime at Saturday’s football game, is intended “to honor alumni who have distinguished themselves in their profession, community, and through service to the University.”
The Texas Exes are the official alumni organization of UT-Austin. While formally independent, they often work closely with university leadership.
The Texas Exes are governed by a board that includes both Reddick and UT-Austin Provost William Inboden.
Reddick, who serves as senior vice provost for undergraduate education at UT-Austin, was one of six alumni to receive the award in the 2025 cohort.
A Texas Exes press release touted Reddick’s service as “faculty co-chair of the Institute for Educational Management and Bravely Confronting Racism in Higher Education at Harvard Graduate School of Education” along with his role as “a member of UNESCO’s Countering Racism in Textbooks Committee.”
“He is the author of Restorative Resistance in Higher Education: Leading in an Era of Racial Awakening and Reckoning,” the release continues. Reddick also co-hosts the NPR podcast Black Austin Matters.
A similar list of accomplishments was read over the stadium’s public address system.
Reddick recently engendered controversy given his inclusion on a core curriculum task force, an initiative promoted by university President Jim Davis. Core curriculum refers to a set of courses that all students must take regardless of major.
As first reported by The Texas Horn, Reddick has an extensive history of far-left statements. These include references to the United States’ alleged “white supremacist” founding, comparisons of President Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler, and advocacy for so-called “diversity statements” in hiring.
Reddick’s university biography page confirms that he has written multiple articles supporting DEI and has won several awards on the subject.
Most notably, Reddick appeared on a September 2025 podcast in which he framed higher education reformer Christopher Rufo’s efforts, and efforts to dismantle DEI, as “anti-democratic.”
As senior vice provost for undergraduate education, Reddick’s position includes significant jurisdiction over academic affairs. Reddick reports to Inboden, who reports to Davis.
Neither UT-Austin nor the Texas Exes responded to a request for comment.
UT-Austin is a component of the University of Texas System. The UT System is overseen by a Board of Regents that is appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Texas Senate. Kevin Eltife is the current board chairman.
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