Our Chair's Message: 

Texas doesn't get to choose when disaster strikes, but we do get to choose how prepared we are when it does and how we respond. From the catastrophic winter freeze of 2021 to Hurricane Harvey's and Kerrville's devastating floods to ongoing wildfire threats, Texas faces some of the most diverse and severe disaster risks in the nation. The question isn't whether the next major disaster will hit Texas. The question is whether we'll be ready.

That's why we've brought you to San Juan this June. Puerto Rico has walked the path we hope Texas never has to, but one we must prepare for anyway. Over the next three days, you'll hear from the people who run toward disaster: the first responders, emergency managers, utility executives, healthcare leaders, and policy experts who coordinate response when every second counts. You'll learn how command structures actually work, what it takes to keep hospitals functioning when overwhelmed, how to restore power to millions, and how to coordinate across public, private, and nonprofit sectors when silos can cost lives. These aren't academic exercises: they are about decisions that determine whether families get rescued in time, whether hospitals keep patients alive when the grid fails, and whether communities emerge stronger from catastrophe.

We chose San Juan deliberately. While we gather in one of the Caribbean's most beautiful destinations, we're here because there are lessons we can learn from each other. The same vibrant streets you'll explore between sessions have witnessed extraordinary resilience and recovery, as have many of our communities in Texas.

So enjoy the incredible food, the warmth of the people, the beauty of this place, but remember why we're really here: because when disaster strikes Texas, we need leaders who understand what's coming, who know how to coordinate when chaos reigns, and who can respond faster, recover stronger, and lead more effectively than ever before.

Matt Barr, Class of 2023
Anita Fernandes, Class of 2025
Wandaliz Turner, Class of 2024
Texas Lyceum - Optional Meeting Co-Chairs

Our President's Message:

Welcome to San Juan, Puerto Rico — a beautiful place defined by resilience, culture, and an enduring spirit of community. As we gather in this historic and vibrant setting, Puerto Rico offers a powerful backdrop for meaningful conversations about preparedness, recovery, and the partnerships that strengthen our communities in times of crisis.

The Texas Lyceum is proud to host our 2026 Optional Meeting, “Look for the Helpers: Disaster Response and Recovery in Texas,” from June 3–5. Together, we will examine how Texas prepares for, responds to, and recovers from disasters ranging from hurricanes and floods to wildfires and winter storms. At a time when communities across our state face escalating risks, this conference provides an opportunity to explore innovative solutions, share lessons learned, and strengthen the relationships essential to effective response and recovery.

Throughout our time together, we will engage with leaders from the public and private sectors, emergency management professionals, infrastructure experts, and communications specialists who are shaping the future of disaster resilience in Texas. Our discussions will highlight the importance of coordination, public-private partnerships, infrastructure investment, and cross-sector collaboration in protecting lives and rebuilding communities after disaster strikes.

Puerto Rico’s own experience navigating recovery and resilience offers invaluable perspective for our conversations. The challenges faced here — and the determination shown in overcoming them — remind us that resilience is not built by institutions alone, but through the collective efforts of neighbors, leaders, first responders, and communities working together toward recovery.

I extend my sincere thanks to Lyceum Directors Matt Barr ’23, Wandaliz Turner ’24 and Anita Fernandez ’25 for their leadership in curating our off-the-record conversations and elite access. To our association managers Logan Beszterda and Marine Bibes for their careful orchestration of this conference to provide everyone a unique experience. Lastly thank you to our generous sponsors whose support makes this all possible.

As we gather in San Juan, I encourage you to engage fully in our off-the-record discussions, build meaningful connections, and take time to appreciate the history, culture, and hospitality that make Puerto Rico so special. Through thoughtful dialogue and shared purpose, we continue the Texas Lyceum’s nearly five-decade tradition of bringing leaders together to address the challenges and opportunities shaping our state.

Thank you for joining us as we continue Moving Texas Forward.

Yours in service,

JR Treviño ‘20
2026 President

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