Fred Farias Ill, OD, MCSO, FMO of McAllen, Texas has served on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board since 2015. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board as of 2021. He also serves on the Texas Higher Education Foundation. 

Dr. Farias, a Rio Grande Valley native, graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies. Also, a graduate of Harvard Medical School with a Master in Clinical Service Operations and a Doctor of Optometry from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee. 

He is CEO of 20/20 Vision Care in McAllen, has served as president of the Texas Optometric Association and is a former president of the Rio Grande Valley Optometric Society. He has served on the American Optometric Association Board of Trustees and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry. 

Dr. Farias is a past gubernatorial appointee of the Texas Optometry Board where he chaired the Licensing and Administration Committee. He is a Lifetime Member of the University of Texas System Chancellor's Executive Committee and the University of Texas at Austin Development Board. 

Dr. Farias also serves on the University of Texas Longhorn Foundation Athletic Advisory Council, University of Texas Longhorn Foundation Member and Texas Exes Association Life Member. Also, Founder and First Chairman of the Texas Exes Hispanic Alumni Committee. In the past, has served as President of the Hidalgo-Starr County Texas Exes and University of Texas College of Communication Advisory Council 2001- 2004. 

Or. Farias was named the 2019 University of Texas at Austin Moody College of Communication Outstanding Alumnus. He is a past recipient of the Outstanding Young Texas Exes Award from the University of Texas at Austin and in 2017 was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Southern College of Optometry. 

In 2016, Dr. Farias received the National American Optometric Association Optometrist of the Year Award and the 2015 Texas Optometrist of the Year Award. 
Dr. Farias is also active in the McAllen community, serving as chair of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Council. He is a charter member of the Optometry Cares - The AOA Foundation. He previously has served on several boards including those of the Vannie E. Cook Cancer Center, Leadership McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley Arthritis Foundation. 

Most recently, Dr. Farias has organized Vision Health Services for the public good of the Rio Grande Valley community affected by the Covid 19 Pandemic.