Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed Leia De La Garza to serve as the Midwestern State University Student Regent for a one-year term effective June 1, 2018. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.

On the MSU Texas campus, De La Garza is a senator for the Pre-Professional Club, a student organization that focuses on providing information and assistance to students interested in pursuing professional degrees. She is president of the Omicron Theta Chapter of Chi Omega. She has served as a peer mentor to more than 30 freshmen, providing guidance for those students to succeed in their first semester.

De La Garza is the recipient of a Redwine Honors Scholarship, an Academic Merit Scholarship, Norwood Memorial Criminal Justice Scholarship, a Peer Mentor Scholarship, an A-Team Scholarship, and a Rising Latina Award. She works with the MSU Texas Admissions office and gives tours to prospective students and their parents.

Student regent is the highest appointed position of a student at Texas public institutions of higher education. The student regent represents all students, both undergraduates and graduates, for a one-year term on the Board of Regents, the university's governing board. This position represents students in discussions of key issues in higher education. Although the student regent does not vote, he or she has the opportunity to have important input in decisions affecting the future of the university.

De La Garza will replace Shayla Owens, whose term expired May 31.