Val Lira is a Development & Operations Associate at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, where she supports the Foundation’s development efforts and day-to-day operations. As a lifelong Texan, Val is proud to play a small part in the work that keeps Texas a place of opportunity and freedom for generations to come.
A Dallas native, Val graduated from Southern Methodist University in 2026 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Public Policy and Economics. While at SMU, she served as secretary of the Sales Club and was a member of the Armentrout Reading Group through the Bridwell Institute for Economic Freedom, where she studied and discussed the Declaration of Independence, individual liberty and the role of government in a free society.
After graduation Val traded Dallas for Austin to begin her career at TPPF, but she remains a proud Mustang! Outside of work, she enjoys going on walks, finding a good cup of coffee, and exploring Austin’s restaurant scene.