The Katy Rice Harvest Festival announced on September 10 that Jay A. Neal, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Chief Operating Officer for the University of Houston at Sugar Land and Katy, will serve as Grand Marshal of the 2026 Katy Rice Harvest Festival Parade. The parade will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, October 3, in historic downtown Katy.  

Neal provides executive leadership for the University of Houston’s instructional sites in Sugar Land and Katy, which collectively serve more than 6,000 students. He oversees strategic growth, academic programming, community engagement, workforce development and regional partnerships. He also serves as an Associate Professor in the Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership and has held academic and administrative leadership positions at UH for more than two decades.

An active leader throughout Katy and Fort Bend County, Neal serves on numerous boards and advisory committees focused on education, economic development and workforce advancement. His work has helped strengthen partnerships among education, industry and government while expanding academic and career opportunities throughout the Greater Houston region.

His selection is especially meaningful as the University of Houston returns for the second consecutive year as Presenting Sponsor of the Katy Rice Harvest Festival. Through annual contributions of $20,000 in both 2025 and 2026, UH has invested a combined $40,000 in the festival and its mission.

Organized by the City of Katy in partnership with the Rotary Club of Katy, the festival directs its net proceeds toward scholarships for local students and grants supporting community organizations. UH’s continued sponsorship helps preserve one of Katy’s most treasured traditions while creating an impact that extends far beyond festival weekend.

“We could not be more excited to welcome Dr. Neal as our Grand Marshal and to bring this special tradition back to the Katy Rice Harvest Festival,” said City of Katy Mayor, Dusty Thiele. “Dr. Neal has become a valued partner and friend to our community, and this is a wonderful opportunity to recognize his leadership while thanking the University of Houston for standing behind our festival, our students and our local organizations for many years.”

Kaci Maris, Tourism and Marketing Events Coordinator for the City of Katy and festival organizer, who attended the C. T. Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston as a Terry Foundation transfer scholar, also understands firsthand the difference scholarship support can make.

“Being a scholarship recipient myself, I know firsthand just how life-changing that support can be,” Maris said. “That is why UH’s continued investment in this festival means so much to me. Their support is helping us create those same opportunities for local students while also giving back to organizations doing incredible work throughout our community. I am so excited about everything the University of Houston is bringing to Katy and Sugar Land, and we are truly grateful to have such a supportive partner right here in our own backyard.”

The parade will travel through historic downtown Katy on October 3. The celebration will continue October 10–11 when the 2026 Katy Rice Harvest Festival returns with live entertainment, family attractions, food, shopping and tributes to Katy’s rice-farming heritage.

For more information, visit katyriceharvestfestival.com.