For his commitment to serving Missouri and ongoing support of Missouri State University, Missouri state Rep. Alex Riley will receive the university’s 2026 Government Excellence Award.

As voted by the Board of Governors today, the award will be presented at a fall 2026 commencement ceremony Dec. 11.

About Riley

Riley represents Greene County’s 134th District in the Missouri House of Representatives. A Springfield native, he was first elected to the House in November 2020 and began serving in January 2021.

He currently serves as House majority floor leader and was elected by House Republicans in January 2025 to serve as speaker-elect for the 2027-28 legislative session. During his tenure, he has helped lead the House through legislation addressing education, public safety, taxes, transportation and a variety of other topics.

Related to higher education and Missouri State, Riley supported efforts in the 2026 legislative session to modernize state funding for public higher education institutions. In the 2025 legislative session, he voted for and supported legislation authorizing the university to offer PhD programs.

He has also consistently backed capital improvement projects that strengthen the academic programming offered at Missouri State, as well as made himself available to students when they visit the Capitol.

“Rep. Riley has shown what it means to serve both his state and his hometown,” said President Richard B. Williams. “His leadership in the Missouri House and commitment to help advance our university have made a difference, and we’re proud to recognize his contributions.”

An attorney with Healy Law Offices, Riley earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Thomas Edison State University and a law degree from Southern Illinois University.

About the Government Excellence Award

The Government Excellence Award is bestowed to government officials who exemplify leadership, support the university and have outstanding achievements.

The university president and administrative council recommend award recipients. Executive committees of the Faculty Senate, Staff Senate and Student Government Association support the nomination prior to going before the Board of Governors for approval.

Previous award recipients include Sen. Sandy Crawford, former Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, Gabe Gore, Dr. Karla Eslinger and Clay Goddard.