Olivas joined the faculty of the University of Houston in 1982. During his tenure at Houston he was Visiting Professor of Law at the University of Wisconsin and Special Counsel to Chancellor Donna Shalala from 1989-90. In 1997, he held the Mason Ladd Distinguished Visiting Chair at the University of Iowa College of Law. Prior to his appointment at the University of Houston, he held teaching and research positions at The Ohio State University and Howard University and served as Director of Research for the League of United Latin American Citizens in Washington, D.C. from 1979-1982.

Olivas is the author or co-author of eight books, including The Dilemma of Access, Latino College Students, and The Law and Higher Education. He has served on the editorial board of many scholarly journals. Professor Bates attended the College of Santa Fe, Pontifical College Josephinum, The Ohio State University, and received his law degree from Georgetown University.