A&M-San Antonio’s president, Teniente-Matson, to depart – San Antonio Express-News

Texas A&M University-San Antonio President Cynthia Teniente-Matson will be the next president of San José State University in California, a position she will transition to in January.

The California State University governing board announced the appointment Wednesday, starting the countdown to Teniete-Matson’s final weeks as the young San Antonio institution’s second president.

“It is a bittersweet moment as I am extraordinarily proud of all the students, faculty, staff and alumni of A&M-San Antonio,” she said in a written statement. “Together we have helped to further our trajectory with an eye towards inclusive excellence, academic program growth and support for the future of our community.”

Teniente-Matson, 58, grew up in San Antonio, a South Side native who has led the only four-year university on the South Side since 2015. She succeeded founding president Maria Hernandez Ferrier, who led the school since its inception in 2009.

For years, A&M San Antonio has been the A&M University System’s fastest-growing campus. At the start of Teniente-Matson’s tenure, the university had about 4,520 students. This fall officials reported an enrollment of about 7,300. It now offers 37 undergraduate and 19 graduate degrees.

Dr. Cylnthia Teniente-Matson, President of Texas A&M University-San Antonio, is seen through a fountain fanning herself during the school’s 2020 curbside graduation ceremony.

Dr. Cylnthia Teniente-Matson, President of Texas A&M University-San Antonio, is seen through a fountain fanning herself during the school’s 2020 curbside graduation ceremony.

Bob Owen, Staff-photographer / San Antonio Express-News

The university has yet to name an interim president.

The coronavirus pandemic halted much of the expected growth across higher education institutions. Even with Texas providing an exception to the nationwide slowdown, Teniente-Matson said, administrators needed to develop programs and financial aid opportunities to attract and retain those still on the fence about continuing their education.

“There’s great incentives for students to be able to focus on school,” she said in an interview last summer. “But students are stressed, we know that. The world is stressed, we know that. So, we are trying to lean into more intentional programming to help students recover and thrive.”

On ExpressNews.com: Teniente-Matson: Serving students during the pandemic, and beyond it

Teniente-Matson will take more than 30 years of higher education experience to her new role, which will return her to the California system where she served as vice president for administration and chief financial officer at California State University, Fresno from 2004 to 2015.

She holds a bachelor of arts in management from the University of Alaska at Fairbanks, a master of business administration from the University of Alaska at Anchorage, and a doctorate in educational leadership from Fresno State.

“Dr. Teniente-Matson has been a forward-thinking leader who has excelled at identifying and implementing new and innovative ways to improve student achievement,” CSU trustee Christopher Steinhauser, chair of the search committee that recommended her for the San José position, said in a statement. “Her experience, skill set and dedication to student success make her the ideal candidate to lead SJSU in the next exciting chapter of the university’s history.”

During her tenure at A&M-San Antonio, Teniente-Matson led campus growth projects that included a 694-acre master plan and an investment of about $200 million in facilities, infrastructure improvements and partnerships.

University of Texas at San Antonio President Taylor Eighmy said he had a chance to congratulate her and extend his best wishes Wednesday as news of her appointment broke.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for her, and she will be a superb leader,” Eighmy said in a written statement. “It is certainly bittersweet — she will be missed, her impact as a higher education leader has been significant, and she has meant so much to our San Antonio community.”

danya.perez@express-news.net| @DanyaPH

Original News Source

GET FREE NEWS TODAY!

You Can Unsubscribe At Any Time!


This will close in 0 seconds