Just before the start of the summer, I shared a message with you regarding my plans to improve communication between us. As part of that commitment, I have put into place a new quarterly communication that shares some of our recent institutional progress most significant to faculty. This is the first installment of these communications, and I hope that they prove as informative as I intend.
The summer is just behind us and we are well into what is shaping up to be an extremely busy and productive semester. Below you will find updates regarding some of our most important priorities, new faces in our university community and news and events that I would like to draw to your attention.
There is much to look forward to and much work ahead. Thank you for all that you do for UIW, for our students and for moving us forward as a leading Catholic institution of higher education.
Praised be the Incarnate Word!
Thomas M. Evans, PhD President
Provost Search
I would like to thank Dr. Caroline Goulet for serving as interim provost since the retirement of Dr. Barbara Aranda-Naranjo in July. The search for UIW’s permanent provost and vice president for Academic Affairs is already well underway. As you read in the university-wide communication issued on Friday, in recent weeks I have established a Provost Search Committee in consultation with academic leadership. It consists of faculty members, including representatives of the Faculty Senate, deans, Student Government Association President, a member of our Board of Trustees who is also a member of CCVI and vice presidents; all members are listed below. The global executive search firm WittKieffer has been selected to assist with this nationwide search. The committee held a kickoff meeting on August 31 and established a working timeline and committee schedule.
On Friday, September 16 at 4 p.m., a listening session is scheduled for UIW faculty members. I encourage you to take part and share your input about the qualities, experiences and qualifications you would like to see in our next provost. Listening sessions will also be held with Dean’s Council and Faculty Senate, among other groups.
If you are unable to attend this listening session, but you would still like to share your thoughts about the next provost, you are welcome to complete a survey about the search via the link below
Recruitment of candidates for the opening will occur from September through November, with a first round of interviews scheduled for December and a second round in January. The committee will provide the university with updates about the search as appropriate.
Search Committee Members
John Bury, Chief of Staff and VP for Strategy and Enrollment, Chair
Glenn Ambrose, Faculty Senate President and Professor, Religious Studies
Dr. Srihari Narayanan, Professor, Optometry
Dr. Kathleen Tilton, Faculty Senate Standing Chair, Assistant Professor Nursing
Dr. Sandra Guzman-Foster, Associate Professor, Education
Sr. Theresa McGrath, CCVI, Congregational Appointee to the Board of Trustees
Julianna Sandoval, Student Government Association President
Dr. Jeanne Scott, Dean, H-E-B School of Business and Administration
Dr. Earlanda Williams, Associate Dean, School of Osteopathic Medicine
Marcos Fragoso, Vice President, International Affairs
Strategic Plan
While the university has made significant progress toward our Strategic Priorities since they were established in 2018, the pandemic disrupted processes and, over the past two years, much of the energy and resources focused on the Strategic Plan were redirected to serving our most immediate needs. Now, as we move ahead, we are reinvigorating our efforts.
I have asked Chief of Staff John Bury to establish and oversee new processes. In the immediate term, this includes re-establishing committees and ensuring that each includes diverse and robust membership. Strategic Priority champions have also been engaged to review priority objectives and update them as necessary.
Information about our Vision, Strategic Priorities and Campus Master Plan can be found online. News and progress will be posted regularly to the priorities’ individual sites.
Make UIW a premiere provider of educational service to men and women of the military and veterans.
This month, UIW was recognized as the No. 6 in the nation in the annual Best for Vets list by the Military Times, up 37 spots from last year’s No. 43 rank. UIW Senior Director for Military and Veterans Affairs Jonathan Lovejoy, who also serves as the champion for this Strategic Priority, credits the sharp rise to high GPAs of military-connected students, and completion, retention and persistence rates. Military-specific resources and support systems also factor greatly. I would like to thank our Military and Veterans Affairs team and our faculty for their tremendous work supporting servicemembers, veterans and their families.
Improve UIW’s infrastructure of facilities, staffing levels, and business processes.
Significant progress was made to our infrastructure improvement goals over summer 2022. Following last summer’s $1.6 million technology upgrade in learning spaces, this summer saw a $700,000 investment to outfit 19 learning spaces across all campuses with enhanced technology. On the Broadway campus, the Student Engagement Center welcomed a new Starbucks, replacing the smaller Finnegan’s coffee shop in the Mabee Library. During August’s faculty welcome, I shared that this space has been designated as the home of our new faculty lounge, which is tentatively scheduled to open in the spring. At Founders Hall, the long and careful design process continues. In recent months, the general contractor, design firm and project management firms were selected.
Meet the Trustees
In July, we welcomed the UIW Board of Trustees for our first quarterly meeting of the fiscal year. At that meeting, the Board installed five new members who replaced outgoing members Scott Beckendorf, Sr. Brigid Marie Clarke, Catherine Dulle, Evalinda Davila and Sr. Teresa Maya.
For a full list of Trustees, visit the board website.
Principal, AREA Real Estate, LLC Committee: Finance
Sr. Maria T. Flores, CCVI
Congregational Appointee Committee: Mission
Jennifer Staubach Gates
Committee: Mission
Hon. Edward Prado
Committee: Governance
Julianna Sandoval
UIW Student Government Association President Committee: Mission
Sr. Yolanda Tarango, CCVI
Congregational Leader, Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word Committee: Executive, Governance
Kristi Wyatt
Associate Vice Chancellor for Communications and Engagement, Alamo College District Committee: Academic Affairs
UIW Welcomes New Leaders
In recent months, the University welcomed two new employees who will play critical roles in efforts important to our academic and institutional success, such as increasing enrollment, improving the student experience and strengthening pathways to UIW.
Patricia L. Ramirez (far left) was named director of Brainpower Connection Programs for the Division of Strategy and Enrollment. She brings with her 25 years of experience in education and a strong background in Catholic education to her role directing UIW’s circle of collegiality that includes four elementary schools and two high schools.
Dr. Brandy Finck (left) joined UIW as the associate vice president of Enrollment Management and Student Experience. In her role, she oversees Admissions, the Brainpower Connection, First-Year Engagement and Career Services and is responsible for the division’s progress toward meeting enrollment goals. Fink has more than 15 years of experience in higher education admissions.
October 4, 2022, 4 p.m., Student Engagement Center
An informal evening of heavy hors d'oeuvres, wine and great company, this event is an opportunity to speak to one another as colleagues. An invitation is forthcoming, and I hope to see you then.
Heritage Day
October 5, 2022, 2 p.m., Chapel of the Incarnate Word
Please join us as we recognize the educators, administrators and staff who have reached a milestone year in their employment with us. Heritage Day also offers us an opportunity to celebrate those who uphold our university and support our students in line with our Mission and the spiritual heritage of our founders, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word.
Lunch with the President
14 Dates, 6 San Antonio Campuses
This year, I have launched what I hope will be a new tradition on our campuses. Beginning in October, I am inviting up to eight students, faculty and staff to join Chief of Staff John Bury and me for lunch. We have planned 14 different lunch dates across six of our campuses in San Antonio. These informal gatherings give us an opportunity to connect outside of the learning and working space and get to know each other better. Dates, times, locations and sign-up forms are available online.
