We are proud to announce that faculty members Victor Sáenz and Cinthia Salinas have moved into new college leadership roles this year.
Victor Sáenz has been appointed Associate Dean of Student Success, Community Engagement and Administration, and Cinthia Salinas will assume the position of Associate Dean Pro Tem for Educator Workforce Development. In their new roles, each will continue to spearhead innovative initiatives, curate engaging educational environments and champion our college’s mission, vision and values.
Sáenz and Salinas have long served our college community with passion, dedication and transformative leadership. Both have seamlessly executed their roles as department chairs, tirelessly advocating for equity in education, student success and faculty development. Their journeys, filled with countless contributions in mentorship and research capacities, mirror their exceptional commitment to enhancing a variety of educational experiences in the college.
As Associate Dean of Student Success, Community Engagement and Administration, Dr. Sáenz will champion student success efforts at the undergraduate level, supervising the assistant dean of student affairs and a holistic team focused on academic advising, outreach/recruitment, student success and career engagement. In addition, he will lead professional development programming focused on student success, and he will oversee undergraduate student issues/concerns in collaboration with department chairs. Dr. Sáenz will also play a role in aligning community engagement priorities for the college, working collaboratively to forge and nurture relationships with school districts and community organizations, embodying our dedication to serving Texas’ diverse communities.
In this new position, Dr. Sáenz will also provide support to the senior associate dean in navigating certain faculty- and staff-related issues and in managing various administrative matters. He will co-lead the COE Faculty Leadership Fellows program and faculty mentoring processes. The administration aspect of the role will contribute to providing a transparent, inclusive environment while also addressing college climate issues head on.
In her role as Associate Dean Pro Tem for Workforce Development, Dr. Salinas will spearhead pivotal initiatives at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, playing a critical role in enhancing and sustaining the educator workforce. This role not only involves keenly engaging and supporting team members in undergraduate outreach but also building and sustaining partnerships, such as those with Austin Community College, to create accessible student pathways. Engaging in partnerships like the UT-AISD Collaborative, Dr. Salinas will also contribute to recruitment, admissions and special events across COE and UT. With a focus on expanding post-baccalaureate options for teacher certification pathways, she will act as a pivotal bridge, interfacing with districts to align proposed programs with identified needs, while also guiding the development and implementation of new programs. In addition, Dr. Salinas will champion robust graduate student marketing across the college and help design innovative initiatives such as the new Hook ‘Em Here Harlingen partnership, aiming to consistently enrich the pipeline into the educator workforce.
We extend our deepest gratitude to Associate Deans Sáenz and Salinas for their outstanding service, and we look forward to the progressive strides the college will take under their thoughtful leadership.
