Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson, president of Texas A&M University-San Antonio, will become the president of San José State University.
Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson
Teniente-Matson will step down from her current position at A&M-San Antonio and start at San José State in January. She has been president at A&M-San Antonio since 2015.
“Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson helped Texas A&M University-San Antonio grow into the strong regional university it has become and we are thankful for her service and wish her continued success at San José State,” said John Sharp, Chancellor of The Texas A&M University System. “Her focus on serving South San Antonio will be her legacy here. We will begin a nationwide search immediately to find a dynamic leader worthy of the fastest growing campus in The Texas A&M University System.”
During Teniente-Matson’s tenure, the school received the U.S. Department of Education Hispanic serving institution (HSI) designation in 2016; received the Seal of Excelencia certification in 2021; created the Mays Center for Experiential Learning and Community Engagement; developed the Engineering Technology/Cyber Security Research Center; and established the Institute for Autism and Related Disorders.
“It is a bittersweet moment as I am extraordinarily proud of all the students, faculty, staff and alumni of A&M-San Antonio,” Teniente-Matson said. “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. Our campus is a better place because of the widespread philanthropic and public support we have received over the years. The future is bright at A&M-San Antonio.”
Teniente-Matson holds a Bachelor of Arts in management from the University of Alaska Fairbanks; a Master of business administration from the University of Alaska Anchorage; and a doctorate in educational leadership from Fresno State.
Last year, she discussed being a first-generation college student on Diverse's "In the Margins" podcast.
