Javelina alumnus now serves as university president
Dr. Robert Vela, a Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK) graduate, is officially the next university president. Vela started on June 15, after being named sole finalist in late April.
The 1994 graduate reflected on his time at the university as a student stepping on campus for the first time to his first days in the presidential office.
“I think I’ve taken these last few days to really reflect and walk the same halls that I walked when I was 18 years old. I think seeing it through the lens of what it means to be a first-generation college student, what it means to be the first in your family to potentially walk the stage and earn a degree is transformational,” Vela said.
“To come full circle after 25 years in higher education to serve as the president of A&M Kingsville is just surreal to me because I never could have imagined walking the halls taking all the classes that I would ever become president of this amazing university.”
Vela hopes to send the message to students that regardless of where you grew up, or the lack of resources you face, everyone faces barriers. Attending university shows you are willing to work hard to reach your goals, and you can achieve them.
As the university’s new president, Vela is prepared to take on challenges facing the university, listing enrollment as the main issue of concern at TAMUK.
“Top priority for me is to grow enrollment,” Vela said. “We have an environment that’s open for all students, that all students are welcome, so it’s very important for me that we all ensure that enrollment becomes and will stay top priority for us.”
Vela believes enrollment is everyone’s concern on campus.
“Enrollment is everybody’s business. We as employees or alumni or students, we should all be advocating for this amazing university,” he said.
As President, Vela has no plans to cut program, if enrollment continues to decline.
Faculty Senate President-Elect Dr. Michael Houf said that he and the Faculty Senate President will meet with the President and Provost of the university monthly, with open lines of communication on each side.
The role of the Faculty Senate is to provide representation to all departments and colleges on campus.
“We meet to talk about the issues and opportunities that the faculty have,” Faculty Senate President Dr. Tanner Machado said. “I’m super excited about being able to work with Dr. Vela, the opportunity for him to come down, an individual that is from South Texas, who understands South Texas, who understands the culture that the university has, so I’m super excited to be a part of helping him transition as a president here, to understand the needs of the faculty.”
Vela will also work closely with student leaders in the Student Government Association (SGA).
“The plan that I have to ensure that Dr. Vela is able to listen to the student’s concerns is to deeply inform him that the students’ well-being is the main priority. Without the students there will be no university. Every single student on this campus has a powerful voice and every single one should be heard,” SGA President Tyler Larraga said.
Traditionally, SGA meets with the university president on a regular basis and Larraga is confident Vela will continue to meet with SGA allowing them to continue advocating for student life
“I want students to know that I’m approachable and that I’m a good listener and I really care,” Vela said. “I’m very empathetic about what students are going through. For me it’s always about really listening [and] understanding that student lens and ensuring that students have a voice and they’re being heard and they have a seat at the leadership table to have an active voice in decision making for the future of this university.”
As Vela completes his first weeks in office, the Javelina alumnus assures students he will listen.
“At the end of the day we want our students to graduate, that’s the most important thing,” he said. “We all have a role in ensuring that students ultimately succeed here.”
To hear the full interview with Dr. Vela, visit thesouthtexan.com
