A&M-San Antonio president announces end to tenure, is moving to California university

November 16, 2022
Updated: November 21, 2022 - 4:42 PM
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President Cynthia Teniente-Matson addresses faculty and staff during a budget meeting on campus in 2016. Photo by Monica Lamadrid

New Interim President Cynthia Teniente-Matson answers questions about expansion and class schedules, her family and hobbies in January 2015. Photo by Monica Lamadrid

From the left, C. Clark Welder, chairman-elect, Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson, president of Texas A&M University-San Antonio, Elaine Mendoza and Evangelina G. Flores, chairman. Photo by Jerry Quijano.

Former President Bill Clinton and Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts for "The President is Missing" book tour. File photo

From left to right: Gregorio Gonzalez, business management freshman, Dr. Melissa Mahan, vice president of student affairs, Cynthia Teniente-Matson, Texas A&M–San Antonio president, General the Jaguar, Edwin Blanton, executive director of experiential learning and community engagement, Sherry Hardwick, student intern, cut the ribbon to the General’s Store, located on the first floor of Patriot’s Casa. File photo

Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson, president of A&M-San Antonio, addresses the excited crowd in front of the future Science and Technology building on Feb. 28, 2017. Photo by Wyatt Matson

Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson speaks at the Tree-Centennial Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on the Texas A&M University-San Antonio campus. This event is one of the many city-wide Tricentennial events taking place throughout the entirety of 2018. File photo

Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson, president of Texas A&M University-San Antonio, stands beside General the Jaguar and smiles at a student during the spring 2020 curbside commencement. Courtesy photo: Office of Marketing and Communications, A&M-San Antonio

CEO of The Hector and Gloria López Foundation, Sergio Rodriguez (left), and A&M-San Antonio President Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson (right) hold a check for $2.1 million after announcing the López Scholars program on July 6, 2022. Photo by Amber Esparza

President Cynthia Teniente-Matson addresses university faculty and staff at the fall 2022 convocation on Aug. 16, 2022. Photo by Amber Esparza

President Cynthia Teniente-Matson is leaving Texas A&M University-San Antonio at the end of this fall to take the reins at a California university, according to a press release the morning of Nov. 16

Matson accepted the position of president at San Jose State University in San Jose, California. According to the release, Matson will take on her new job in January.

Included in the release were comments by John Sharp, chancellor of the A&M system.

“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,” Sharp said. “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.”

Matson has served as president at A&M-San Antonio since 2015.

Also included were comments by Matson on A&M-San Antonio.

“It is a bittersweet moment as I am extraordinarily proud of all the students, faculty, staff and alumni of A&M-San Antonio,” 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.”

An interim president will be appointed, but no one has been identified.

This is a developing story.

About the Author

Sergio Medina

Editor in Chief

Sergio Medina is a journalism senior and editor in chief for The Mesquite at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. He transferred from San Antonio College in December 2021, where he was editor for The Ranger student publication for four years. Sergio’s interest in journalism comes from a love in storytelling consisting of movies, video games, TV series, books and comic books. Upon completing his bachelor’s degree, Sergio aims to join the journalism ranks servicing the San Antonio community.