Amanda Lozano
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Texas A&M University-San Antonio president announced this afternoon Steven G. Olswang, J.D., Ph.D., will serve as interim provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.
Olswang begins his role at A&M-San Antonio on Feb. 29. Former Provost Brent Snow resigned from his position Jan. 14.
President Matson announced Jan. 20 the campus hired AGB Interim to recruit qualified applicants for an interim provost. “Additionally,” she wrote, “a national search will simultaneously launch for a permanent Provost.”
The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, an organization that provides interim leadership talent, referred President Matson to her top administrative candidate.
“She [Matson] asked if I would come out and look at the campus. I think it’s a good match,” Olswang said. “This is a great place. The fact that it matches my commitment; the mission of this institution matches where I moved my career…I really got committed to international education, but mostly to serve underserved populations.”
Olswang “will concentrate on ensuring the continued success of the strong, forward-looking transfer and graduate programs,” according to a Feb. 24 statement from President Matson provided by the Office of University Communications.
In addition, he’s expected to establish “standards for scheduling, core curriculum, and space management.” He will also lead the academic program implementation, outline plans for academic assessment and attend to the needs of first-year experience.
Campus administration provided the campus community opportunities yesterday and today to meet with search consultant, Bob Lawless, to ask questions and provide feedback on the search for provost.
Olswang said he’s been in San Antonio for three days. “It’s a great university. It’s a great opportunity,” Olswang added. “There are great prospects for this place, and the projection is huge. I really want to work here.”
Esperanza Anaya, executive assistant to the provost, said that following the announcement, he took off from campus to pick up his wife for his evening return flight to Seattle.
“Excellent. I’ll see you at 8 a.m, Monday morning,” he said, leaving his new office.
