Trauth reports to work as president of SWT

SAN MARCOS,TEXAS— Denise M. Trauth reported to work Wednesday, Aug. 7, as the ninth president of Southwest Texas State University.

Trauth came to SWT from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she had served as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs.

She was selected as president of SWT on June 11 by a unanimous vote of the Texas State University System Board of Regents. She succeeds Jerome H. Supple, who is retiring.

“I think I am home at Southwest Texas,” said Trauth. “From the very first moments when I met with the search committee, I have felt that Southwest Texas is the right place for me. It is a growing, dynamic, complex and wonderful institution, poised for greatness.”

She praised Supple for his service to SWT.

“President Supple has handed me an institution with both a strong history and a great destiny,” she said.

Trauth said she looked forward to working with SWT faculty, students and staff.

“It was my immediate impression, since reinforced many times, that people here love Southwest Texas State, they are fond of each other, and they are willing to work together to make Southwest Texas State one of the preeminent higher education institutions in the nation,” said Trauth.

Trauth holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature from the College of Mount St. Joseph in Ohio, a master’s degree in journalism from Ohio State University and a doctorate in mass communication from the University of Iowa.