Cynthia Hernandez named Vice President for Student Affairs at Texas State

Cynthia L. Hernandez has been named Vice President for Student Affairs at Texas State University following a national search.

Hernandez will assume her duties effective Jan. 11, 2021. She takes over for Joanne Smith, who retired in May, with Mary Ellen Cavitt serving as interim VPSA.

Hernandez comes to Texas State with more than 24 years of experience in student affairs. Since 2011, she has served as assistant vice president for student affairs (2011-2015) and associate vice president for student affairs (2016-present) at Texas A&M University. In these roles, she focused on enhancing integration and collaboration initiatives with academic affairs and on communicating the impact and value of student affairs to external constituents with an emphasis on student success. Her responsibilities included providing supervision and leadership for the Departments of Disability Services, University Art Galleries, Student Life Studies (assessment), Information Technology and the division’s marketing and communications area.

She has also served as the Title IX Deputy for Students (2011-2019) and as an adjunct professor teaching higher education business and finance in the Department of Educational Administration and Human Resource Development. Before moving to the vice president’s office, Hernandez worked in the area of new student orientation, transition and retention programming for 12 years both at Northern Arizona University and at Texas A&M. 

Hernandez earned a Bachelor of Science in animal science, Master of Science in student affairs administration in higher education and a Ph.D. in educational administration from Texas A&M.

VPSA is the senior student affairs officer at Texas State, reporting directly to the president and serving as an advisor and member of the president's cabinet. Hernandez will oversee a comprehensive portfolio of programs, services and initiatives, including Campus Recreation, Career Services, Counseling Center, Dean of Students Office, Office of Disability Services, Housing and Residential Life, the LBJ Student Center, Retention Management and Planning, Student Affairs Technology Services and Student Health Center.