Meet Gigi Secuban the inaugural vice president for Institutional Inclusive Excellence

Inside TXST

Julie Cooper | August 3, 2022

gigi secuban headshot

Gigi Secuban is the inaugural vice president for Institutional Inclusive Excellence (VPIIE)  at Texas State University.

She comes to Texas State from Ohio University — also home to the Bobcats — where she served as the vice president for diversity and inclusion since 2018. She has more than 20 years of experience in higher education including the University of Illinois and the University of Arkansas.

Secuban earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology, master’s degree in health science/community health, and an Ed.D. in higher education administration from the University of Arkansas.

She was born in the Philippines and moved to this country at the age of 2.

Q: Why Texas State?

A: Texas State has a long-standing record of supporting underrepresented students especially through the TRIO program that was founded at Texas State. Texas State is also a Hispanic Serving Institution so to be in a space and a position to provide support to students in such a dynamically diverse area was a big draw for me.

I am excited to be in this inaugural role and help to lay the foundation for student success based on the work that has already begun here. I am also excited to support a diverse faculty and staff community and help to welcome more diverse groups to campus. Texas State is a great place to work!

Q: Can you tell me what you will be doing and what you are excited about?

A: I will be leading the newly established Division of Institutional Inclusive Excellence. I am excited to learn more about the campus traditions as well as learn more about my team and how I can help them be successful in their roles. I will also be working with the campus leadership and community to create opportunities to further diversity and inclusion throughout the campus and local community. I am a 29-year member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. which is the first Black sorority. I’m excited to meet my sorority sisters who work on campus and in the local community.

Q: What do you see as your top three goals for the new job?

A: I have only been here for a few weeks now and still finding my way across campus and San Marcos. More broadly, my goals include creating a more inclusive and affirming campus environment, providing support to marginalized groups and becoming a national leader in our diversity and inclusion efforts at Texas State. Ultimately, we should be seen as the leader in the State of Texas and the nation for our innovative diversity and inclusion efforts. I’m looking forward to working with the rest of campus to make those goals a reality.

Q: How did you get the nickname Gigi?

A: My dad wanted all his girls to have “J” names in addition to our ‘real’ names (which we never use except for official documents). I am the oldest of three girls and my name is actually spelled Jiji (pronounced Gigi) but when we moved to the United States, no one could pronounce it correctly, so he changed the spelling to Gigi, and I have gone by that name ever since.

Many people have asked me if my parents got the name from the movie “Gigi” and they didn’t because they had never heard of the movie.

For more information, contact University Communications:

Jayme Blaschke, 512-245-2555

Sandy Pantlik, 512-245-2922