JULY 24, 2023 — Incoming Interim Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Heather Shipley today announced the appointment of Professor Jianwei Niu as interim dean of University College, effective August 1. Niu has served as associate dean of the college since 2019.
“Dr. Niu is an experienced and collaborative administrator who is passionate about University College’s role in advancing student-centered learning at UTSA and incubating new, interdisciplinary degree programs to prepare Roadrunners for high-demand careers,” said Shipley. “As we prepare for the new academic year, we are grateful for her stepping up to join the leadership of Academic Affairs to build upon our work to advance a high-quality experience for all UTSA students in and out of the classroom.”
A professor of computer science, Niu joined UTSA in 2005. She served as interim academic director of the School of Data Science from 2019 to 2021 and interim chair of the Department of Computer Science from 2018 to 2019.
Niu earned her Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Waterloo. Her research focuses on software engineering, privacy and security, and has been supported by the National Science Foundation, National Security Agency, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and Microsoft, among others.
Her teaching has been recognized with the Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award and the President’s Distinguished Achievement Award for Teaching Excellence. Niu has supervised 12 Ph.D. students, nine of whom successfully completed their doctoral degrees. Seven have secured academic positions at Stony Brook University, Rochester Institute of Technology, St. Mary's University, Air Force Institute of Technology, and UTSA.
The University College promotes student-centered learning through academic excellence and dynamic, engaged curriculum, offering students lifelong tools for academic inquiry, advancement and leadership. Its programs include the Multidisciplinary Studies program, Academic Inquiry and Scholarship program, Writing Program, Air Force and Army ROTC, and Dual Credit program.
In addition to offering undergraduate degrees in multidisciplinary studies, the University College offers an M.S. in artificial intelligence, a Ph.D. in translational science, a graduate certificate in data science and undergraduate and graduate certificate programs in community-engaged leadership, data science and legal studies.
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At this memorable celebration, UTSA graduates will be introduced one-by-one to cross the stage and accept their doctoral degrees.
Arts Building Recital Hall, Main CampusRoadrunner Walk is an event for graduating students to have a memorable walk on campus to celebrate an important milestone and their achievements. Graduates will walk along the Paseo while being celebrated by the UTSA community, friends, and family members.
Student Union Paseo, Main CampusJoin us for a tribute to Willie Velásquez, honoring the legacy of Willie Velásquez, a pivotal figure in shaping the history of Latino and Hispanic participation in the American voting process. Delve into his life and contributions as a champion of Latino voting rights. Moderated by UTSA's Teresa Niño, the event will feature influential voices, including Jane Velásquez, María Antonietta Berriozábal, Dora Oliva, and Anthony Gonzales.
Buena Vista Building, Gregory Luna Room, Downtown CampusCelebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.Celebrate the accomplishments of Alvarez College of Business, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
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UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.
