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.
UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
Don’t know where to start in looking for a job or internship? Virtually join in a live job/internship search navigation lab-style workshop. Follow along to bookmark and save opportunities you are interested in applying for.
Student Union (SU 2.02.04,) Main CampusDon’t know where to start in looking for a job or internship? 🔍 Primary platforms utilized during this workshop are Handshake and LinkedIn. Some industry-specific job search boards may be utilized.
Student Union (SU 2.02.04,) Main CampusFirst Friday Stargazing gives anyone free access to the night sky using university telescopes and teaching equipment. Weather permitting, experienced astronomers will provide a handful of telescopes of varying designs, give training on how each operates, and point to various astronomical objects that may appear in the sky for that given time of the year. If you have a telescope and do not know how to operate it, feel free to bring it and get instructions on its use.
4th Floor of Flawn Science Building, Main CampusThe 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.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
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.