JUNE 10, 2025 — James W. Wagener served as the third president of The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) from February 8, 1979 until August 31, 1989.
During his presidency, Wagener began to shape UTSA’s campus life with the launch of Fiesta UTSA, the creation of student organizations, and the creation of campus housing. He also helped expand academic programs, and during his tenure, the university joined the NCAA.
After his time as president, Wagener returned to teaching as a professor for 10 years at UTSA. He retired as a Professor Emeritus.
“Dr. Wagener’s tenure as president of UTSA embodied exemplary servant leadership, as he created countless opportunities for students to thrive in the classroom, within student organizations, and throughout many other avenues of campus living,” said UTSA President Taylor Eighmy. “He built a strong foundation of campus community that continues to guide our work toward becoming a model for student success today.”
Before his presidency at UTSA, he served as Assistant Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs and then Assistant to the Chancellor of the UT System, as well as Assistant to the President at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.
“It’s also quite special that Dr. Wagener served at both UTSA and UT Health San Antonio, sharing his passion for higher education and leading student advancement efforts across both institutions, which undoubtedly paved the way for much of the work we continue to build upon today,” Eighmy said.
James Wagener, UTSA's third president, oversaw many important developments in the university's history. Among those developments was the birth of UTSA Athletics and the university's beloved mascot, Rowdy, seen here playfully adjusting Wagener's pocket square in 1981.
Wagener grew up in Bullard, Texas, and Port Neches, Texas, and attended Port Neches High School, Lon Morris College, Southern Methodist University and Perkins School of Theology. He later attended The University of Texas at Austin to receive his M.A. in English and his Ph.D. in Higher Education.
Wagener passed away on May 31, 2025. His contributions to UTSA have made a lasting impact and will continue to do so for decades to come.
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