A critical link between UTSA's students and the San Antonio business community
Melissa K. Mahan, Ph.D., has joined UTSA's division of Academic Innovation, within the Office of Academic Affairs, as Associate Vice Provost of Extended Education. In her role, Mahan will advance the university’s workforce programs, business community engagement, professional and continuing education offerings, and oversee special events at the Downtown Campus, including the newly renovated Buena Vista Theater.
Mahan brings over 25-years of professional experience in higher education and corporate business to her new role. She joins UTSA from Texas A&M University-San Antonio, where she served as vice president for student affairs and executive director for the Henry G. Cisneros Institute for Emerging Leaders. In these roles she created intentional and proactive programs across multiple areas, including enrollment, experiential learning, student engagement, and student success. Mahan also previously served as the associate dean of student affairs at Northeastern State University and the executive director of the National Clearinghouse for Commuter Programs (NCCP).
"Dr. Mahan has robust experience in higher education, corporate engagement, and spurring creative partnerships that lift up people," said Melissa Vito, Vice Provost for Academic Innovation. "Her deep-roots in San Antonio will be a critical link between our students and our thriving business community."
In her new role, Mahan will work closely with the department of Career-Engaged Learning to help foster relationships and expand the pipeline of UTSA student talent to fill critically-needed jobs in San Antonio, South Texas, and across the state.
"UTSA is uniquely positioned to build capacity and sustainability in a new and bold way that connects our community partners to relevant workforce development and online programs ," says Mahan. "As an urban-serving public university and founding member of the Hispanic Serving Instition designation, we have a wonderful foundation to continue to create innovative programs and services that empower our students and meet the needs of our community."
Mahan is an education leader locally and nationally. She serves in leadership roles with the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) the American College Personnel Association's (ACPA) Commission for Commuter Students and Adult Learners, and with the San Antonio chapter of the International Coaching Federation.
She has also served in a variety of professional and volunteer positions that demonstrate her commitment to helping others, including vice president for education and foster coaching at the Children’s Shelter, and as a board member with San Antonio Education Partnership (SAEP), the National Association for Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Center for Women and the International Leadership Association’s (ILA) Women and Leadership Affinity Group.
Mahan has a B.S. in Accounting from Northeastern State University an M.S. in Business Administration from Southern Nazarene University, and a Ph.D. in Occupational and Adult Education with an emphasis in Human Relations from Oklahoma State University.
"The future of work in America is being pioneered in San Antonio," said Vito. "UTSA's students help shape that future and Dr. Mahan will help them be on the cutting edge of what's next in industry and business."
As an academic support division of Academic Affairs, Academic Innovation brings together experts in teaching, technology, and virtual learning to champion innovative and transformational practices that enhance the academic experience of UTSA’s students and faculty and the workforce needs of the South Texas region.
