Message from the President

Dear A&M-San Antonio community and friends,

This semester is briskly coming to an end and it's an exciting time building up to commencement day. Future planning initiatives for the University have begun and committees are actively participating in structuring long term goals and initiatives that complement the longevity of our future. 

Earlier this semester, I reported that the City of San Antonio renewed its fiscal commitment to our downtown venue, renamed as Centro de Artes.  This facility provides an opportunity for University departments to expand curricular and co-curricular engagements. Recently, the Texas Commission on the Arts approved 44 contiguous blocks within downtown San Antonio as Zona Cultural, where Centro de Artes serves as one of the city's prominent venues. This designation is a focal point among the city's tourism attractions and will highlight Centro de Artes programs and exhibits throughout Texas. To experience the diverse array of Centro de Artes events, I invite you to Star Wars: The Force of Art Gallery Saturday, December 12 from noon to 7 p.m. This free event is open to the public and commemorates the release of the new Star Wars film, courtesy of the Alamo City Comic Con.

In effort to widen the scope of Centro de Artes and better serve our institution and community, the venue will soon become the location of the Tricentennial Commission offices. I am honored to serve as the District 4 Representative and collaborate with community and business leaders to plan San Antonio's 300-year anniversary. A&M-SA has a pivotal role in the city's Tricentennial. Centro de Artes has been selected to host a prominent exhibit that showcases three centuries of history about our great city. The grand event will display precious artifacts and will attract boundless exposure. The expertise of our faculty, staff, student body and alumnus may also be used during the Tricentennial planning, which will serve as a profound experience for our University community. Only a few U.S. cities can boast a 300-year legacy and I'm proud to represent A&M-SA in this commemorative celebration. 

As our graduates transition to the next level in their lives, we are in transition to a new year filled with great opportunities. Many of our students partake in special ceremonies where they are draped in symbolic cords that signify the labor of learning within their academic careers. As a military embracing University, I invite you this evening to the military cording ceremony as we recognize our veteran students with red, white and blue Patriot Cords in the University Auditorium at 7 p.m.  It is my pleasure to also invite you to fall commencement Tuesday, December 15 at 4 p.m. to celebrate our students with their families. Immediately after, in the Freeman Coliseum Frontier Room, we will host a University Holiday Reception.   

As always, I thank you for your unwavering support as we look forward to a more audacious 2016.

Sincerely,

Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson
President