Texas A&M San Antonio Foundation

Gwen Notestine serves as Vice President for University Advancement in service to Texas A&M University-San Antonio. Leading the advancement division, Gwen collaborates closely with community stakeholders, university leadership, and the broader campus community to advance the university’s vision and strategic priorities.

As VPUA, Gwen strives to enhance A&M-San Antonio’s culture of philanthropy to ensure student access, build the community’s talent pipeline, facilitate new discoveries and solutions, cultivate connections, and nurture talent.

Prior to her appointment at A&M-San Antonio in 2024, she represented diverse higher education fundraising initiatives at the Arizona State University Foundation, the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Diego State University, the University of Texas at Arlington, and Texas Christian University. Gwen has been a driving force within the organizations she represents – developing and launching new fundraising initiatives, securing transformational gifts, and investing in emerging talent to develop the next generation of philanthropy leaders.

Gwen began her advancement journey as a student at the University of Texas at Arlington, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and benefited from outstanding early mentors in the Office of Development. Raised in a military family, Gwen embraces opportunities to engage in military-supportive initiatives and volunteers as a Veteran Mentor with American Corporate Partners (ACP). She is proud to call San Antonio home and enjoys the region’s many treasures, especially Fiesta, the missions, breakfast tacos, and hill country hikes.

As the founding director of the alumni office, Dr. Cooper is charged with informing and engaging alumni as well as connecting them with each other and the University for the benefit of all. Dr. Cooper has over 30 years of experience in higher education in both alumni engagement and enrollment management. Having been employed in private and public higher education, she’s worked primarily with first generation students, an identity she shares. Dr. Cooper has degrees in English, Catholic theology, and leadership from universities in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Not only is she known as an adrenaline and exercise junkie, but a mentor to those in the advancement profession--often called upon by others in the industry to share insights on engagement.

Rachel has 22+ years of writing and administrative experience in higher education from communications to student services to advancement as a public relations staff writer, writing center instructor, communications manager, and development grant writer at Del Mar College, UTSA, and A&M-SA. As grant writer for Advancement, she focuses on the writing and submission of private grants and donor proposals. She holds a BA from UT-Austin and MPA from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

Cynthia “Cyndi” Cavazos currently serves as Advancement Services Manager. She is the database administrator of the university’s fundraising software.

Cyndi has over 25 years of database administration experience in higher education fundraising. She maintains data integrity, generates comprehensive reports, and facilitates effective communication across departments to support fundraising and advancement goals. Before coming to Texas A&M University-San Antonio, she served 2 years as Corporate and Foundation Engagement Coordinator with the University of Texas at San Antonio and 21 years with Our Lady of the Lake University as Database Coordinator and Assistant Director of Advancement Services.