Dr. Robert Ayala (PI)

Dr. Robert Ayala serves as the Associate Vice President for Academic Success. He has over 17 years of experience in leadership, strategic planning, curriculum design, program design, and vision setting in both academic and student affairs divisions. Throughout his career he has secured over $14 million in federal grants funding various research and institutional initiatives. Dr. Ayala last served as Dean of Academic Success at Northwest Vista College where he oversaw several academic areas such as English, Fine and Performing Arts, Kinesiology, Humanities, Social Sciences as well as NVC’s Dual Credit efforts. As a first-generation American and first-generation college student, he appreciates the innovation that the higher education system cultivates, as well as the social mobility and capital it provides.

 As Associate Vice President for Academic Success, Dr. Ayala has direct division and departmental operations, initiatives, and activities and is responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating strategies that support increases in retention and graduation of undergraduate students. He oversees professional academic advising, the Pathways Academic Assistance Center (PAAC), the Writing Center, the first-year seminar, the summer bridge program, and the Academic Collegiate Enhancement (ACE) Program. He also oversees the HEART Project. Reporting to the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, the position is a member of the Academic Advisory Council, and works closely with administrators, faculty and staff to promote best practices in student success by working collaboratively on student placement, new student orientation, among other areas. The position has a considerable role in developing and supporting the University’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP).

Dr. Rolando R. Garza (Co-PI)

Dr. Rolando R. Garza is currently the Director of The Center for Academic Technology (CAT), which is in the division of Academic Affairs at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Rolando and his team are ushering in a new era of modernization and innovation at Javelina Nation to keep up with the changing times. He has contributed to the culture of change in education, especially in distance education throughout Texas and nationwide—Rolando's overseas department relations with the campus community and its faculty/staff/students. In addition to distance learning, Rolando ensures that academic innovation is utilized in TAMUK in the physical and virtual classrooms, complements faculty instruction, and is an effective learning environment for students.  

 

In the past fifteen years, he has presented with faculty and colleagues at state, national, and international conferences on distance education and instructional technology topics. He currently has a doctorate in education from Nova Southeastern University. The concentration area of his degree is distance education and instructional technology.    

 

Rolando served (19' – 22') on the United States Distance Learning Association at the National level as the Chair of State Chapters. Rolando is a past president (15' - 18') of the Texas Digital Learning Association (TxDLA). TxDLA is the state chapter of the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA). He has served in various leadership roles for TxDLA, including the Coastal Bend regional coordinator, scholarship chair, and multiple committees since 2011. Rolando has served on the Learning Technology Advisory Committee (LTAC) for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) at the State level. At the A&M System level, Rolando serves on the Texas A&M University System - Council for Academic Technology and Innovative Education (CATIE) Executive Committee as Legislative Committee Chair. Rolando also serves as a board of directors for the Javelina Alumni Association at Texas A&M University-Kingsville.   

 

He resides in Kingsville, Texas, with his beautiful wife, Dr. Araceli Garza. They both have four beautiful children and are truly blessed every day.