Contact: Monty Jones, (512) 499-4363

Date: February 10, 1999

UT System News Release

Ricardo Romo is Named President of U.T. San Antonio

AUSTIN - Dr. Ricardo Romo, vice provost for undergraduate education at The University of Texas at Austin since 1993, was named president of U.T. San Antonio on Wednesday (Feb. 10).

Romo was selected by the Board of Regents from among four finalists to succeed President Samuel A. Kirkpatrick, who has announced that he will step down from the position by next summer.

Romo, a historian who has written extensively on the history of Mexican-Americans and in the field of Chicano studies, holds a Ph.D. from the University of California at Los Angeles, a master's degree from Loyola University in Los Angeles, and a bachelor's degree from U.T. Austin. He is a native of San Antonio.

"Dr. Romo is an excellent academic leader who has a thorough understanding of the issues and challenges at U.T. San Antonio and the vision to guide the University to new levels of achievement," said Donald L. Evans, chairman of the Board of Regents. "He is, without question, the right person to lead this growing and dynamic institution into the 21st century."

Tom Loeffler, a member of the Board of Regents from San Antonio, said: "The board has been tremendously impressed with the experience and accomplishments of Dr. Romo. He is a superb administrator, a highly regarded scholar, and a dedicated teacher. He has a highly distinguished record of service at U.T. Austin, and we are confident that he possesses the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for effective leadership for UTSA."

U.T. System Chancellor William H. Cunningham commented: "Dr. Romo has a unique combination of talents and experience as a university administrator, a scholar, and a teacher that will assure his success as president of UTSA. He has won wide acclaim for his ability to work effectively with all the diverse constituencies of a complex urban university such as UTSA, and he will bring great distinction to his service as president of the University."

Ed Sharpe, U.T. System vice chancellor for academic affairs and chairman of an advisory committee that recommended the finalists, said: "Dr. Romo is an outstanding administrator with a proven record of success in academia. The advisory committee was greatly impressed with his command of issues of concern to faculty, students, and staff members, and with his ability to relate to and communicate with the wider community to which UTSA belongs."

Romo began his career as a social studies coordinator in the Los Angeles public schools in 1967. From 1970 to 1973, he was a faculty member in the Chicano Studies Department at California State University at Northridge, and from 1973 to 1980, he was on the history faculty at the University of California at San Diego.

From 1980 to the present he has been a member of the history faculty at U.T. Austin. From 1987 to 1993, he was vice president and director of the Tomas Rivera Center at Trinity University in San Antonio.

As vice provost for undergraduate education at U.T. Austin, Romo's responsibilities have included directing Freshman Seminars, coordinating the Gateway Program for at-risk students, overseeing the Center for Teaching Effectiveness, and chairing a committee that oversaw the renovation of 150 campus classrooms.

Romo received the Educator of the Year Award from the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) in 1992. His publications include East Los Angeles: History of a Barrio, published by the University of Texas Press in 1992.