Dr. Robert Ayala serves as the Acting Vice President for Student Success. He has over close to two decades 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 Associate Vice President of Academic Success at Texas A&M University-Kingsville and before 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 the Acting Vice President for Student 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. This new division brings together Student Affairs and Academic Success to form the new Division for Student Success.  He oversees areas that work in professional academic advising, the Pathways Academic Assistance Center (PAAC), the Writing Center, the first-year seminar, the summer bridge program, Housing, Student Life, Career Exploration, Trio Programs, Health and Wellness, Javelina Reset and is co- PI of the HEART Project. Reporting to the President, the position is a member of the Strategic Executive Leadership Team, and works closely with administrators, faculty and staff to promote best practices in student success by working collaboratively across Javelina Nation.