President's Cabinet

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Dr. Debra A. Feakes serves as the Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. She has served as the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences since 2020 and is a passionate teacher-scholar. As chief academic officer, she provides leadership for the University's academic programs, faculty affairs, student success initiatives, and strategic academic planning.

With nearly a decade in academic leadership and over 20 years as a faculty member and researcher, she strives to support the success of faculty, staff, and students in her role.

Her research interests span from inorganic chemistry, the synthesis of boron-containing compounds for potential application in cancer therapy, to chemical education, the impact of supplemental instruction on the success of students in the lower division chemistry courses.

Dr. Feakes completed her undergraduate degree in mineral engineering chemistry at the Colorado School of Mines and Ph.D. in chemistry at Utah State University. Following her graduate studies, she completed a postdoctoral research position at the University of California at Los Angeles.

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Jessica Loudermilk serves as the Vice President for Strategic Communications and Chief of Staff at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. Since joining the university, she has been a senior advisor to the president on institutional strategy, external affairs, and strategic messaging. In her dual capacity, she provides executive oversight for high-priority initiatives designed to amplify the University’s regional impact and national standing.

With over 20 years of experience in public higher education administration, Ms. Loudermilk's background includes several leadership roles at the University of California, Davis, where she previously served as Chief of Staff and Director of Academic Programs.

A first-generation college graduate, she holds an M.A. in Linguistics from UC Davis, as well as an M.A. and B.A. in English Literature from UT San Antonio. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in Educational Leadership at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi.

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Brandy McLelland serves as the Vice President for Enrollment Management at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. In her role, Ms. McLelland leads a team responsible for a broad range of student support services and related programs, including: student recruitment and admissions, Graduate Admissions, the enrollment services center, CRM and enrollment management communications; financial aid; and the registrar’s office.

She has over 25 years of experience in working with enrollment management in higher education. Ms. McLelland has spent her service filled with passionate support of student success, particularly for traditionally under-represented students.

Ms. McLelland received her Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management at Utah State University. She went on to achieve a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Utah.

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Dr. Juan R. Guardia serves as the Vice President for Student Affairs at Texas A&M University-San Antonio, where he leads a dedicated team committed to advancing student development, learning, engagement, and success while fostering meaningful student experiences that support the mission and vision of both the Division of Student Affairs and the university.

He is a scholar-practitioner with more than 25 years of experience in higher education administration, having served in senior leadership roles at public research universities and Hispanic-Serving Institutions across the country.

Dr. Guardia is a first-generation college graduate; he earned a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership-Higher Education Administration from Iowa State University, a master’s degree in higher education and a bachelor’s degree in communication from Florida State University, and an associate in arts degree from Miami-Dade College.

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Gwen Notestine serves as Vice President for University Advancement in service to Texas A&M University-San Antonio. Leading the Advancement Division, Ms. Notestine 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.

With over 25 years in advancement leadership, she has represented diverse higher education fundraising initiatives across universities in Arizona, California and Texas and has been a driving force in developing and launching new fundraising initiatives, securing transformational gifts, and investing in emerging talent.

Gwen began her advancement journey as a student at the University of Texas at Arlington, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology.

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Adriana Rojas serves as Vice President for Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer for A&M-San Antonio. In this role, Ms. Rojas provides executive leadership for the University's financial strategy, business operations, human resources, facilities, procurement, public safety, and information technology.  Rojas is responsible for ensuring the institution's fiscal sustainability while advancing operational excellence in support of student success, academic achievement, and institutional growth.

Ms. Rojas has over 25 years of leadership experience in higher education, having worked in a variety of roles across campuses in central business departments, service units and auxiliary portfolios.

Her educational background includes an executive master’s in public leadership/public affairs from UT Austin and a bachelor’s degree in business administration (accounting) from Texas A&M University.

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Dr. Guido Verbeck serves as the inaugural Vice President for Research at Texas A&M University-San Antonio, where he leads the University's efforts to expand its research enterprise, strengthen sponsored programs, and advance innovation across all academic disciplines. Verbeck oversees the Division of Research and Innovation and will lead the development of a comprehensive research enterprise that positions the University as a rising doctoral-granting institution on the path to R2 status.

With nearly three decades of experience as a faculty member, researcher, and academic leader, Dr. Verbeck has strong leadership experience in research administration, grant development, and pre- and post-award management while focusing on cultivating strong partnerships with corporate and industry collaborators.

Dr. Verbeck is a renowned expert in mass spectrometers and chemical instruments, including novel ion optical devices for miniaturization, preparative, and analytical applications; he also directs the Laboratory of Imaging Mass Spectrometry. His research portfolio includes more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and over $6 million in external funding. Dr. Verbeck earned his Ph.D. in chemistry from Texas A&M University, and prior to that, his master’s in chemistry from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and his undergraduate degree in chemistry from the University of Louisiana Monroe.