BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas — A 14-member committee has been created to conduct a national search to find a successor to former Texas A&M International University President Pablo Arenaz.

“Texas A&M International University was created to help an underserved population succeed and it has flourished, transforming tens of thousands of lives and becoming a critical part of Laredo’s economic growth” said John Sharp, Chancellor of The Texas A&M University System. “Selecting a leader capable of taking this campus to the next level is a critically important task. I am confident this committee of local campus leaders and civic icons is up to the task.”

The search advisory committee is charged with delivering a minimum of three candidates to the chancellor and regents for consideration. Regent Mike Hernandez will serve as chairman of the committee and Regent John Bellinger will serve as a member.

Committee members from the university are:

• Addison Cavazos, a junior biology major
• Denisse Botello, Director of Budget, Payroll and Fiscal Analysis         
• Juan Gilberto García, Jr., Vice-President for Enrollment Management  
• Rosalinda Garcia, Vice President for Student Engagement
• Claudia San Miguel, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and professor of criminal justice
• Kate Houston, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology and Communication                  
• Ariadne Gonzalez, Associate Provost and VP for Academic Affairs        and associate professor of communication
• Daniel J. Mott, Interim Dean, College of Nursing and Health Sciences and associate professor of biology
• George Clarke, Distinguished Professor and Director of Division of International Banking and Finance Studies
• Laura Elizondo, Director, Student Financial Assistance

Committee members from the community are:

• Cliffe Killam, President and CEO Killam Development                       
• Linda LaMantia, artist, civic leader, volunteer and philanthropist

Anthem Executive is assisting in the search process.

Juan J. Castillo, Vice President of Finance and Administration at Texas A&M International University since 2008, has served as interim president since October 3. 

About The Texas A&M University System

The Texas A&M University System is one of the largest systems of higher education in the nation, with a budget of $7.3 billion. Through a statewide network of 11 universities, a comprehensive health science center, eight state agencies, Texas A&M-Fort Worth and Texas A&M-RELLIS, the Texas A&M System educates more than 165,000 students and makes more than 25.3 million additional educational contacts through service and outreach programs each year. System-wide, research and development expenditures exceed $1.5 billion and help drive the state’s economy.