San Antonio College Welcomes Dr. Gourjoine M. Wade as Vice President for Student Success

San Antonio College is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Gourjoine M. Wade as Vice President for Student Success. A nationally recognized leader in higher education, Dr. Wade brings more than two decades of transformational leadership and a proven record of advancing student success, retention, and equity. He succeeds Dr. Barbara Hong, who retired in January.

Dr. Wade is well known as a student success champion, first-generation advocate, and visionary strategist. Most recently, he served as Vice President for Student Affairs at Texas Lutheran University, where he led a division of 60 staff members across multiple campuses and secured over $2.6 million in grants and fundraising to enhance student support services. He was instrumental in the university’s $2.3 million Title V grant to strengthen Hispanic-Serving Institutions and led initiatives that improved fall-to-spring retention to 86% and boosted post-graduation job placement by 15%.

As SAC’s new Vice President for Student Success, Dr. Wade now leads a department committed to empowering students from enrollment through graduation. The division includes admissions, financial aid, advising, wellness, student life, accessibility, and success coaching – critical areas that help more than 20,000 students each semester thrive inside and outside the classroom.

“Dr. Wade brings a student-centered, data-informed, and equity-focused approach that aligns with SAC’s mission of putting students first,” said SAC President Francisco Solis. “His leadership will be instrumental as we expand services, reduce barriers, and continue building a culture where every student can succeed.”

A first-generation college graduate from Monroe, Louisiana, Dr. Wade holds a doctorate in higher education leadership and a master’s in higher education administration from Walden University, along with a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Grambling State University. At SAC, he has also served as an adjunct professor, teaching EDUC 1300 (Learning Frameworks), where he earned above-average student outcomes in both course completion and academic performance.

Dr. Wade’s leadership has spanned Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), and private liberal arts colleges. At Grambling State University, he served as Interim Vice President and Dean of Students, overseeing a $9 million division and launching the institution’s first First-Generation Student Support Program, which served over 2,300 students. His innovative use of digital storytelling, social media engagement, and inclusive programming has consistently improved student satisfaction, engagement, and outcomes across every institution he has served.

Beyond campus, Dr. Wade serves on the national board of ScholarMatch, a nonprofit that supports first-generation college students, and is an active member of national higher education associations focused on student affairs, retention, and equity.

With deep experience in building inclusive student communities, enhancing wraparound services, and driving institutional transformation, Dr. Wade is poised to lead SAC’s Division for Student Success into a bold new chapter.

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