MCALLEN, Texas – South Texas College has announced that Dr. Rodney H. Rodriguez will be the college’s first vice president for institutional advancement and economic development.
Rodriguez worked with STC President Ricardo Solis when they were both at Laredo College. He currently runs RGV FOCUS.
In a message on Linked In, STC said: “South Texas College is excited to welcome Dr. Rodney H. Rodriguez as the vice president for institutional advancement and economic development, a critical position created to elevate the image of the institution and connect the college to the region it serves.”
The statement continued:“Dr. Rodriguez has a professional background in economic development, international trade, government affairs, technology challenges, fundraising and global and international relations.Please give Dr. Rodriguez a warm welcome to the STC family as he transitions into this new role.”
Chris Coxon, managing director for Educate Texas, said he had mixed emotions about Rodriguez’s appointment. Educate Texas operates RGV FOCUS.
“It is with a sense of pride and sadness that I announce that Dr. Rodney Rodriguez will be transitioning from RGV FOCUS. Rodney has accepted a position to be the vice president for institutional advancement and workforce development at South Texas College,” Coxon said, in a RGV FOCUS news release.
“Rodney will be reuniting with Dr. Ricardo Solis, president of South Texas College, whom he worked with at Laredo College. This is a great opportunity for Rodney and leverages his skills and knowledge.”
Coxon said RGV Focus is “comforted to know” it will continue to work with Rodriguez through his new role.He said Rodriguez’s last day at RGV FOCUS will be Friday, January 14, 2022.
“We will be conducting a search for the new senior director, but in the meantime, I will be taking the lead with the RGV FOCUS team,” Coxon said.
RGV FOCUS is a collective impact initiative serving four counties in South Texas: Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy. School districts, higher education, nonprofit organization and professional and community leaders work together to transform college readiness, access and success across the region in pursuit of four primary goals: (1) graduating all high school students college ready, (2) transitioning them to higher education within a year, (3) ensuring they achieve a degree or credential on time, and (4) ensuring they are employed after graduation within six months.
Coxon pointed out that Rodriguez joined Educate Texas in August of 2019 as a senior director.
“He led the RGV FOCUS team during a challenging time of COVID.In his short time with us, Rodney added an office in the upper RGV and expanded the membership of the leadership team to include new higher education and business partners,” Coxon said.
“He successfully implemented several grants aimed at improving college and career outcomes for students across the RGV and partnered authentically with community based organizations to build their capacity to advocate on civil rights issues.”
Coxon said Rodriguez also represented RGV Focus at several statewide and national events where he highlighted the Valley community and the “catalytic role” of RGV FOCUS/Educate Texas and the Communities Foundation of Texas.
“Please join me in wishing Rodney the very best in his new role,” Coxon said.
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