Veronica Vargas Stidvent to Join WGU Texas as Chancellor

AUSTIN, Texas, June 11, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- WGU Texas, texas.wgu.edu, has appointed Veronica "Ronnye" Vargas Stidvent as its new Chancellor. A native Texan and graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, Stidvent joins WGU Texas with extensive experience in education, job training, and policy development, both at the state and national levels. 

A prominent figure in Texas higher education, Stidvent most recently served as President of CEA Consulting, LLC, and as a lecturer at The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business. Stidvent has also served as the Head of Education and Training at Dimensional Fund Advisors and as Program Director for both the University of Texas Hispanic Leadership Initiative and Subiendo: The Academy for Rising Leaders at the McCombs School of Business.

Stidvent was the inaugural Director of the Center for Politics and Governance at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. From 2004 to 2007, she served as Assistant Secretary for Policy at the U.S. Department of Labor. Prior to that assignment, she was Special Assistant to the President for Policy. A native of El Paso, Texas, Stidvent received her undergraduate degree from The University of Texas at Austin and a J.D. from Yale.

"I'm excited to join the vibrant community of WGU Texas students, alumni, and faculty," said Stidvent. "As the only university offering competency-based bachelor's and master's degrees in the state, this university has made a large impact on higher education in Texas in a short time, and I look forward to building on this momentum and helping even more of our state's adult learners achieve their higher education goals."

Stidvent follows WGU Texas Chancellor Ray Martinez, who will transition next month to a new role as President of The Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas (ICUT), the association of private, nonprofit, tax-exempt institutions of higher education in Texas. During his term as WGU Texas Chancellor, Martinez has been instrumental in building strong partnerships and growing WGU Texas. Under his leadership, the university recently surpassed 5,000 in enrollment, a 169 percent increase in less than 3 years.

"We are thrilled to have Ronnye join us as Chancellor," said WGU President Dr. Robert Mendenhall. "Her impressive background and record of success in higher education and government will help us sustain the growth and success of WGU Texas."

About WGU Texas
As the state's only online, competency-based university, WGU Texas offers more than 50 accredited bachelor's and master's degrees in the high-demand fields of business, information technology, K-12 teacher education, and health professions, including nursing. WGU Texas' model is unique—rather than earning degrees based on time spent in class, students advance toward their credential at their own pace by demonstrating competency. Because students advance as soon as they demonstrate mastery of course materials, they can usually graduate with a bachelor's degree in three years—saving time and money. In addition, WGU Texas offers some of the lowest tuition in the state — most of the university's degree programs are charged at a flat rate of $2,890 per six-month term, and terms can begin on the first day of any month.

Degrees are granted under the accreditation of Western Governors University, which is regionally accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).  Learn more at texas.wgu.edu  or call 1-877-214-7011.

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Contact for media inquiries:
Holly Subervi, PR Manager
512-225-6652 or 512-965-4500
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Contact for enrollment information:
877.214.7011
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SOURCE WGU Texas