Dr. Maria Hernandez Ferrier is Founding and inaugural President Emerita of Texas A&M University-San Antonio (TAMU-SA). Her history with the university began in April 2008 as executive director and the next year she was named president. Maria was the force behind the university’s unprecedented growth and she also served as CEO of TAMU-SA from 2008-2015, and as the Director-General of the A&M University System’s Relationship with Mexico. Prior to this, Ferrier held several national appointments including the Department of Education and Director of Bilingual Education & Minority Language Affairs. In 1992, President George H. Bush appointed her to the Commission for National and Community Service, where she served under both Presidents Bush and Clinton and in 2002, Bush appointed her Assistant Deputy Secretary in the Department of Education.
Other accomplishments include the creation and development of highly successful programs, such as City Year, Students Against Driving Drunk; Partners in Pride; “Safety Kids”; Helping Academic Leadership Through Theater; the Community Resource Fair; Nimitz 50, the Southwest ISD/Kelly AFB Mentoring Partnership and Partnership School. Ferrier has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Golden Deeds Award, San Antonio Hispanic Chamber’s Lifetime Achievement Award; the San Antonio Silver Stars’ “Women of Inspiration” Award; San Antonio College Outstanding Former Student; San Antonio University Roundtable’s “Best and Brightest” Award; the Life of Idealism Award; the Hispanic Heritage Award from the Department of Labor; the Minority Leadership Award from the National Community Education Association as well as the “Point of Light” designation from the White House. Maria currently sits on the Board of Trustees for ������Ƶ