SPC President Announces Staff Changes

SPC President Announces Staff Changes

St. Philip’s College President Dr. Adena Williams Loston recently announced changes to the leadership team:

Wesley Wells was selected as Vice President for Student Success. Wells is currently Director of Business Operations for the Center for Workforce and Community Education at Lee College in Baytown, Texas.

He serves as president of the Lee College Administrative Assembly, co-liaison of the Black Educational Access and Completion Committee, and a member of both the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Community of Practice, and the Lee Cares Basic Needs and Grief Support Team.

Wells holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Interdisciplinary Sciences with a specialization in Public Policy and Administration from the University of Houston-Downtown and a Masters of Education Degree in Higher Education Administration from Abilene Christian University. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education Degree in Organizational Leadership at ACU.

He also has a Certificate of Completion – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace from the University of South Florida and a Certificate of Completion – Hospitality & Tourism Management from Florida Atlantic University.

He is skilled in strategic planning, promoting workplace and classroom excellence, and successfully steering organizations forward on the path to success, while removing barriers to student success. He is a champion for minority, LGBTQ, and underrepresented communities. He is driven by a belief in the power of education to make the world a better place.

“He brings a wealth of experiences in admissions, recruitment, counseling (career and personal) as well as business operations and satellite campus leadership with responsibilities for branding and marketing.  In addition, he has been actively engaged in complaint resolution and diversity, equity and inclusion. I am confident that his talents will aid us in our journey forward," said SPC President Dr. Adena Williams Loston.

Dr. Kimberley Irving-Conaway was named Dean for Academic Success, Academic Services, effective immediately, She had served in an interim status since Jan. 2022. Irving-Conaway is a native Texan and St. Philip’s College alumnus. Her husband, Earl Conaway, Jr. is an alumnus and their son, Earl Conaway III, is currently attending SPC.

Originally from Austin, Dr. Conaway’s family made a military-related move to San Antonio in the mid-1980s. She attended Oliver Wendall Holmes High School and then the University of the Incarnate Word, where she earned a earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Arts from.

She went on to complete a Master of Arts Degree in Technical Communications from Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University) in San Marcos, and then returned to the University of the Incarnate Word for a Ph.D. in Education/Organizational Leadership.

Dr. Conaway worked as a high school English teacher for Seguin ISD and Northeast ISD, an assistant principal for San Antonio ISD, and principal for George Gervin Academy, while teaching at SPC and UIW.

She accepted a full-time position as assistant professor, then interim department chair, prior to becoming interim dean.

Christina Cortez, M.S., is leaving St. Philip’s College for Alamo Colleges District to serve as Director of the Welcome Center and District-wide Onboarding. Cortez started at St. Philip’s College as Coordinator – Student Services in 2010. She became Director of Advising in 2014, then Dean for Student Success in 2018.

Cortez, who has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and Master of Education Degree in Counseling from Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi is working on a doctoral degree at Lamar University.

She joins ACD as Director of Alamo Colleges District Welcome Center and District-wide Onboarding in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Success.