Farewell, Executive Vice President Arney

This summer, Executive Vice President and Provost Janna Arney will retire from UTRGV after 21 years of service to the university.

Arney started at legacy institution University of Texas at Brownsville in 2002 as an assistant professor in the School of Business and 18 years later became executive vice president and provost at UTRGV.

In her administrative roles, she co-chaired the University of Texas System’s transition team for the separation of legacy institution UTB from Texas Southmost College, was instrumental in planning and implementing the merger of UTB and legacy institution University of Texas-Pan American into UTRGV, established a decentralized strategy to budget for the academic and health schools and colleges, and supported the development of 15 new programs, among many other accomplishments.

The executive vice president said her retirement was brought due to personal reasons but wishes for the continued success and growth of the university following the trajectory and the plans that have been established.

“I’ve been a part of the fiber of creating this new university and I’ve been a part of the leadership team that has accomplished all that we’ve accomplished in the last eight years, and so it’s truly one of the greatest career opportunities and also one of the greatest career challenges,” Arney said during an interview last Wednesday.

She said she hopes to continue seeing growth and expansion on the Brownsville, Harlingen and Edinburg campuses, as well as expansion of opportunities for both students and faculty, such as full establishment of the Coastal Studies Laboratories in Port Isabel.

“Starting the university and being able to leave it in such [a] growth mode, with such a positive trajectory, is just so rewarding,” Arney said.

In a “Message from the President” released March 9, UTRGV President Guy Bailey first announced Arney’s retirement.

Bailey said she played an instrumental role in hiring much of the university’s initial leadership team, obtaining accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and being part of the formation of the institution since the beginning.

“Much of UTRGV’s success is due to her efforts and we wouldn’t be where we are today without her,” he said. “It is difficult to overstate just how much we as an institution owe her.”

Patrick Gonzales, associate vice president for University Marketing and Communications, has worked under Arney since his start at UTRGV.

“She has been dedicated to the success of our students since day one,” Gonzales said. “I have never met anybody who worked harder for the university, specifically for the students in their success.” 

He said he is excited to meet the newly appointed executive vice president and provost, Luis Zayas, and hear about his vision for the university and academic affairs.

As a parting statement, Arney said the new provost will bring an important skill set that will serve the faculty, staff, students and the university.

“I wish UTRGV, the new provost, all of our faculty, our staff and our students the absolute greatest, continued success and will be there to support and cheer them on every step of the way,” She said.