Texas A&M University–San Antonio today announced that Dr. Jorge Villegas will join the University as Dean of the College of Business, effective January 13, 2026. Villegas comes to A&M–San Antonio from the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS), where he has held key leadership roles for over a decade.
Villegas is currently the associate dean of the College of Business and Management at UIS, overseeing online graduate programs, AACSB accreditation, undergraduate advising, assessment, and stakeholder engagement. In addition to his work as associate dean, he recently served as interim lead for the Office of the Vice Chancellor of Undergraduate Education, where he directed student success initiatives and supervised key academic programs.
“We are excited to welcome Dr. Villegas to A&M-San Antonio. His extensive leadership experience and proven commitment to student success will build upon our strong foundation in the College of Business and help us prepare graduates who are ready to lead in a rapidly changing global economy,” said Dr. Mohamed Abdelrahman, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs.
His career successes include developing strategic plans, implementing data-driven solutions, starting successful undergraduate and graduate programs, and fostering collaborative partnerships across campus. Through his leadership, he has advanced curricular innovation, strengthened shared governance, and championed experiential learning opportunities, positioning UIS as a leader in business education and student success.
He has an impressive record of advancing student retention and on-time graduation, highlighted by his leadership in coordinating a U.S. Department of Education Title III grant exceeding $2 million. Strategic and assessment-driven, Villegas oversees continuous evaluation of programs and initiatives, leveraging data to identify opportunities for improvement and ensure measurable effectiveness.
“I am deeply honored to be named the dean of the College of Business. Texas A & M University-San Antonio and the college are powerful catalysts for opportunity and economic development for stakeholders of South Texas and beyond,” said Villegas. “I am excited to collaborate with exceptional faculty, dedicated staff, and talented students to advance a shared commitment to excellence, relevance, and access. I am looking forward to being a Jaguar!”
Villegas earned his Ph.D. in Advertising from the University of Texas at Austin. His research examines how consumers' cognitive and emotional processes interact after exposure to various types of communication. Currently, he is working on risk communication related to radon exposure and personal branding using LinkedIn. He earned his MBA from Escuela de Graduados en Administración y Dirección de Empresas (EGADE), Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM) in Monterrey, Mexico.
In his new role as dean of the College of Business at A&M-San Antonio, Villegas will oversee the college’s undergraduate and graduate programs designed to prepare students for leadership roles in business, finance, accounting, management, information systems, and more. With a focus on experiential learning, the college serves as a hub for academic excellence and community engagement. Through partnerships with local businesses and organizations, students gain real-world experience that positions them for success in a competitive job market.