Underway during the break, the President’s Cabinet welcomed two new members to its body. The positions of special assistant and chief diversity officer have new representatives for the spring 2018 semester.
Lisa Lloyd is the new special assistant to the president, a position that provides senior-level support to presidential activities. Lloyd earned her Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science from Texas State, and her Masters and Ph.D. from the University of Alabama. Lloyd joined the university’s faculty in 1998 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health and Human Performance. She was promoted to professor in 2014 before serving as Assistant Dean and twice as Associate Dean to the College of Education between 2006 and 2017.
“I want to serve Texas State,” Lloyd said. “I want to help in any way that I can to advance its strategic initiatives. I want to help President Trauth create an environment that maximizes human potential. I want to help her continue to build a culture that supports the health and wellness of all members of our university community, one that also cultivates compassion and respect for all.”
As special assistant, Lloyd’s job duties fall within five major areas, such as the State Legislature, the Texas State University System, the Department of Athletics, the Office of Equity and Access and the President’s Cabinet. Her role is to gather data and other relevant information, organize events, review documents, prepare reports and serve as a liaison between the president and individuals in these areas.
“I believe that the opportunities offered to me by and through Texas State, first as a student, and then as a faculty member, interim chair, associate dean, presidential fellow and co-director of Total Wellness, have allowed me to broaden my knowledge, skills, and abilities that are necessary to also serve President Trauth in an advisory capacity,” Lloyd said.
Vincent Luizzi is the interim Chief Diversity Officer, appointed by President Trauth. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Rochester, his Ph. D from the University of Pennsylvania and his Juris Doctorate from Boston University. Since 1976, Luizzi has been a Philosophy professor and also works as an Assistant Municipal Court Judge for the city of San Marcos, holding the position since 1982.
Continuing on his predecessor’s work, Luizzi is especially committed to strengthening the school’s culture of respect and inclusion, while promoting a safe environment free from discrimination and sexual misconduct.
“The new five-year plan that Dr. Garcia developed will guide my work,” Luizzi said. “I support this office’s active engagement in campus discussions of such basic values as diversity, inclusion and safety.”
Although the search for a permanent Chief Diversity Officer is still underway, Luizzi is not planning on presenting himself as a candidate, preferring to return to his position as a professor and continuing to impact his students through the classroom.
“This work is very important, interesting and rewarding, but I look forward to returning to my faculty position, promoting the Philosophy Dialogue Series and serving as a faculty senator,” Luizzi said.
The President’s Cabinet meets weekly, sometimes more abruptly depending on the timeliness of an issue. The full cabinet can be found online.