By All Measures, University of Texas at San Antonio Rising at Rapid Rate

As a first-generation Hispanic college student on an athletic scholarship, Dr. Ricardo Romo had more than enough people doubting whether he would complete college and graduate, never mind make something memorable of himself.

Romo did both and more.

By the time he graduated from The University of Texas at Austin, Romo had set a UT athletic record — running a mile in less than four minutes — that stood for more than 40 years.

Today, Romo is still setting records in higher education as the veteran president since May 1999 of the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and architect of its ambitious goal to become a leading Texas institution and national Tier I institution of research. Earlier this month, he announced his retirement from the institution.

“We continue to make great progress,” says Romo, noting UTSA today boasts more than 28,500 students, based on published enrollment numbers. “You’ve got to be at the top of your game,” he says.

Rising above the ranks

Under Romo’s leadership, UTSA has surged in the ranks among its peers, emerging as one of the fastest-growing higher education institutions in Texas while tightening its admissions standards from a one-time open admissions institution.