SPC President Takes Medical Leave; Vice President for Academic Success To Serve As Acting President

St. Philip’s College President, Dr. Adena Williams Loston, will take a temporary leave of absence from March 15 to April 15 due to medical reasons. Vice President for Academic Success, Randall Dawson, will serve as acting president in Dr. Loston’s absence. Randall will take the lead on day-to-day operations, capital improvements and all executive leadership functions. 

In support of Randall's new role, changes have been made throughout the institution. Effective on March 15: 

- George Johnson will be Interim Vice President for Academic Success

- Dr. Michael Grillo will be Interim Dean for Academic Success, Arts and Sciences

- Cynthia Pryor will be Interim Department Chair for Social and Behavioral Sciences

About Randall Dawson: 

A 24-year college employee, Randall Dawson's journey with St. Philip’s College includes serving in various roles that include the college’s executive cabinet. Dawson has served as Vice President for Academic Success (VPAS) for three years, after having filled the role as Interim VPAS for 11 months. 

As VPAS, Dawson serves as chief academic officer. In addition to assuring compliance with Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Alamo Colleges District and 17 regional accrediting bodies, Dawson facilitated comprehensive academic operations for four associate degrees, 13 academic departments, two Centers of Excellence, seven fields of study, 49 academic programs and more than 13,000 academic students.

Dawson started at St. Philip’s College in 1997 as Director of Intramurals/Kinesiology Faculty. He became Program Director: Kinesiology in 2008 and, in 2010, became Chair of Health Sciences. In 2015, Dawson was promoted to Dean of Arts and Sciences, then stepped in as interim vice president. In 2018, Dawson became the Vice President for Academic Success.

As a member of the five-person executive team, Dawson secured SACSCOC Reaffirmation of Accreditation, SACSCOC approval of 13 additional off-campus sites (dual credit programs), spearheaded SPC’s design of the Associate of Science degree, and created five $5,000 faculty/staff innovation grants that positively impact students. 

Dawson earned a Master of Science degree in Physical Education at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Washburn University (Topeka, KS).

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