MEET THE BOARD
This issue, meet Board of Trustees member Winell Herron
UIW Board of Trustees member Winell Herron serves as group vice president of public affairs and diversity at H-E-B Grocery Company in Houston. She is responsible for all aspects of the organization’s initiatives in these critical areas. Herron’s first involvement with the university began about seven years ago when she was asked to speak at the annual Light the Way celebration as an H-E-B representative. She was immediately impressed by university president Dr. Louis Agnese, the faculty, the students and the way the entire campus came to life to kick-off the holiday season for the San Antonio community.
Passionate about community service, Herron is active in various organizations across Texas that have a compelling mission, strong leadership and work to drive change. She serves as a board member of the Houston Area Urban League, the San Jacinto Girl Scouts, Big Brother Big Sister of Greater Houston, American Leadership Forum and the Medical Indigent Care in Texas Taskforce. As a member of the UIW Board of Trustees, she said she feels privileged to serve alongside innovative business leaders committed to making a difference. “The Board of Trustees is a very talented group of forward-thinking individuals who share Dr. Agnese’s vision, leadership and unwavering commitment to the university. Our board meetings are extremely productive and results-driven,” Herron said.
As she nears the end of her first year of service, Herron reflected on those aspects of UIW that have impressed her most: the strategic growth of the campus and programs as well as the diversity of the student population. “As an African-American woman, I am proud to work closely with an institution that values diversity and works hard to ensure student success, especially among those students who are the first in their families to attend college,” Herron said.
Herron is also proud to be a part of the vision inspired by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, who ensure the university continues to nurture a special culture of core values that make UIW what it is today. “The Sisters reinforce a strong image of the university that reflects academic excellence in an environment that encourages students to grow in their faith.”
Herron grew up in Austin and is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin where she earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She has also successfully completed the Food Industry Management Program at the University of Southern California and completed her Executive MBA from the University of Texas at San Antonio.