UIW Selects New Academic and Financial Leaders

March 13, 2020

San Antonio – The University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) is proud to announce that, after a nationwide search and with the unanimous approval of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Barbara Aranda-Naranjo has been selected as Provost/Chief Academic Officer and Dr. Darrell Haydon has been selected as Chief Financial Officer/Vice President for Administrative Services. Each of the candidates were selected for their deep and varied expertise, commitment to establishing programs and processes that advance academic excellence, and dedication to furthering the Mission of the University.

Dr. Barbara Aranda-Naranjo

Aranda-Naranjo has served as the University’s interim provost since June 2019, after the retirement of long-time provost Dr. Kathi Light. In this position, she has overseen the deans and faculty of each of UIW’s 11 schools, as well as the departments of Academic Affairs and Institutional Effectiveness, Academic Support Services and Research and Graduate Studies. Immediately prior to this post she served as associate provost for Health Professions.

An educator and administrator with more than 30 years of experience, Aranda-Naranjo previously served as the associate provost for Civic Engagement, overseeing the Ettling Center for Civic Leadership & Sustainability, and as the Gen. Dunlap Endowed Chair in the School of Nursing and Health Professions. She also held the position of director of Student Health Services and is an alumna of the Incarnate Word nursing program where she earned her master’s degree.

“Dr. Aranda-Naranjo’s dedication to the University of the Incarnate Word is exemplary, but it is her dynamic leadership, and commitment to service-oriented student learning and faculty development that set her apart,” said Dr. Thomas M. Evans, UIW president. “As the search and screening committee made its way through dozens of candidates, and they advanced to become finalists, I came to the conclusion that we had the right person already here at UIW in Dr. Aranda-Naranjo. During her time as Interim Provost she has proven she has the skills and talents to help lead this University through a transformative time. In her, we have found someone with a unique understanding of not only where the University has been, but where we are headed.”

A Houston native and graduate of Incarnate Word Academy, she received her bachelor’s degree in Nursing from UT-Health Science Center in San Antonio, her master’s degree in Nursing from Incarnate Word College and her doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin - School of Nursing. Aranda-Naranjo was also an associate professor at Georgetown University. As a director of multiple programs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, she oversaw the Global HIV/AIDS Program, and the Division of Service Systems, where she managed a $2-billion budget.

“I am proud to be a part of a legacy of transformative educators beginning with UIW founders the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word who created the sacred space for our students, faculty, staff and administrators to not only fulfill their vocations, but learn to serve our communities so that all may flourish,” said Aranda-Naranjo. “I am deeply motivated by our role in ensuring that our 21 st century students can contribute to society in a meaningful way and are prepared to challenge and innovate based on solid values, principles and moral purpose.”

Among her many roles, Aranda-Naranjo will continue to strengthen and develop local, national and international academic opportunities that help students build global competencies toward understanding the pressing needs of our world.

Dr. Darrell Haydon

Dr. Darrell Haydon has been selected to become the new Chief Financial Officer and Vice President for Administrative Services. Haydon will replace long-time CFO Doug Endsley who is set to retire in May 2020.

“We were fortunate to have had many extremely talented and experienced candidates apply for the position during our nationwide search for a new CFO,” says Evans. “In the end, after extensive interviews and feedback from our community, the search and screening committee recommended several candidates, and I am confident that Dr. Haydon is the best fit for the University at this time. His skill set on not just financial matters, but in institutional planning and operations make him distinctively qualified for the University of the Incarnate Word.”

Haydon comes to UIW after serving as the Vice President/Chief Financial Officer of Business and Finance at California State University – Stanislaus. In this post, he was chief financial and senior management officer and advisor to the President on the administrative support operations. He previously was the Associate Vice President of Financial Services at California State University – East Bay.

"I am excited and honored to join the University of the Incarnate Word family and to become part of a university that shares so many of my values and priorities,” said Haydon. “UIW is a warm and welcoming environment and a wonderful place for students to learn, grow, and flourish. I look forward to serving the campus community and contributing to its continued success in the years ahead."

Haydon begins his tenure at UIW on April 1.