UIW Welcomes New Leader of Military and Veterans Affairs
Tila Jernigan Brings Years of Knowledge and Personal Experience to New Role
San Antonio– August 13, 2025 – The University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) is proud to welcome Tila K. Jernigan to the role of Senior Director of Military and Veterans Affairs. Jernigan brings over 20 years of dedicated service to the military-connected community, including 13 years in higher education. A military spouse herself, she brings both personal insight and professional leadership to her new role at UIW.
Jernigan began her higher education career at Texas A&M – Central Texas in Killeen, rising from School Certifying Official to Director of Military and Veteran Services before moving on to Texas A&M University – San Antonio to lead Military Affairs. She is recognized for her expertise in process improvement, partnership-building in and beyond the campus community, and delivering top-tier support services for military-connected students. For the past three years, she has served as President of the Texas Association of Collegiate Veteran Program Officials, collaborating with the Texas Veterans Commission and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to deliver statewide professional training across Texas.
“I am excited for the opportunity to lead the efforts for military-connected students at UIW,” shares Jernigan. “I look forward to continuing the great work and keeping UIW recognized as an industry leader in serving military-connected students.”
It is a stated priority of the University of the Incarnate Word to be a premier destination institution for active military, veterans and their families. Through the diligent work done at UIW’s Military and Veterans Center, the university has created a culture of support that celebrates our students. UIW was recently named number one “Best for Vets” two years in a row by the national Military Times publication and 20% of U.S.-based UIW students are military-affiliated.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Michael Valdes, Assistant Director/Media and Public Relations,Office of Communications & Brand Marketing, (210) 829-6001, (210) 422-4052 or michael.valdes@uiwtx.edu
About UIW
With over 140 years of tradition, the University of the Incarnate Word is committed to educational excellence in a context of faith in Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Word of God. UIW programs constitute a liberal education that fosters a well-grounded intellectual resilience, a disposition toward lifelong learning, and an acceptance of responsibility for the ethical consequences of our ideas and actions. Founded in 1881, UIW is the largest Catholic university in the state and the fourth largest private university in Texas. UIW students can choose from degrees offered at the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels. The University is committed to graduating students with the lowest amount of debt load possible and to help them secure a career that lifts their lives, their families and their communities. With a beautiful main campus in the heart of San Antonio, in 2019, UIW purchased a 10-acre landmark property at 4119 Broadway which increased the footprint of the UIW Broadway Campus by 20%. The building is now known as Founders Hall. UIW has locations throughout San Antonio, two campuses in Mexico and a European Study Center in Strasbourg, France. UIW is a leader in international education, with over 146 “sister schools” in 45 countries and it is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution. The University is a member of the NCAA Division I Southland Conference and is proud to have 25 teams representing 15 different sports. UIW is a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word.