Kevin B Vichcales

Kevin B Vichcales

Professor Department of History Office Location: Mabee Library 215 Phone: (210) 829-2759

Kevin B. Vichcales, Ph.D. is Associate Provost for Institutional Accreditation and Academic Effectiveness at the ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ (ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ) in San Antonio, Texas, where he provides university-wide leadership in assessment, institutional effectiveness, regional accreditation, and strategic planning. In this role, he serves as the institution's SACSCOC Liaison Officer, directs the activities of the Institutional Effectiveness and Core Advisory Councils, and oversees ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ's compliance with regional and specialized accreditation requirements, including leading the university's most recent decennial reaffirmation process, which engaged a team of more than 80 university personnel in the development and submission of the compliance report, focused report, and on-site visit.

A historian by training, Dr. Vichcales earned his Ph.D. in Modern European History from Western Michigan University, with a dissertation examining the development of British authority over the water environment. He also holds an M.A. in Modern European History and a B.A. in History and Political Science from Albion College, where he also minored in Economics. His scholarly foundation informs a career-long commitment to rigorous inquiry, evidence-based decision-making, and the kind of careful institutional stewardship that accreditation demands.

Over a career spanning more than three decades in higher education administration, Dr. Vichcales has held a succession of senior leadership positions at ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ, including Associate Provost for Undergraduate and Graduate Education, Dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, Associate Provost Academic Affairs, Dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Research, and earlier in his career, Associate Director of The Graduate College at Western Michigan University. In each role, he has combined administrative vision with hands-on execution, whether overseeing a college of 58 faculty and an $8.5 million operating budget, coordinating ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ's successful transition to NCAA Division I athletics, or launching cross-border academic programs linking ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ's Broadway campus with ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ’s Mexico campuses.

Dr. Vichcales has been a tireless advocate for student success at Hispanic Serving Institutions. As Principal Investigator, he secured more than $3.6 million in competitive federal funding through the U.S. Department of Education's Promoting Post-baccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans (PPOHA) program and the Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement program. These investments supported the creation of ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ's Graduate Support Center, a nationally recognized initiative that earned the 2014 Excelencia in Education National Example of Excelencia Award and was named a Bright Spot in Higher Education by the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics in 2015. He has also served as an external project evaluator for Title V grants at institutions across Texas and Colorado, and as a peer reviewer for the U.S. Department of Education's PPOHA competition.

Beyond ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ, Dr. Vichcales has been a leading voice in the broader Hispanic Serving Institution community. He served two elected terms as President of the Alliance of Hispanic Serving Institution Educators (AHSIE) and has held additional leadership roles within the organization as Treasurer, Historian/Secretary, and Council Member. He has presented at national conferences hosted by HACU, AHSIE, AAC&U, and the National Science Foundation, and has delivered keynote addresses and facilitated workshops on topics ranging from institutional resilience and Title V grant implementation to pedagogy, student mental health, and the changing value proposition of higher education.

A tenured Professor of History at ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ, Dr. Vichcales, has taught courses in modern European history, the Cold War, historiography, and social and political thought, many of which he developed. He has served on doctoral dissertation committees, mentored McNair Scholars, and supervised graduate students across multiple disciplines. His published work includes co-edited volumes on community empowerment and popular culture, encyclopedia and reference contributions on European history and propaganda, and peer-reviewed conference papers on Hispanic graduate student success and digital readiness in higher education. He is a lifetime member of the American Historical Association and a member of Phi Alpha Theta History Honorary Society.

Recognized with ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ's CCVI Spirit Award, the university's highest honor for embodying the mission of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, Dr. Vichcales brings to his work a deep sense of institutional purpose, a collaborative leadership style, and an enduring belief in the transformative power of education.

Ph.D. Western Michigan University
Major Field: Modern European History
Minor Field: 19th and 20th Century Theory and Historiography
Minor Field: Environmental History/Assessment
Core Field: Methodology, Historiography, and Historical Theory
Dissertation: “The Tragedy of the Rivers: Building Authority Over The British Water Environment.”

M.A. Western Michigan University
Field: Modern European History

B.A. Albion College
Double Major: History and Political Science
Minor: Economics

  • 2020-Present Associate Provost for Undergraduate and Graduate Education, ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ
  • 2015-2021 Dean, College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ
  • 2014-2018 Associate Provost Academic Affairs, ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ
  • 2006-2015 Dean, Office of Research and Graduate Studies, ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ
  • 2003-2006 Associate Dean, The Graduate College, Western Michigan University
  • 2002-2006 Director, Awards, Training, and Special Projects, The Graduate College Western Michigan University
  • 2000-2002 Coordinator, Graduate Student Financial Assistance, The Graduate College, Western Michigan University
  • 1995-2000 Staff Assistant, The Graduate College, The Graduate College, Western Michigan University

Presentations

  • Vichcales, Kevin B. (ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ) [moderator], Shaylon Rettig M.D. (ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ) [keynote], Vicki Williams (Clemens High School) [panelist], Rhonda O’Cana (Palo Alto College) [panelist], Kevin Milligan, Ph.D. LPC-S (ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ) [panelist]. “Mental Health and Wellness: Impact on Student Success/Pathways.” San Antonio Regional College and Career Consortium (SARC3) Virtual Roundtable: Resilience, Recovery and Renewal: Recognizing and meeting the needs for student success in 2022, February 5, 2022.Vichcales, Kevin B. (ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ), Lisa Alcorta (San Antonio College), Mike Martinez (St. Mary’s University), Daniel Powell (Northwest Vista College), Rosa Rivera-Hainaj (OLLU), Ashley Spicer-Runnels (TAMSA), Tammy Jordan Wyatt (UTSA) “Connecting Post-Pandemic Pathways: Student Engagement Moving Forward.” San Antonio Regional College and Career Consortium Virtual Roundtable: Empowering Students to Create Their Futures! February 5, 2021.Vichcales, Kevin B., Sarita Brown, Sonia Zarate, Raquel Tamez. “Building Networks with Organizations Dedicated to Undergraduate STEM Education at HSIs.” Panel Discussion for the National Science Foundation – Hispanic Serving Institution Program, Project Directors meeting November 7, 2019, Washington DC.
  • Vichcales, Kevin B. [keynote]. “Resilience and Innovation in Title V Project Implementation: Lessons Learned and Campus Impacts.” Resilience and Innovation in Title V Project Implementation: Lessons Learned and Campus Impacts, Title V Regional Conference, ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ, September 20, 2023.
  • Vichcales, Kevin B. [panelist], Eric J. Carpio, Chief Community Museum Office for History Colorado and Director of the Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center [moderator], Julie Chacom, Director, Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area [panelist], Manuel Del Real, Ph.D., Colorado Coalition for the Educational Advancement of Latinxs, Kellyn Dominguez, Academic Advisor at Early College Academy [panelist], Roberto Montoya, Ph.D., Associate Vice President of partner Success at Inside Track [panelist]. “Changing the Narrative Podcast: An Interactive Discussion Exploring the Impacts of Being a Hispanic-Serving Institution.” HSI Week at Adams State University, September 13, 2023.
  • Vichcales, Kevin B. [keynote]. “Navigating a Global Pandemic & Contending with the Threat of Violence on School Campuses.” Texas Lutheran University Engaging Pedagogy Conference 2023, May 17, 2023.
  • Vichcales, Kevin B. (ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ) [co-organizer and moderator], Ana Vallor, Ph.D. (ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ) [keynote], Angela Guadian-Mendez (Alamo College District) [panelist], Edward (Eddie) Hernandez, Ph.D. (UTSA) [panelist], Melina Benavidez (UTHSCSA) [panelist], Jennifer Benavides, Ph.D. (Fox Tech H.S.) [panelist], and Eddie Rodriquez, Ph.D. (CAST Medical H.S.) [panelist]. “Health Professions Pathways.” San Antonio Regional College and Career Consortium (SARC3) Virtual Roundtable, April 26, 2023.
  •  Vichcales, Kevin B., Marla A. Franco, Jeannie G. Kim, Leticia P. Lopez, and Paloma Vargas. “HSIs: Centering Servingness in Times of COVID-19.” Webinar for the Alliance of Hispanic Serving Institution Educators (AHSIE), May 13, 2020.
  • Vichcales, Kevin B. “Building a Culture of Inclusion for Catholic Colleges and Universities: A Training Manual.” Facilitator of five-person team to deliver the training workshop on behalf of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, February 1, 2019, Washington D.C.
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Publications (monographs)

  • Ettling, Dorothy H. and Kevin B. Vichcales, eds. Reach Out Africa: Studies in Community Empowerment, Sustainable Development, and Cross Cultural Engagement. Archway Press, 2014.
  • Carlson, Lewis A. and Kevin B. Vichcales, eds. Popular Culture at Home and Abroad. Kalamazoo, Michigan: New Issues Press, 1996.

Publications (articles)

  • “Perceptions of Online Strategies and Digital Readiness in the COVID-19 Environment: An Instrumental Case Study.” with Pamela McCray, Valentina Rada, Steven A. Szesko, and Norman St. Clair. D. Guralnick et al. (Eds.). Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems (LNNS): Vol. 767. Creative Approaches to Technology-Enhanced Learning for the Workplace and Higher Education. Proceedings of “The Learning Ideas Conference” 2023. Springer, 2023.

Academic

  • American Historical Association (lifetime member)
  • Phi Alpha Theta, History Honorary Society

Professional

  • Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
  • Alliance of Hispanic Serving Institution Educators
  • Music
  • Reading
  • Athletics
  • Shooting Sports

2018 CCVI Spirit Award. The award recognizes a member of the faculty, administration, or staff who has demonstrated in service to the University and/or to the broader civic community, the spirit of the founders, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word. The mission of the University flows directly from this spirit.

2015 The Graduate Support Center (GSC) received national recognition in September 2015 by the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics as a Bright Spot in higher education. ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ is one of 230 programs so recognized across the nation.

2014 The Graduate Support Center is the 2014 Excelencia in Education’s National Example of Excelencia Award winner. Examples of Excelencia is the only national initiative to identify and promote programs and departments at the forefront of advancing educational achievement for Latino students in higher education. Through a comprehensive year-long process, promising practices at the associate, baccalaureate, and graduate levels in institutions of higher education and community-based organizations are recognized at the annual Celebración de Excelencia held in Washington, D.C. and cataloged in the What Works Database. See more at .

ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ

  • 2026-Present   Provost Dean’s Council
  • 2025-Present   Academic Affairs Leadership Team
  • 2007-Present   University Institutional Effectiveness Committee (Member 2007-23; Chair 2023-Present)
  • 2008-Present   ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ Capital Campaign: Employee Campaign “Captain”
  • 2008-Present   University Honors Program: Honors Council (Member)
  • 2016-Present   Athletics Advisory Council (Chair)
  • 2015-Present   University Core Advisory Committee (Member 2015-23; Chair 2023-Present)
  • 2006-2025         Dean’s Council Academic Leadership Team (Member)
  • 2019-2025         High Impact Educational Practices Committee (Co-Chair 2018-19; Chair 2019-Present)
  • 2021-2024         President’s Advisory Council

Recent Search Committees

  • 2025                     Associate Vice President of Finance/Comptroller (Member)
  • 2023                     Assistant Director Institutional Research (member)
  • 2023                     Coordinator of Research Compliance (member)
  • 2022                     Academic Affairs Director of Operations and Planning (Member)
  • 2021                     Dean, Office of Research and Graduate Support (Member)
  • 2021                     Associate Vice President of Finance/Comptroller (Member)
  • 2020-2021         Senior Director of Advising Services (Member)
  • 2020-2021         Dean of Students (Member)
  • 2020-2021         Executive Administrative Assistant to the Provost (Member)
  • 2019-2020         Title IX Search Committee (Member)

Professional Service

  • 2025 On-site reaffirmation site team for Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) reaffirmation for Lipscomb University.
  • 2022 On-site reaffirmation site team for Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) reaffirmation for Southern Adventist University
  • 2021-2023 Volunteer Committee Member, Financial and Governance Committee, Conference Committee, Institutes Committee, and Elections Committee. Alliance of Hispanic Serving Institution Educators (AHSIE).
  • 2020-2021 Historian/Secretary - Alliance of Hispanic Serving Institution Educators (AHSIE).
  • 2017-2021 Member - Science Foundation of Arizona KickStarter 2.0 Advisory Council.
  • 2017-2020 Member – Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) – Government Relations Committee.
  • 2016-2020 President – Alliance of Hispanic Serving Institution Educators (AHSIE). Responsible for leadership of the organization in collaboration with the organization’s officers and council members. Reelected in 2018 to a second two-year term.
  • 2015 Conference Site Co-Chair – Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of Minority Health Resources Center (OHMRC), Higher Education Technical Assistance Program (HE-TAP), Region IV & VI conference, August 3-5, 2015. Led on-campus organizational efforts inclusive of site arrangements, conference hotel, etc.
  • 2014-2015 Conference Site Chair – Alliance of Hispanic Serving Institution Educators (AHSIE). ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ hosted the 7th annual conference of the Alliance, March 8-11, 2015. As Program Chair, ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ is responsible for arranging all San Antonio elements of the conference including the conference proceedings.
  • 2012-2016 Treasurer – Alliance of Hispanic Serving Institution Educators (AHSIE). Re-elected in 2013, 2014, and 2015 for one-year year terms. Led efforts to formalize the organization via incorporation and securing of 501c3 status. Responsible for financial planning and reporting.
  • 2011-2021 Professional Best Practice Conference Committee Member – Alliance of Hispanic Serving Institution Educators (AHSIE).
  • 2011-2021 Council Member – Alliance of Hispanic Serving Institution Educators (AHSIE). Reelected in 2018, for 3rd three-year term.
  • 2011-2012 Conference Site Chair – Alliance of Hispanic Serving Institution Educators (AHSIE). ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ hosted the 5th annual conference of the Alliance, March 12-14, 2012. As Program Chair, ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ was responsible for arranging all San Antonio elements of the conference including the conference proceedings.
  • 2010-2015 Graduate Education Advisory Committee (GEAC) – Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). Service as representative of private institutions.
  • 2009-2014 Membership Committee: Conference of Southern Graduate Schools
  • Modern European History
  • Modern U.S. History
  • Military History
  • Environmental History
  • Pollution Control
  • Aquatic Ecosystems