Dr. Tomás A. Aguirre Named Dean of Students
Published July 11, 2023
Dr. Tomás A. Aguirre has been named Dean of Students, effective July 31, 2023.
Dear University Community,
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Tomás A. Aguirre as the next Dean of Students at the University at Buffalo, effective July 31, 2023.
Tomás joins UB having served in numerous senior student affairs positions throughout his career, including as the Dean of Students at the University of New Mexico and as the Associate Vice President and Dean of Students at Texas A&M - Commerce. Most recently at SUNY Delhi, Dr. Aguirre served in critical leadership capacities including Vice President of Student Life and Chief Diversity Officer.
Within his two divisions, he supported Housing, Residential Life, Student Rights and Responsibilities, Custodial Services, Transportation, EOP, Student Health Center, Student Counseling, Athletics, University Police, Student Leadership and Engagement, Student Government, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Student Clubs and Activities, Dining Services, Mail Room, and the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. He established the first multicultural center (MOSAIC) at Delhi, providing a safe space for underrepresented students and a central programming department for the greater campus community.
Dr. Aguirre has spent most of his professional career supporting students at public institutions because of their mission to boost economic and social mobility, especially for first-generation students and students from historically underrepresented backgrounds. As a first-generation student and person of color, he is a diversity-driven administrator with a specialty in supporting students, staff and faculty with diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, sexual orientation, abilities, international and ethnic backgrounds. He has a track record of developing high-impact programs and services in the critical areas of student achievement and success, diversity and inclusion, leadership and engagement, and more.
Tomás earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and International Studies from The University of Texas, his Master of Science degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Southern California, his Master of Business Administration degree from SUNY Oswego, and his Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership and Higher Education Administration from the University of Southern California.
I would once again like to thank Jacqueline Hollins for chairing the search committee, as well as Dr. Amy Bisantz, Dr. Sandra Flash, Dr. Luis Colon, Dr. Trung Nguyen, Dr. Sharon Mitchell, and Mr. Jerod Dahlgren for their service on the committee. This national search garnered many high-caliber and talented candidates, and I am grateful for the thorough work of the committee throughout this process.
I look forward to welcoming Tomás to the UB community, as well as his wife Cara, and their children Diego, Zavier, and Paloma. I am excited for everyone to get a chance to meet our new Dean of Students later this summer and look forward to Tomás joining our team.
With warm regards,
Brian F. Hamluk
Vice President for Student Life