Co-President BFSA
Kelly Nash, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, College of Sciences
Committees: Membership & Nomination; Faculty Affairs; Staff Affairs; Special Committee
Biography
Prof. Kelly Nash is an Associate Professor of Physics in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). She also serves as the Director for the Kleberg Advanced Microscopy Center at UTSA and previously as the Graduate Advisor of Record. Her scientific research focuses on synthesis and characterization nanomaterials and their physical interaction with biological systems from the molecular to the cellular-level. The impact of her nanomaterials research stretches from fundamental biophysical studies to biomedicine, energy, and environmental applications. She was awarded the Air Force Office of Scientific Research Young Investigator Program award in 2015 for research efforts in biophysics. Additionally, she has numerous awards for her contributions to science and promotion of inclusiveness in STEM including Dillard University Alumni 40–Under-40 award, UTSA COS Excellence in Community Service Award, San Antonio Business Journal 40-Under-40 Award, and UTSA President’s Distinguished Diversity Award. She continually advocates for the involvement of underrepresented groups in science through strategic initiatives within UTSA and abroad. She has served as UTSA-American Physical Society (APS) Bridge Program Coordinator, facilitator for APS Professional Skills Development for Women and chair of the APS Conferences for Undergraduate Women in Physics National Organizing Committee.
Co-President BFSA
Yolanda Williams, M.P.A.
LEAD Program Academic Advisor IV, Academic Advising
Committees: Membership & Nomination; Website, Social Media & Technology
Biography
Yolanda Williams has worked in higher education for more than 25 years, in various positions and roles. She currently works as an Advisor IV in the Lead and SOAR program at UTSA. Her area of expertise is at-risk, and underrepresented students, and is a champion of minority student success. She has many years of collecting, analyzing and reporting date for the benefit of improving advising services at UTSA. She has won numerous awards at UTSA including, TEXAAN advisor of the year 2016, UTSA MVA (most valuable advising) award in 2012, UTSA most valuable program award for the PASE (Pathway to Academic Success and Excellence) program, in 2012. She also won the UTSA’s Lifetime most valuable advisor award in 2014. Her presentation team from BFSA won the President’s 2019 Distinguished Diversity Award in 2019. Dedicated to the pursuit of fairness, inclusivity, and diversity as exhibited through membership in numerous committees and task forces at UTSA. She is an inaugural member of the Women’s Synergy network, as well as a member of the UTSA Inclusive Excellence Board, and the Inclusive Excellence Leadership Symposium Committee. She served as previous Historian and Secretary of BFSA from 2012-2018. While serving in these roles she also served as co- Chair of the BFSA’s annual Knowledge Bowl in 2014-2018, a signature event which has given out monetary awards to many students. Williams has presented at many national advising presentations including, “Black Student Success Matters,” in 2015 in Atlanta, and in Las Vegas in 2016. Her team also asked to facilitate a national advising town hall, which won rave reviews in St. Louis Missouri in 2017. Williams has also served in Staff Council from 2016-2018, and has served as adjunct faculty at Northwest Vista College for many years, teaching Political science courses. A lifetime learner, she completed the adjunct certification program in 2017. Williams serves as a board member of Inspirational Gospel Church in Antonio, where she helps recruit students for scholarships. In her spare time she is a prolific artist who donates her paintings and art instruction to the underprivileged. Williams earned her Bachelor’s of Arts in Political Science, and a Master’s of Public Administration from UTSA.
Vice President BFSA
Karla Broadus, M.A.
Director, African American Studies & Senior Lecturer, College of Education and Human Development
Biography
Karla Broadus is the Project Coordinator for the African American Studies Program and a Senior Lecturer within the Race Ethnicity Gender Sexuality Studies Department of the College of Education and Human Development. She teaches Undergraduate Education majors: Children’s Literature, Reading Assessments, African American Studies, and Reading Development at the university. In addition she is the Faculty Advisor for Omicron Tau Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and Chairperson for UTSA MLK, Jr. Parade and UTSA MLK, Jr. Day Committee.
Treasurer BFSA
Wanda Guntz
Senior Academic Administrative Manager, College of Sciences
Committees: Membership & Nomination; Staff Affairs
Biography
Wanda Guntz is a Senior Academic Administrative Manager in the department of Biology. Wanda has been employed at UTSA for 19 years. Prior to joining the department of Biology, Wanda worked for the Vice President for Business Affairs and in the College of Education and Human Development in the department of Kinesiology and in the Dean’s office. Currently, Wanda is a member of the Staff Senate and the Black Faculty and Staff Association, where she serves as the Treasurer. Wanda serves as the Primary Advisor to the Upsilon Nu Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Wanda is a 40- year member of the sorority. Wanda is also active in First Light Christian Fellowship, a faculty/staff organization on campus. Wanda serves as the Youth Director at Grace First Baptist Church and has served in this capacity for the past 18 years. She truly relishes the opportunity to be of service in ministry, helping to shape the hearts and minds of youth in her church. Wanda holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Louisiana State University.
Secretary BFSA
Neema Connor
Assistant Director, Office of the Registrar
Committees: Membership & Nomination; Events & Community Affairs; Website, Social Media & Technology; Special Committee
Biography
Neema Connor is the Assistant Director of Athletic Certification and Residency at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). In this position, she serves as the responsible Certification Officer of academic eligibility for student athletes as well as maintaining accurate residency status for in-state, out-of-state and certain international students. Connor moved to the San Antonio area in April 2019 and immediately integrated herself into the San Antonio area by serving on UTSA campus and surrounding community. Prior to moving to UTSA, Connor spent nearly two decades at a Historically Black Land Grant Institution, in Princess Anne, MD as an integral part of the Universities Athletic Department.
Historian BFSA
Jessica Dawson
Assistant Director, Student Leadership Development
Committees: Events & Community Affairs; Staff Affairs; Special Committee
Biography
Jessica Dawson is the current Assistant Director of the Student Leadership Center. She has been with UTSA since August 2015 and has worked in Student Activities and The Multicultural Student Center for Equity and Justice. Jessica currently provides oversight and administrative responsibility for the operation of RowdyLink. She fosters a collaborative university structure to support student engagement activities. In addition to her oversight of RowdyLink she oversees Volunteer Services as well as advises the UTSA Involvement Ambassadors and Women of Honor. In 2015, Jessica received her Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies – Higher Education Administration from UTSA. In 2012, she received a Bachelor of Science in Applied Sociology from Texas State University. She was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. She enjoys spending time family, traveling, watching movies, cheering for her San Antonio Spurs, and exploring new restaurants in the area.
Faculty Chair BFSA
Vanessa Hammler Kenon, Ed.D.
Associate Vice President, Technology Compliance and Community Engagement
Biography
Vanessa Hammler Kenon, Ed.D., serves as the Associate Vice President Technology Compliance and Community Engagement and is responsible for management and leadership of the department’s audit, compliance, risk services, business continuity and emergency management, internal and external community outreach and collaboration, and the department’s developing internship and UTS Classroom to Career Program.
She serves as a key UTS liaison with UTSA students, faculty, and staff. Dr. Kenon serves on several UTSA committees, and task forces, supporting technology, student success, community service, diversity and inclusion, academic research, audit and compliance, the UTSA annual SECC, and community outreach. She also serves as a lecturer in the College of Education and Human Development’s African American Studies program teaching a contemporary course in film, media, and technology.
Dr. Kenon has worked in higher education positions of instruction, leadership and management in both private and public higher education programs for over 26 years with 24 of those years spent managing departments and initiatives directly related to technology. Kenon serves the San Antonio community on several boards and committees including service for Trinity University and Hallmark University System.
Current UTSA projects for Dr. Kenon include working on the expansion of UTS’s role in the support for UTSA internships and the university’s College to Career Program. She is also working with faculty, staff and students on technology enhancements including support of Online Tutoring, and Virtual Reality initiatives. Several of these projects launched as a part of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation iPASS grant project, where Kenon served as the PI and administrator on several projects, including the highly successful Degree Works implementation.
Kenon has presented and facilitated at conferences and events across the globe and has presented for the American Education Research Association, Microsoft, Texas Association of State Systems for Computing and Communications, The International Higher Education Reform Symposium, The Association for College and University Technology Advancement, The New Media Consortium, The International Society for Educational Planning, Ready Education, Achieving the Dream, and EDUCAUSE. Dr. Kenon is a first-generation college graduate and an alumni of Trinity University where she earned bachelor’s degrees in Communications and English. She is also a very proud UTSA alumni where she received her Masters and her Doctorate in Education, as well as a recipient of the 2018 Distinguished Alumni award from the Educational Leadership Department.