Dr. Evelyn Waiwaiole Dr. Evelyn Waiwaiole

Dr. Evelyn Waiwaiole has been named Vice President of Development for Temple College and Executive Director of the Temple College Foundation.

Dr. Waiwaiole previously served as Executive Director of the Center for Community College Student Engagement, which is headquartered at The University of Texas at Austin. Prior to that, she served as the Suanne Davis Roueche Director of the National Institute for Staff & Organizational Development (NISOD), which also is headquartered at UT-Austin.

In both these leadership roles, she was able to successfully secure millions of dollars in grants and gifts from public and private foundations to support higher education.

“We are extremely fortunate that Dr. Waiwaiole will be joining the Temple College team,” said President Dr. Christy Ponce. “She is talented, student centered and dedicated to raising funds that will make a lifelong difference for so many students in our community. She will play an important role in helping us advance our goals and vision for Temple College’s future.”

Dr. Waiwaiole earned a doctorate from UT in higher education administration with a specialization in community college leadership and was recognized as a Distinguished Graduate of UT’s Community College Leadership Program in 2009. She also holds a master’s degree in economics from The University of Oklahoma and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Texas A&M University. She was raised in Taylor, Texas, and graduated from Taylor High School.

Dr. Waiwaiole served as a lecturer in the UT College of Education from 2007 to 2011. In 2006, she led the Bridges to Opportunity initiative, also at UT. She also has served as project manager for the MetLife Foundation Initiative on Student Success and policy analyst for the Center for Community College Policy at the Education Commission of the States.

Dr. Waiwaiole was recognized as a 2002-2003 Associates Fellow with the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education and is known for her keen awareness of policy leadership and issues impacting higher education. She has also served on the ETS National Community College Advisory Committee and the CCSSE National Advisory Board and is the author of articles related to student success, retention and persistence.

“My first higher education class was at Temple College in the summer of 1987. It is a privilege to return here in a leadership role. I have been passionate about student success my entire career and to return to the place my higher education journey began and lead efforts that will raise resources to help students of Temple College be successful is something I am really excited about.” Dr. Waiwaiole said.