Recognizing Associate Vice Provost Shonda Goward’s Service to SJSU

Sent: June 15, 2026

From: Vincent J. Del Casino, Jr., Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Colleagues,

I am writing to share that Shonda, Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Student Success, will continue supporting systemwide Student Success efforts within the Division of Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success at the Chancellor’s Office. While this is an exciting opportunity for Shonda and a wonderful recognition of her leadership and expertise, it is also a significant transition for San José State University. She has made important contributions to our campus, and I have greatly appreciated working with her as part of our Academic Affairs leadership team.

During her time at SJSU, Shonda played a central role in advancing our student success priorities and strengthening the structures that support our students. In her role as Associate Vice Provost, she oversaw advising and led efforts to reorganize and standardize academic advising across the university to promote a more cohesive and consistent student advising experience. She also integrated Peer Connections into the advising and student success structure, strengthening coordination and improving student access to learning support.

Shonda also helped position SJSU as a leader in student success at the state and national levels. She has served as Principal Investigator on a $2.18 million Department of Education Title III grant to redesign the Academic Notice program, co-authored SJSU’s successful application for the inaugural U.S. Department of Education Postsecondary Success Recognition in 2024, and served as Campus Lead for the AASCU Student Success Equity Intensive. Through that work, she helped develop campus goals in support of SJSU’s student success plan and advanced strategies that will continue to shape our efforts moving forward.

Her leadership contributed to meaningful gains in student success outcomes. Over the past two years, SJSU’s first-year retention increased from 84.1% to 87.3%, with retention gains for students of color, from 76% to 81.1%, and Pell-eligible students, from 81% to 82.7%, over the same period. These improvements reflect the sustained, collaborative work of many colleagues across campus, and Shonda’s leadership was instrumental in helping align that work around our shared commitment to student success and equity. Most importantly, this positive momentum was maintained even while our first-year class size grew. The partnerships developed across campus certainly enabled this success, as did the coordination with the associate deans and other success leaders on campus. 

I am grateful for Shonda’s leadership, partnership, and many contributions to San José State University. While we will miss her on campus, I am pleased that she will continue serving students across the CSU in this new role. Please join me in thanking Shonda for her contributions to SJSU and in wishing her every success as she begins this next chapter of her professional career.
Sincerely,

Vin