Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC) is a fixture in the Coastal Bend, cultivating generations of professionals, collaborating with the local community and putting Corpus Christi on the map as an institution worth investing in. As the region’s economy continues to grow, the University’s College of Business increasingly reflects that momentum.
On Jan. 12, Dr. Faiza Khoja began her new role as dean of the College of Business, bringing with her more than two decades of experience in higher education leadership, most recently at Central Washington University. Her arrival marks a forward-looking moment for the College with a future grounded in strategy, connection and purpose.
Khoja’s background is rooted in strategic management. However, her leadership philosophy extends well beyond traditional frameworks. Khoja describes herself as a systems thinker—someone who maps connections among people, resources, institutions and opportunity. Systems thinking helps understand complex problems, and she believes this approach is essential for leading in higher education today.
When she began learning about TAMU-CC, what stood out wasn’t branding or scale; it was a purpose. A university deeply tied to its community; a student body rich with first-generation learners and faculty and staff who weren’t simply teaching business, but working to make a difference for the student body.
“I am very passionate about serving first-generation students. I’ve always served those students, and I have a drive to make a difference and have an impact,” Khoja said.
Khoja’s perspective is shaped by locale. Just down the road, the Port of Corpus Christi sits as a reminder that the Coastal Bend runs on real systems: energy, trade, military infrastructure and global movement. Business here isn’t theoretical; it’s operational.
For Khoja, the College of Business has a responsibility to prepare students for corporate roles and to lead in complex environments. Furthermore, to teach how decisions shape the future, how strategy lives beyond slide decks and how talent pipelines can work in tandem with the regions they serve.
“The role of the College of Business is to develop a talent pipeline for [local] industry and for the community,” she said.
Khoja speaks with genuine excitement about what lies ahead. She looks forward to working closely with students, collaborating with faculty and strengthening the College of Business as an intellectual and economic epicenter for the region.
Khoja’s appointment as the new dean of TAMU-CC’s College of Business signals a quiet but meaningful shift in the Coastal Bend. Not a reset, but a focus on turning TAMU-CC into a hub. One that underscores TAMU-CC’s role as an institution where education not only prepares students for work, but equips them to shape the systems they’ll one day lead.
Contact: 361-825-6045 | cobdeansoffice@tamucc.edu
