Project Director, HEART Project
Texas A&M University Kingsville, United States
Dr. Jason Saladiner is a Gallup-Certified CliftonStrengths Coach and higher education leader with over 20 years of experience advancing student success. A U.S. Army veteran and first-generation college graduate, Jason brings a deep understanding of the personal, academic, and cultural barriers that students face and works to dismantle those barriers through strengths-based systems that empower both students and faculty.
He currently serves as Project Director for the HEART Project at Texas A&M University–Kingsville, a federally funded initiative supporting low-income and underrepresented STEM students. Jason leads strengths-based faculty development, intrusive advising strategies, and early career exploration efforts that are reshaping retention culture across campus.
Central to this work is the 4D Career Exploration Model, a framework that guides students to Discover their strengths, Develop their goals, Design a personalized roadmap, and Deliver with confidence. The model is now embedded into TAMUK’s freshman seminar and Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), helping students connect identity with direction early in their college journey.
Previously, Jason served as Director of Innovative Programs and Clinical Associate Professor at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, where he led the nationally recognized eLine Military Program. His leadership in translating military medical training into academic pathways earned awards from AACN, SREB, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Jason’s top CliftonStrengths - Strategic, Analytical, Responsibility, Individualization, and Relator - inform a leadership style that blends system design with personal coaching. He supports institutions in reimagining retention strategies through the lens of belonging, identity, and purpose. At the heart of his work is a belief that all students have potential and that it’s our responsibility as educators to create environments where they can see it, build it, and own it.
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Unlocking Student Potential: Aligning Strengths With Academic and Career Success
Thursday, June 26, 2025
4:00 PM - 4:30 PM EDT