Teniente was born in San Antonio, Texas, where she grew up on the city's South Side until moving to California at age 8.

[2] Teniente Matson serves on the board of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and the Higher Education Resource Services.

[1] She succeeded Maria Hernandez Ferrier, who oversaw the university's founding years, accreditation, and partnership with the local Toyota plant.

[4][5] Teniente-Matson's initial goals included similar campus research partnerships in locally-relevant areas such as water conservation or cybersecurity.

[1] In 2019, Teniente-Matson suggested to the superintendents of East Central, Edgewood, Harlandale, Somerset, South San Antonio, Southside, and Southwest Independent School Districts that they formally partner together to work towards common goals.