President Eighmy announces administrative leadership updates

NOVEMBER 26, 2024 - Editor's note: The following message was sent today via email from President Taylor Eighmy to all faculty and staff:

At the beginning of the year, I announced a move to a leadership structure with two executive vice presidents as members of the President's Cabinet - one for Academic Affairs and one for Business Affairs - to further strengthen collaboration across divisions. Since then, many of our divisions have continued to evolve and grow. To support that continued growth, I'm writing to announce several administrative leadership updates.

In Academic Affairs, Provost and Executive Vice President Heather Shipley is appointing Kelly Nash to the new role of Vice Provost for Faculty Success to lead, grow and enhance the programs, initiatives and efforts that support the incredible work of our faculty - the core of everything we do and everyone we serve. This role will also lead the transition of support for academic areas previously overseen by Provost Shipley, which is especially important as we continue our upward growth trajectory. Colleagues in this division will receive additional details on this new role from Provost and Executive Vice President Shipley.

In Business Affairs, the divisional structure will expand to provide leadership support for long-planned areas of growth. These changes will not impact the future state of the division's structure as it relates to our forthcoming merger with UT Health San Antonio. With this expansion, and under the continued leadership of Executive Vice President Veronica Salazar, several leaders will be elevated. Effective immediately, Mary Hernandez will serve as Senior Vice President for Administration and Operations and Chief Operating Officer; Sheri Hardison will serve as Vice President for Financial Affairs; Corrina Green will serve as Vice President for Real Estate and Property Management; and Katy Madden will serve as Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. Colleagues in this division will receive additional details on these changes from Executive Vice President Salazar.

In the Office of Research, effective May 31, 2025, JoAnn Browning will step down as interim vice president to realize a special opportunity to lead the Network Coordination Office (NCO) for the Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI), an ongoing research project funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Since stepping into the interim role last June, JoAnn has spearheaded several key initiatives, including work to meet the State of Texas' eligibility criteria to participate in the National Research University Fund (NRUF) and leading the reorganization of the Office of Research. I am immensely grateful for her leadership and know she will excel in her new role. Colleagues in this division will receive additional details from Interim Vice President Browning, and further updates will be provided later this academic year around divisional leadership as we prepare for the merger.

As we continue to evolve as a university community, I want to express my deep gratitude for your ongoing leadership and commitment to excellence. Together, we will continue advancing UTSA.