I am pleased to share that I have permanently appointed Katie Brock as Vice President of Operations after serving as Interim Vice President since February.

Katie is a trusted leader who consistently guides teams to address complex challenges, improve processes, and maintain high standards. Her thoughtful leadership and proven ability to foster collaboration across teams make her exceptionally well suited for this role.

Katie has served UT Austin for more than 14 years, always leading with collaboration, pragmatism, and a deep commitment to operational excellence. In her previous roles as Deputy Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and Associate Vice President for Strategic Advancement, she helped optimize UT’s operations and accelerated progress in research, education, and services.

As Vice President of Operations, Katie will lead several priority initiatives, including the restoration of our Tower, the optimization of our innovation and real estate strategies, and the launch of UT’s campus master plan, which will be a guiding framework for future development that delivers on the University’s mission.

In alignment with her permanent appointment, the operations portfolio will be renamed Operational Services and Strategies. The name reflects this team’s vital role as the caretakers of our special place, serving and partnering with our University community to shape an exceptional campus experience.

This portfolio includes eight units that are essential to maintaining a world-class environment and operating strategy. Those units are Campus Operations and Planning, Campus Services, Central Human Resources, Discovery to Impact, Real Estate Planning and Strategy, Security and Emergency Management, Texas Institute for Electronics, and University Housing and Dining.

Please join me in congratulating Katie on her leadership appointment.

Sincerely, 

Jim Davis
President