News Summary
The University of Texas at San Antonio is launching a search for a Senior Vice President for Governmental Relations following the retirement of Carlos Martinez. This key role will enhance the university’s engagement with government entities and is essential for advancing UTSA’s strategic interests. The search underscores the institution’s commitment to institutional excellence, community impact, and strong governmental partnerships in Texas’s higher education landscape.
Houston, TX — The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) has initiated a comprehensive search for its next Senior Vice President for Governmental Relations, a critical leadership position that shapes the institution’s engagement with local, state, and federal policymakers. This strategic move follows the announced retirement of Carlos Martinez, who has served in the role with dedication. The search underscores UTSA’s commitment to robust external partnerships and its vital role within the broader Texas higher education landscape.
The upcoming appointment represents a key moment for UTSA, highlighting its ongoing emphasis on institutional excellence and strategic growth. In a rapidly evolving educational and economic environment, strong governmental relations are essential for universities to secure resources, influence policy, and contribute meaningfully to the communities they serve. This leadership transition reflects UTSA’s proactive approach to maintaining its trajectory as a leading public research university and a significant contributor to Texas’s intellectual capital and economic prosperity.
UTSA Seeks New Governmental Relations Leader
The University of Texas at San Antonio is actively searching for a new Senior Vice President for Governmental Relations, a pivotal role focused on advancing the institution’s strategic interests and community impact within Texas and beyond.
A Critical Role in University Advancement
The position of Senior Vice President for Governmental Relations is central to a university’s ability to navigate complex legislative and regulatory landscapes. This leader acts as the primary liaison between the university and government entities at local, state, and federal levels. Responsibilities typically include developing and executing a comprehensive governmental relations and advocacy strategy designed to advance the institution’s academic, research, health, and community missions. This involves monitoring legislative and regulatory developments, preparing impact analyses, and advising executive leadership on emerging opportunities and risks.
For institutions like UTSA, which are vital to the educational and economic fabric of Texas, the role extends to building and strengthening relationships with elected officials, agency leaders, and public sector stakeholders. The Senior Vice President represents the university at legislative hearings and public forums, shaping public policy to support long-term institutional priorities and enhancing the university’s visibility and credibility with policymakers.
Leadership Transition and Search Committee Formation
The search for a new Senior Vice President for Governmental Relations comes as Carlos Martinez prepares to retire from his distinguished service in the role. President Eighmy announced the launch of this important search, emphasizing the strategic importance of finding a successor who can continue to foster strong governmental relationships. A search committee is being formed to identify the next leader, with the search anticipated to formally launch this month, January 2026. Kathryn Keeton, Vice President, is involved in this transition process.
Strategic Engagement and Community Impact
UTSA’s commitment to engagement extends deeply into its strategic plan, which aims to “transform the Roadrunner experience and the future of our community through agility, collaboration, and stewardship.” One of the key pathways within the Business Affairs strategic plan is “Engagement and Community,” focusing on connecting and engaging with the community. This overarching vision guides the university’s efforts to build partnerships and ensure its initiatives resonate with the needs of the wider public. The university regularly engages in strategic planning refresh processes, incorporating feedback from faculty, staff, and students to adapt to the evolving higher education landscape.
Notably, UTSA has undertaken initiatives like the Westside Community Partnerships Initiative, which aims to amplify the economic and cultural strengths of San Antonio’s Westside through strategic community collaborations. This initiative has resulted in numerous high-impact projects fostering educational excellence, economic prosperity, community-based research, and community-campus engagement. UTSA’s Westside Community Center, established in September 2019, serves as a hub for educational and economic opportunities, benefiting residents, small businesses, and non-profits.
A History of Strategic Leadership Searches and Institutional Growth
UTSA has a precedent for undertaking significant leadership searches to bolster its institutional capacity. For example, a national search was conducted in 2019 for the university’s Vice President for Research, Economic Development. These concerted efforts highlight a continuous dedication to bringing in strong leadership across all critical university functions. Such searches reflect a disciplined approach to developing institutional infrastructure that supports both academic rigor and community benefit.
The university also demonstrates a commitment to nurturing talent and strategic development internally, as evidenced by Elisabeth Cuadros ’05, director of Disbursements and Travel Services, being selected for a highly competitive program. Furthermore, UTSA has been proactive in developing new initiatives, such as the Workforce Strategies Task Force launched in September 2025, aimed at aligning educational outcomes with economic needs. In athletics, the launch of Runners United in October 2024 showcases an innovative approach to student-athlete support and community engagement, further solidifying UTSA’s role as a leader in Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) strategies.
Higher Education’s Role in Texas’s Economic Ecosystem
Universities are increasingly recognized as crucial engines for economic opportunity and mobility within Texas. The state has made ambitious moves to align education and economy, leveraging legislation to drive outcomes by incentivizing career readiness and student success. Institutions like UTSA contribute significantly to the state’s economy through the workforce contributions of their alumni, job creation, labor income, and overall output. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board actively collaborates with government agencies and elected officials to provide objective context for higher education challenges that impact communities and regional economies.
Securing legislative and regulatory support through effective governmental relations is directly linked to fostering groundbreaking research, transformative innovation, and educational excellence, which in turn empower communities and promote economic progress with a focus on leadership and impact.
Key Leadership Transition
The following table summarizes the key leadership change at UTSA:
| Role | Current/Retiring Incumbent | Status | Next Steps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Vice President for Governmental Relations | Carlos Martinez | Retiring | Search committee forming, search to launch January 2026 |
The ongoing search for a new Senior Vice President for Governmental Relations at UTSA is a testament to the university’s strategic vision and its dedication to maintaining strong connections with governmental bodies. This leadership role is vital for advancing UTSA’s mission in education, research, and community service, ensuring the institution continues to contribute significantly to the vitality and growth of San Antonio and the entire state of Texas. As UTSA embarks on this important process, it reinforces its commitment to disciplined leadership and responsible stewardship of public resources, ultimately enhancing student success and community impact.
Readers are encouraged to stay informed about developments within the University of Texas TX system and other Texas TX higher education institutions by following Houston TX college news for updates on this search and other significant campus events.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What key leadership role is UTSA searching to fill?
UTSA is searching to fill the role of Senior Vice President for Governmental Relations. - Who is retiring from the Senior Vice President for Governmental Relations position?
Carlos Martinez is retiring from his role as Senior Vice President for Governmental Relations. - When is the search for the new Senior Vice President for Governmental Relations expected to launch?
The search for the new Senior Vice President for Governmental Relations is expected to launch this month, January 2026. - What is the importance of the Senior Vice President for Governmental Relations role at a university?
The Senior Vice President for Governmental Relations is the chief strategist and primary liaison between the university and local, state, and federal government entities, responsible for advancing the institution’s academic, research, health, and community missions through advocacy and policy engagement. - What are some of UTSA’s strategic initiatives related to community engagement?
UTSA’s strategic initiatives include the “Engagement and Community” pathway within its strategic plan and the “Westside Community Partnerships Initiative,” which focuses on engaging with and supporting the local community.
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