Veronica Salazar, MBA

Veronica Salazar serves as the Senior Executive Vice President for Enterprise Development and Transformation at The University of Texas at San Antonio. In addition to guiding the institution’s integration efforts through the Integration Management Office, she is focused on enterprise development and transformation, leading the effort to ensure the success of ongoing initiatives, including the Campus Master Plan and the expansion of the UT San Antonio Downtown Campus.

Leading UT San Antonio Forward

Salazar’s efforts include leadership on the $91.8 million San Pedro I development, home to the UTSA Center for Data Science and National Security Collaboration Center; formal integration with the Southwest School of Art in 2022; current development of the $131 million San Pedro II; and ongoing visioning for the Institute of Texan Cultures (ITC).

Salazar joined the university’s executive leadership team in January 2019, providing leadership and guidance for real estate development, operations and finance, human resources, campus infrastructure and public-private partnerships. She has over 25 years of professional leadership experience in higher education.

Prior to UT San Antonio

Prior to joining UT San Antonio, Salazar served as the Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer at the University of California, Merced (UC Merced) where she made significant contributions to the success and momentum of the Merced 2020 Project, a $1.3 billion initiative. Before her tenure at UC Merced, she began her academic career at The University of Texas at Brownsville, now The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, spending 12 years in senior leadership roles focused on finance, budget development, facilities, capital planning and project management.

Serving Nationally and Locally

Salazar lends her expertise to numerous boards and committees, including dedicated service to Centro San Antonio on the Board of Directors and member of the Roadrunner Foundation and United Way Advisory Council. Previously, she served as Chair of the UT Share Executive Committee and United Way Public Sector Division Chair Volunteer.

In August 2021, Salazar was recognized by the San Antonio Business Journal with a 2021 Women’s Leadership Award, a prestigious recognition designed to honor women who inspire excellence among their peers in the industry and in the San Antonio community. In 2022, she completed the Governor’s Executive Development Program, enhancing her leadership in state agency operations, strategic planning and hybrid workforce management. In 2024, she furthered her expertise by attending Harvard’s Institute for Educational Management, focusing on critical higher education issues, including strategic direction and resource management.

Education

• MBA – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
• BAAS in Management – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Personal

Salazar has two daughters and enjoys hiking, traveling and spending time outdoors.