Updates on REDKE Leadership and Structure

Colleagues,

We are writing to update you on several leadership changes in our Research, Economic Development, and Knowledge Enterprise (REDKE).

First, we’d like to share Jaclyn Shaw, Associate Vice President for Strategic Research Initiatives and Interim Vice President for Research and Economic Development, has accepted a new role at Tufts University in Boston Massachusetts as Senior Associate Vice Provost of Research Strategy and Operations. Her last day at UTSA will be May 31. We are so grateful for all she has done for REDKE over the last decade, especially in her most recent role as Interim Vice President. Her leadership and support of our research partners, colleges, faculty, staff, and graduate and undergraduate students involved in research has been invaluable. She will be greatly missed as she embarks on this exciting new chapter, and we know her impact on UTSA’s knowledge enterprise and the entire Roadrunner community will be felt for decades to come.

Effective June 1, 2023, JoAnn Browning will take on a new role to serve as the Interim Vice President for Research and Economic Development. We are grateful for her near decade of leadership as Dean of the Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design (KCEID) and look forward to working with her in leading our research enterprise during this transition period through the time of a new, permanent hire. Provost Espy will work closely with KCEID faculty, staff and leadership in soliciting input to name an interim Dean for the college. 

Additionally, as we previously announced, Melinda Cotten, a national leader in research administration, remains steadfast in leading REDKE’s compliance division as well as working with us in spearheading a national search for a new associate vice president of research integrity, which is nearing completion.  

Second, we share the announcement of Guy Walsh, Founding Executive Director of the National Security Collaboration Center (NSCC), accepting a new role as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for the National Defense Industrial Association in Arlington Virginia. His last day at UTSA will be May 31. As Founding Executive Director, Guy established an impressive foundation for us to further build and develop. We are deeply grateful for his leadership of the NSCC and wish him well in his new role.

Effective June 1, 2023, John Huggins will serve as the Acting Executive Director of the NSCC, working closely with Interim Vice President Browning during this transition. A national search with an external search firm has already begun to fill the position as soon as reasonably possible. We are grateful for John stepping into this role.

Lastly, REDKE’s Grant and Contract Financial Services unit has been moved into Business Affairs under the Financial Affairs team led by Sheri Hardison, Senior Associate Vice President, and reporting directly to Greg Yturralde, Assistant Vice President and Controller. This move will support the needs of faculty for post-award grant and contract budget status, finances, billing and closeouts as well as provide expanded resources and additional finance and accounting support for our research infrastructure.

As we strengthen our research division, we will continue to navigate these transitions, the state budget process implications for research, and our growing role as a discovery enterprise. Although our plans to launch a search for the Senior Vice President for Research next year remain the same, we are currently exploring interim steps to further improve REDKE, including hiring additional assistance from national leaders in research administration and bridging gaps in temporary reporting relationships. 

As always, we welcome your feedback and look forward to sharing more updates on REDKE leadership transitions as new details emerge. Thank you for your ongoing support and for all that you do for UTSA.

With appreciation,

Taylor Eighmy
President                                 

Kimberly Andrews Espy
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Veronica Salazar
Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President for Business Affairs