Larson Diaz’s career includes nearly two decades in higher education leadership roles.
MAY 26, 2020 — UTSA announced today the retirement of Vice President for University Relations Mary Larson Diaz, who has been an instrumental member of the university’s Senior Leadership Team and helped launch and advance A Vision for UTSA, the university’s 10-year strategic plan, and the Westside Community Partnerships Initiative.
Diaz’s retirement culminates a community relations career that includes leadership roles in communications, marketing and government relations at universities in Texas, Missouri, Kansas and Alabama.
Larson Diaz joined UTSA in 2018 as President Taylor Eighmy’s first chief of staff and held that role for two years before being named the university’s inaugural vice president for university relations in February 2020. As vice president, she has led the offices of University Strategic Communications, Marketing and Special Projects, Government Relations and Community Relations in earning support for the university’s strategic plan and key presidential initiatives.
“Mary is an exemplary leader who has approached relationship-building thoughtfully and strategically,” said Eighmy. “So much of the work we have done at UTSA around our strategic plan over the last two years has been positively influenced by Mary’s knowledge and her ability to cultivate robust relationships with key stakeholders. She has made an indelible impression and helped lay the foundation for the university’s future success. I extend my deep gratitude to Mary and wish her much happiness, good health, and many new adventures in the next chapter of her life.”
As chief of staff in the Office of the President from 2018 to 2020, Larson Diaz collaborated with UTSA’s administrative and academic leadership to launch key initiatives supporting the strategic plan. She also played an integral role in assembling the president’s senior leadership team and directing administrative and operational activities. Additionally, she served as a liaison to The University of Texas System and state higher education agencies.
“My tenure at UTSA has been the most fulfilling experience of my career and I am privileged to have served this university, its students and its leadership team,” said Larson Diaz. “I am honored to have served President Eighmy in executing his vision for UTSA to become a Hispanic Thriving Institution, a great public research university and the anchor higher education institution for San Antonio.”
Prior to joining UTSA, Larson Diaz served as vice president for strategic partnerships at Two West Advisors, a financial services firm in Overland Park, Kansas. Previously, she served as chief of staff and deputy chancellor for external relations at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and as associate vice president for external relations and chief communications officer at Texas Tech University.
Her career also includes service as special assistant to the president for external relations at the University of Alabama; as vice president for marketing and communications at Baker University in Baldwin, Kansas; as a special assistant to Kansas City’s mayor (now U.S. Rep.) Emanuel Cleaver and in various community affairs roles at Kansas City Power & Light Co.
Given the current situation with the COVID-19 pandemic, UTSA will launch a national search later in the year for its next vice president for university relations. UTSA Associate Vice President for Innovation and Economic Development Rod McSherry will serve as interim vice president for university relations during that time.
McSherry joined UTSA in 2019 to lead the Institute for Economic Development, building on a background of more than 30 years of international experience in support of U.S. higher education. At UTSA he leads the institute’s 11 small business and innovation service centers in supporting small- and medium-size businesses in 79 counties across South and West Texas.
In recent months the UTSA Institute for Economic Development has been instrumental in providing relief, recovery and rebuilding support to area businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
⇒ Learn more about the Office of University Relations at UTSA.
McSherry came to UTSA from New Mexico State University, where he most recently served as associate provost for international and border programs and, prior to that, as director of the Office of Global Agricultural Initiatives and the Gerald Thomas Chair for Sustainable Agriculture.
His professional background also includes extensive international diplomatic experience with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and with USAID, including assignments to embassy posts in Afghanistan, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Iraq, Central Asia, South America and Mexico.
UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
This event will acknowledge graduating seniors from the McNair Scholars program at UTSA before inducting the new cohort of scholars into the program.
North Paseo Building (NPB 5.140), Main CampusAt this memorable celebration, UTSA graduates will be introduced one-by-one to cross the stage and accept their doctoral degrees.
Arts Building Recital Hall, Main CampusRoadrunner Walk is an event for graduating students to have a memorable walk on campus to celebrate an important milestone and their achievements. Graduates will walk along the Paseo while being celebrated by the UTSA community, friends, and family members.
Student Union Paseo, Main CampusCelebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.Celebrate the accomplishments of Alvarez College of Business, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.
