Director of Police for the UT System Michael J. Heidingsfield swears in the first female police chief for UTSA, Stephanie Schoenborn.
MARCH 18, 2022 — The UTSA Police Department (UTSAPD) made history today as it inducted its first female police chief. Two-time alumna Stephanie Schoenborn ’00, M.P.A. ’17 became the university’s permanent police chief at a swearing-in ceremony this morning in front of students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the university. Schoenborn has served as interim Chief of Police since April 2021.
“Chief Schoenborn has demonstrated exceptional leadership throughout her career,” said UTSA Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President for Business Affairs Veronica Salazar. “Stephanie has displayed the knowledge and compassion it takes to lead a Tier One university’s public safety team. Throughout her career, she has dedicated herself to supporting UTSA’s continued growth, innovation and success. I am confident she will provide exceptional leadership to the UTSAPD team.”
Salazar, UTSA President Taylor Eighmy and University of Texas System Director of Police Michael Heidingsfield, spoke at this morning’s ceremony. UTSAPD Lt. Shawn Smith presided as Master of Ceremony, and San Antonio Police Department Chaplain Betsy Buhler gave the invocation and benediction.
As Chief of Police, Schoenborn will focus on expanding the university’s community-police partnerships through a wide range of outreach programs and initiatives focused on improved accountability, accessibility and visibility on campus.
“My goal is to introduce new and exciting strategies that promote safety and a sense of belonging on campus,” said Schoenborn. “I want to ensure we remain focused on mutual respect between officers and the Roadrunner community.”
As part of her dedication to supporting success and innovation, Schoenborn will actively explore opportunities to enhance community involvement, create specialized response units and improve the retention and hiring of officers.
Schoenborn joined the UTSAPD in 1993. She became a police officer in 1995, graduating from the 60th UT System Basic Police Academy. Promoted to captain in June of 2016, she was selected by UT System Police Department to serve for a period in 2018 as interim Assistant Chief of Police at UT Medical Branch in Galveston.
Schoenborn’s commitment to community service extends beyond campus. She holds a Master Peace Officer license and graduated from the 238th session of the FBI National Academy, where she later served on the executive board for nine years, including serving as president of the board in 2019. During that time, Schoenborn was actively involved in coordinating specialized training events in the greater San Antonio region. She currently serves as chairperson for the Alamo Area Council of Governments Regional Law Enforcement Academy Advisory Board.
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.
In partnership with Metro Health, HCAP will host a lecture discussing the life and body of work of Dr. Fernando Guerra, longtime director of the Metropolitan Health District.
Buena Vista Theater, Downtown CampusJoin our team to reflect on the students’ achievements and challenges during the semester and explore techniques, strategies, and tools to address growth mindset, self-reliance, and what it takes to keep students committed and on the path to success
Multidisciplinary Studies (MS 240) and VirtualThis course will introduce you to this popular graduate program, providing a review of UTSA’s Employee Educational Benefit program and MPA info. Free lunch will be provided!
Mesquite Living Lab, Main CampusDía en la Sombrilla, formerly Fiesta UTSA, is a festival hosted each spring as a part of Fiesta® San Antonio events. Sponsored by Roadrunner Productions, the event features music, food, confetti, games, event t-shirts, and more.
Sombrilla Plaza and Central Plaza , Main CampusFiesta Arts Fair is a party with a purpose! The annual art-focused fundraising celebration provides operating support for UTSA Arts, which is dedicated to community arts education for children and adults, public-facing performances and exhibitions, and arts-based research and partnerships to enhance the accessibility of the arts for the public.
UTSA Southwest, 300 Augusta, San Antonio TX 78205This year’s UEA ceremony will be an in-person event that will take place from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 25 in the H-E-B Student Union Ballrooms (HSU 1.104/1.106) on the UTSA Main Campus. The ceremony will feature UTSA President Taylor Eighmy, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Kimberly Andrews Espy, Vice President for Inclusive Excellence Myron Anderson, Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President for Business Affairs Veronica Salazar and representatives from Staff and Faculty Senate.
H-E-B Student Union Ballrooms (HSU 1.104/1.106), Main CampusSan Antonio’s treasured Asian Festival returns on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Downtown Campus. In observance of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month the one-day performance, entertainment, and food event will celebrate the diverse Asian diaspora represented in South Texas and San Antonio. Come and enjoy one of San Antonio’s premier family-friendly events, with hands-on activities and opportunities to learn through experience.
UTSA Downtown CampusThe 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 ending generations of discrimination and inequity. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.