Eighmy appoints two key leaders, launches new President’s Cabinet

JULY 23, 2025 — Editor’s note: The following message was sent via email from UTSA President and UT Health San Antonio Acting President Taylor Eighmy to all faculty and staff.

Over the last several months, we’ve shared the initial framework and adjustments of the new university leadership structure for our merged institution. Concurrently, leaders across both organizations have been working closely with the Integrated Management Office (IMO) and the Integration Executive Committee (IEC) to develop processes and systems that will support our broader functional integration efforts of each of our divisions.

While those important efforts continue, we’ve decided to expedite the appointment of two key leaders as well as launch our new President’s Cabinet and shared governance bodies in advance of September 1. These accelerated actions, similar to the appointments of Jennifer Potter as interim vice president for research and Hailey Mullican as interim vice president for legal affairs, are designed to strengthen coordination and collaboration among our new university leadership teams, ensuring we launch on Day One with great clarity, focus and momentum.

Effective August 1, Kathryn Keeton, current vice president and chief of staff at UT Health San Antonio, will serve as interim vice president of presidential initiatives and chief of staff, and Carlos Martinez, current senior vice president for Institutional Strategic Planning, Compliance Risk Management, and office operations chief of staff, will begin his transition to senior vice president for governmental relations. Both roles will become permanent on September 1.

Beginning August 1, the new President’s Cabinet will begin meeting as one, integrated leadership team. President’s Cabinet members will also be added to each institution’s shared governance body, including UTSA’s University Leadership Council and UT Health San Antonio’s Executive Committee. Together, these important groups will explore future integration, the alignment of functional areas, shared decision-making responsibilities, and shared governance as we work towards a unified state. As we finalize plans for university structure, leadership teams and shared governance bodies, we will continue to update you.

With Day One of our integration just on the horizon, I remain inspired and amazed by the incredible amount of dedication, time and talent that each of you continues to share with our university community. I am deeply grateful for all you do and all that we will accomplish together.