CCEC Fall Meeting 2023 descends on the Big Apple
CCEC members painted the Big Apple orange for the annual Fall Meeting. From intimate conversations with UT leaders and alumni thriving in the city to insider tours of New York’s iconic arts, culture and fashion scenes, the early October weekend was nothing short of extraordinary.
Academic discussions were led by UT Austin President Jay Hartzell at the UT in New York (UTNY) campus, where UT Austin’s national impact and draw were explored. A separate conversation focused on UT’s McCombs School of Business as a top source of Wall Street talent, featuring three recent UT graduates working in Manhattan’s finance sector. In addition, a visit to the Council on Foreign Relations with Chancellor Milliken proved incredibly timely, as Steven A. Cook, senior fellow for Middle East and Africa studies, analyzed the Israel-Gaza conflict in real-time, just days after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack.
From a culture standpoint, Pulitzer and Tony-winning playwright Robert Schenkkan – a distinguished Texas Exes Alumnus – offered a glimpse into the magic of Broadway productions, setting the stage for an unforgettable evening at the theater. Members participated in guided tours of renowned institutions like the Whitney Museum of American Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art, and New York Historical Society Museum and Library, and were also treated to an exclusive look inside the fashion industry with Deirdre Quinn, co-founder of the global lifestyle brand, Lafayette 148.
CCEC Winter Meeting 2023 doubles down in San Antonio
The 2023 CCEC Winter Meeting in San Antonio showcased the benefits of cross-institutional collaboration within our multi-institution higher education system. Members explored both UT San Antonio and UT Health San Antonio during the weekend, gaining insights into their top initiatives as both individual entities, as well as together in partnership.
Presidents William Henrich (UTHSA) and Taylor Eighmy (UTSA) highlighted their institutions' responses to the evolving local workforce demands amid record-setting growth in the San Antonio region. They emphasized collaborative strategies aimed at leveraging each institution's strengths to serve San Antonio and Texas effectively, such as the new UT School of Public Health San Antonio – a shared endeavor between UTHSA and UTSA that will enroll its first students in 2024.
Educational sessions for members took place at UTSA's San Pedro I building which houses the university’s School of Data Science and the National Security Collaboration Center (NSCC). UTSA leaders discussed collaborations with government and industry to provide credentialing programs in information technology and cybersecurity.
UT Health San Antonio's Henrich and Dr. Robert Hromas, Dean of the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, highlighted efforts to accelerate drug development and bring them to market more efficiently. Henrich also shared plans for a new human performance institute, which includes a partnership with the NBA's San Antonio Spurs, alongside Spurs legend Manu Ginobili during a dinner conversation.
Also spotlighted was UTSA's rapidly rising athletics program, with discussions featuring athletic director Lisa Campos, head football coach Jeff Traylor, and notable athletes. Each speaker shared how the university’s athletics department has upped its game on and off the field, leading to entry into the American Athletic Conference in Fall 2023
