Building What’s Next Together

As I stepped into the role of dean on July 1, I did so with a deep sense of excitement, responsibility, and gratitude.

Returning to McCombs is a homecoming for me. I grew up in Austin, am a third-generation Longhorn, and my grandfather graduated from the business school in 1940. My time at UT shaped how I think, learn, and lead. The opportunity to return and serve this institution is both humbling and deeply meaningful.

I am honored to join a school defined by excellence, ambition, and a willingness to evolve. Texas McCombs has built extraordinary momentum under the leadership of Dean Lillian Mills, and I am grateful for the foundation she and her predecessors have created. I look forward to building on that strength alongside our faculty, staff, students, alumni, campus partners, and broader stakeholders.

It is particularly fitting that this special issue of McCombs magazine highlights accounting. Dean Mills’ leadership has reflected many of the qualities that define the discipline at its best: rigor, integrity, and a commitment to impact. Today, accounting is far more than financial reporting. It sits at the intersection of technology, governance, risk, and strategy. McCombs faculty members and alumni continue to shape the field while preparing students to lead in an increasingly complex and data-rich world. The recent naming of the Jonathan K. Shulkin Department of Accounting reflects both the department’s long-standing excellence and its bright future.

This is an especially exciting moment for business education. The world is changing rapidly, driven by advances in artificial intelligence, shifts in global markets, and new opportunities in healthcare, energy, technology, and entrepreneurship. Few places are better positioned than Austin and The University of Texas to help lead that future. Austin has become one of the world’s most dynamic business centers, while Dallas, Houston, and the broader Texas economy provide unparalleled connections to industry, innovation, and global markets.

As we look ahead, I believe McCombs has an opportunity not only to participate in these changes but to also shape them. We will continue to advance research and innovation, strengthen industry partnerships, and create transformative experiences for students. We will build on our strengths while exploring new ways to expand our impact across Texas and around the world.

Most importantly, we will do so together. One of the greatest strengths of McCombs is its community. Our alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends care deeply about this institution and about one another. That shared commitment has helped make McCombs what it is today and will help determine what it becomes tomorrow.

I look forward to listening, learning, and partnering with you as we build what’s next together.

Hook ’em,