Meet the Interim Vice President

Thomas W. Dison

Interim Vice President for Student Affairs

Thomas W. Dison began leading the Division of Student Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin in January 2024 after being appointed interim vice president for student affairs by President Jay Hartzell.

For half a century, Dison has worked hand-in-hand with generations of students, faculty and staff to improve our campus and the student experience. He has developed lasting partnerships with leaders in Student Government and on the Student Services Budget Committee, and also served as a long-time advisor for the Friar Society and the Orange Jackets.

Always keeping student needs a top priority, he has led the development, design and construction of many multi-million-dollar facility projects at the University. They include the Gregory Gym renovation, East Campus Graduate Apartments, William C. Powers, Jr. Student Activity Center, Gregory Gymnasium Aquatics Complex, the Caven Lacrosse and Sport Center at Clark Field, the Wright-Whitaker Sports Complex, Recreational Sports Center and Student Services Building.

Prior to this interim role, Dison served the University in several leadership positions, most recently as senior advisor to the senior vice president and chief operating officer following a short retirement in 2022. He began his career on the Forty Acres in 1974 as assistant director of Recreational Sports, where he held progressive leadership roles and was named director in 1988. Dison held this position for 34 years until his retirement in 2022. In 1997, he was also named associate vice president for student affairs and promoted to senior associate vice president for student affairs in 2013. His portfolio expanded to include University Housing and Dining and Texas Parents. Additionally, he was selected as the interim dean of students in 2001, a position he held for nine months.

At Recreational Sports, Dison had the daily responsibility for the operation and management of Recreational Sports facilities accommodating close to 48,000 individuals participating over 3.6 million hours each year. One of his primary functions was developing and operating facilities of sufficient quantity and quality to support these participation levels. On the University level, he served as a member of the Master Planning Committee, the Ad Hoc Committee on Campus Community, the Campus Wayfinding Committee and the Campus Master Plan Steering Committee.

Recognized nationally for his leadership in collegiate recreation, Dison received several honors from National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA), including its highest recognition, the Honor Award. He was also a member of the Facilities Task Force of the Governor's Commission on Physical Fitness and actively involved for 15 years as a board member and coach in youth sports.

Dison earned his bachelor of arts degree in English from the University of California at Davis, and a master of science degree in recreation administration from California State University, Sacramento.