Influencing the Longhorn Life Staff Newsletter
Published: Sept. 25, 2025 (August and September updates)
Marilyn Russell (Office of the Dean of Students) has been elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the 2026 Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (AFA), a significant achievement for the Sorority and Fraternity Life community and UT Austin. This board position will provide strategic leadership for the organization by setting policies, ensuring financial stability and supporting the executive team.
Emily Shryock (Disability Cultural Center) trained Texas Athletics Fan Services student staff on how to effectively and respectfully support and engage with attendees at athletic events.
Marla Craig (Counseling and Mental Health Center), Susan Hochman (University Health Services) and Jennifer Speer (Recreational Sports) were recently promoted to Assistant Vice Presidents. Learn more about their new roles on the Vice President for Student Affairs Council in this message from VP Dalton.
Vice President for Student Affairs John Dalton presented “Starting Strong: Student Support Resources for Academic Leaders” at the New Academic Leaders Workshop for new deans, associate deans, department chairs and academic/research unit directors hosted by the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost.
He also welcomed students at Gone to Texas, the president’s formal kickoff to students’ journey at UT Austin. Learn more about this longstanding campus tradition, including watching the dynamic behind-the-scenes video.
Our Thought Leaders in the News
Local Austin television stations are sharing the key findings from a University research study revealing the economic value of UT students’ volunteerism and the positive impact on Longhorns’ skill development.
- Watch this Spectrum News story featuring Vice President Dalton and a UT Outpost student volunteer.
- Check out these FOX 7 Austin live broadcasts with Student Government President Hudson Thomas, a senior Plan II Honors major, and Raghav Singh, a junior finance major and the service chair for Texas Iron Spikes.
As The Daily Texan ramps up production for the fall semester, several colleagues were quoted in news stories and guest editorial columns in the opinion section:
- UT Student Government Hosts Annual Exchange to Discuss Future Collaborations with SEC Universities (Susan Buckenmeyer, Office of the Dean of Students)
- Op-ed: Stop Asking Seniors “What’s Next?” (Toby LeBlanc, Counseling and Mental Health Center)
- Op-ed: From Stigma to Support (Jasper Howard, Disability and Access)
- Op-ed: Redefining Resilience (Katy Redd, Longhorn Wellness Center)
VP Dalton provided TV interviews to showcase Mooov-In on KXAN, CBS Austin and FOX 7 Austin.