Dr. Heather Shipley is UTSA’s Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, overseeing eight academic colleges, nine support divisions, and five cross-cutting teams. Renowned for her work in advancing student success and faculty recruitment and development, she led UTSA efforts to earn the 2020 Seal of Excelencia and national distinction as a Carnegie Foundation R1 Institution. Shipley’s leadership also secured UTSA’s reaffirmation of accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Her research, which has garnered over $14 million in funding, focuses on interdisciplinary topics like innovative water treatment processes. A prominent national and international presenter, she has authored over 40 refereed journal articles. She is a member of the American Chemical Society, Association of Environmental Engineering & Science Professors and the American Society of Engineering Education. Shipley holds master’s and doctoral degrees in environmental engineering from Rice University and a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Baylor University.