Stephanie Santorico has been appointed the next dean of the UTSA College of Sciences.
DECEMBER 16, 2024 — UTSA Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Heather Shipley today announced the appointment of Stephanie Santorico as the next dean of the UTSA College of Sciences, effective March 1, 2025. Santorico currently serves as interim dean of the College of Architecture and Planning at the University of Colorado Denver. She brings to UTSA extensive experience in strategic leadership, a passion for interdisciplinary research, and a deep commitment to student and faculty success.
“Dr. Santorico’s proven ability to foster collaboration and champion academic and research innovation makes her an outstanding choice to lead the College of Sciences as we prepare for our merger with UT Health San Antonio,” Shipley said. “Her leadership will strengthen the college’s research enterprise, creating more opportunities for partnerships, applied research, student internships and career readiness programs while enhancing the college’s impact in our city, state and beyond.”
Shipley continued, “I thank the members of the search advisory committee for their dedication in identifying an exceptional pool of candidates to lead the College of Sciences during this historic and pivotal time for our university.”
A professor of statistics and human genetics, Santorico has served at the University of Colorado Denver since 2008. She has held several leadership roles at CU Denver, including interim positions as Associate Dean for Faculty and Staff Affairs and Associate Dean for Research and Creative Activities in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, as well as graduate chair for the Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences.
In these roles, Santorico demonstrated a strong ability to set strategic visions and promote teamwork. As interim dean of the College of Architecture and Planning, she established governance structures that empowered faculty and staff to contribute to budget priorities, curriculum development and bylaws. She prioritized transparency by hosting town halls and visioning sessions to unify the college’s goals. Under her leadership, the college rebuilt key external relationships, enhancing community engagement and advancement opportunities. Additionally, she created initiatives that increased development and community-building opportunities for students, staff and faculty.
She earned a Ph.D. in Statistics with a concentration in Genetics and an M.S. in Statistics, both from North Carolina State University, and a B.S. in Mathematics with minors in physics and computer science from Northeastern State University in Oklahoma.
Santorico says her personal journey — from a first-generation college student in rural Oklahoma to a renowned scholar in statistical genetics — exemplifies the transformative power of public higher education and inspires her commitment to expanding opportunities for students.
“Having benefited from assistance, mentoring and other forms of support throughout my own college career, I deeply connect with UTSA’s commitment to empowering students and their families to achieve social mobility through education,” Santorico said. “My leadership focuses on creating environments where faculty and staff are fully supported, allowing them to thrive and, in turn, foster student achievement, drive impactful research and create meaningful contributions to the community. I look forward to working collaboratively with faculty, staff and students to build a vibrant future for the College of Sciences.”
Santorico’s research is in statistical genetics with a focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and practical applications. She has secured over $33 million in research funding, primarily from the National Institutes of Health, and mentored numerous students and faculty. Her work bridges academic and real-world impact, fostering partnerships with organizations like the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and the Denver Crime Laboratory.
In 2022-2023, Santorico was a Fellow for the American Council on Education. During her fellowship, she had the opportunity to observe and learn from senior leaders at other institutions, including serving on the president’s executive team at Montana State University, where she led an effort to develop a symposium to focus on building a mentoring culture at the university.
Both search advisory committee co-chairs, Lynne Cossman, dean of the UTSA College for Health, Community and Policy, and Melissa Vito, vice provost for academic innovation, praised Santorico’s thoughtful leadership and ability to foster collaboration. They emphasized her track record of building inclusive teams and driving initiatives that align with UTSA’s strategic priorities.
“Dr. Santorico's strength as a leader lies in her willingness to listen and learn from those around her,” Cossman said. “Her collaborative approach, combined with her deep commitment to building strong, effective teams, will serve her well as she leads the College of Sciences.”
Vito added, “Dr. Santorico’s record of innovative leadership and her focus on interdisciplinary collaboration will be invaluable as the College of Sciences continues to expand its impact. Her ability to inspire new ideas and drive meaningful change makes her an outstanding addition to our academic leadership team.”
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