Eileen Garza

My career in operations spans 15 years, beginning at the Department of Family and Protective Services with Child Protective Services, where I started as administrative support for the operational administrator. Although I originally went to school to be a teacher, I quickly realized I loved the fast-paced environment of operations, which included human resources, finances, contracts, and recruitment. I spent 10 years with Child Protective Services, with 2 years specifically focused on operations. For the past 10 years, almost 11 now, I've been in academic healthcare at UTMB, where I currently serve as Director of Operations in the Provost Office, supporting all operational components and special projects. Over the past three years, I've been providing operational support for the entire academic enterprise, helping departments with their operational questions, administrative transactions, and support. Beyond my official duties, I've created a network called a 'catchball' to support administrative staff across all areas in the academic enterprise, providing back-and-forth information and leading initiatives so they can better understand their field of support. This resource is available for administrative support staff, new hires, and department leaders who need operational guidance. My greatest accomplishment has been mentorship and leading others. I didn't realize it was a strength until I started seeing the success of people I've mentored and how they've grown into their own opportunities through informal mentorship. Seeing my mentees succeed and climb their own career paths has been incredibly rewarding and is what I consider my biggest professional achievement.