Teresa often says that while her husband is her true love, her alma mater was her first love. Higher education is her home. She is known for honesty juxtaposed with optimism; the two combine to provide communications counsel focused on transparent leadership and relationship building. Teresa helps higher education executives truthfully share excellence and genuinely own mistakes through their communications and actions because she knows honesty is present in all sound proactive and crisis outreach. Previously, Teresa served as senior vice president for Widmeyer Communications and vice president for Simpson Scarborough. She counts almost 10 years of service with the University of Colorado, including an officer-level appointment as Assistant Secretary of the University. She is co-host of the Trusted Voices Podcast, co-editor of Call to Action for Inside Higher Ed, and has numerous bylines with national and higher education media. Teresa earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Colorado Boulder, a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Colorado Denver, and a doctoral degree in higher education policy and leadership from Southern Methodist University. She holds accreditation in public relations from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).

She lives in Longmont, Colorado, with her husband and dogs. Each year she threatens to become a runner and instead spends her time traveling with her family. Don’t get her started on how amazing her college-aged daughter is unless you have a spare hour or two. Or three. She serves on the boards of PRSA, the Colorado-based Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), and KUNC public radio and the Colorado Sound. She is a member of the Denver Ballet Guild.

Teresa often says that while her husband is her true love, her alma mater was her first love. Higher education is her home. She is known for honesty juxtaposed with optimism; the two combine to provide communications counsel focused on transparent leadership and relationship building. Teresa helps higher education executives truthfully share excellence and genuinely own mistakes through their communications and actions because she knows honesty is present in all sound proactive and crisis outreach. Previously, Teresa served as senior vice president for Widmeyer Communications and vice president for Simpson Scarborough. She counts almost 10 years of service with the University of Colorado, including an officer-level appointment as Assistant Secretary of the University. She is co-host of the Trusted Voices Podcast, co-editor of Call to Action for Inside Higher Ed, and has numerous bylines with national and higher education media. Teresa earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Colorado Boulder, a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Colorado Denver, and a doctoral degree in higher education policy and leadership from Southern Methodist University. She holds accreditation in public relations from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).

She lives in Longmont, Colorado, with her husband and dogs. Each year she threatens to become a runner and instead spends her time traveling with her family. Don’t get her started on how amazing her college-aged daughter is unless you have a spare hour or two. Or three. She serves on the boards of PRSA, the Colorado-based Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), and KUNC public radio and the Colorado Sound. She is a member of the Denver Ballet Guild.

Amanda Cochran-McCall serves as the Vice President for Legal Affairs, where she performs the duties of chief legal officer, general counsel, and chief ethics officer to The University of Texas at Austin. In this role, she serves the institution as in-house counsel guiding its course on a broad array of legal issues including constitutional, civil rights, employment, athletics, business contracts, real estate, and litigation strategy. Amanda collaborates daily with university leadership in the executive administration, colleges, schools, and business units to support their needs and goals. By identifying legal issues and risk, providing a thorough analysis of options, and recommending solutions on the issues at hand, she works to support the university’s goal to be the world’s highest impact public research university. She also has the honor of leading the day-to-day operations of the university’s Legal Affairs team in support of its mission to deliver excellence in legal services to every part of campus. Prior to joining the university, Amanda served in various roles over almost a decade at the Texas Attorney General’s Office. She managed and directed twelve civil litigation divisions of over 600 employees, 30,000 active litigation matters, and a $40 million budget. She also provided strategic legal guidance and direction on various matters including First Amendment, Due Process, Equal Protection, Title IX, employment law, and higher education issues for university systems and component institutions, state elected and appointed officials, and state agencies. As trial attorney, she directed and performed all aspects of litigation in state and federal court. Amanda is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin and Oklahoma City University School of Law.

Jody Hughes joined the Office of the Vice President for Legal Affairs in October 2020. Previously, Hughes worked as an Assistant Solicitor General in the Texas Attorney General’s Office for 16 years, where he handled appellate matters involving constitutional law, civil rights, torts, administrative law, taxation, and other matters before the United States Supreme Court, the Fifth Circuit court of Appeals, the Texas Supreme Court, and Texas courts of appeals. He also served as the Rules Attorney for the Texas Supreme Court and spent several years in private practice in Austin.

Hughes received his bachelor’s degree from Rice University in 1994 and his doctor of jurisprudence degree from the University of Texas School of Law in 1998.

As the social media team for University Marketing and Communications, Nick Persac and Orlan Elizarraraz manage the University’s top-level social media accounts and help President Hartzell with his social media presence. Nick joined the UMAC team in 2013 as a content marketing specialist after previously working as a journalist. Orlan joined the UMAC team in January 2022. Orlan earned his Master’s degree in advertising from the Moody College and previously worked in roles overseeing marketing and communications for Circle Brewing Co. and Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church.

James Wakefield is a Founding Partner at Legend Labs, a brand and communications consulting firm for the digital age, where he focuses on brand strategy, reputation management, and product design under the firm’s Ventures arm. James operates at the intersection of data, strategy, and creative on projects ranging from rebranding college athletics conferences and VC–backed tech startups, to building proprietary software that enables more effective reputation threat detection and response.
Prior to Legend Labs, James operated in a hybrid role as Creative Director and Director of Strategy at PulsePoint Group, a communications and brand consulting firm. James oversaw a team of designers, developers, and animators to deliver world–class creative and digital experiences for global brands in travel, energy, banking, and higher education.
James is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin’s Moody College of Communication where he is now an adjunct professor teaching a course on digital listening and analytics.

Josh is an Assistant Department Head of Art and associate professor of Visual Communication at Texas A&M University–Commerce in Dallas, Texas. Before accepting his role at the university, he was a designer and art director for a variety of creative companies, ad agencies, design boutiques, and in–house design departments. He served on the Board of Directors of the Dallas Society of Visual Communications for over 17 years. Josh’s current creative activities focus on poster design, packaging, and brand design consultation. His work has been recognized by the American Advertising Federation (AAF), the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), Graphis, Graphic Design USA (GDUSA), and Communication Arts Magazine among others. Outside of the world of visual communication, Josh enjoys craft root beer, pinball, movies, and traveling with his family.