Katie Romano serves as the executive director of the Archer Center, where she provides executive oversight of the Center’s operations, programs, initiatives, and staff, in addition to leading business and fiscal management, advancement, and alumni and stakeholder relations. In this role, Katie develops the Center’s strategic direction, goals, and policies to ensure alignment with its mission: to educate the next generation of leaders. In addition to her work at the Archer Center, Katie led the creation and pilot of the UT System Texas Legislative Fellowship Program in Austin and continues to provide ad hoc strategic support for a range of UT Systemwide initiatives, engagements, and projects. Before joining the Archer Center staff in 2006, Katie served as a mentor to Archer Fellows and as a member of the Friends of the Archer Center Advisory Board, reflecting her long-standing engagement with and commitment to the Center’s mission.
Previously, Katie served in the UT System Office of Federal Relations, where she identified federal grant and funding opportunities for UT institutions, coordinated and facilitated congressional visits and federal agency meetings for the UT System administrators, researchers, and faculty, and tracked legislation and policy related to higher education. She also planned special events, conferences, and campus visits in support of the UT System’s federal initiatives.
Prior to working for the UT System, Katie worked for Mrs. Laura Bush on the Bush-Cheney ’04 Campaign, including the 2004 Republican National Convention, and later served as managing director of Bush Family Operations on the 55th Presidential Inaugural Committee, overseeing events and activities for the First Family. U.S. Senator John Cornyn initially brought Katie to Washington in 2003 to serve as his constituent relations coordinator after his successful U.S. Senate race, where she worked in communications.
A native Texan, Katie is a third-generation Longhorn and a graduate of UT Austin with a Bachelor of Science with honors in communication studies and a major in political communication. She completed graduate coursework at Johns Hopkins University, has a nonprofit management certification from UT Austin, and has a certification from the Life Design Studio at Stanford University. Katie served for more than a decade as a volunteer advance representative for the White House, the U.S. Department of State, and the George W. Bush Presidential Library, traveling domestically and internationally to prepare events for Mrs. Laura Bush. She is an active leader in numerous nonprofit, philanthropic, and educational organizations, including the Seton Development Board, Casis Elementary PTA, O. Henry Middle School PTA, the West Austin Youth Association (WAYA), the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health Community Advisory Board, and her church parish. She is a former Frank McBee Fellow in Civic Entrepreneurship through the Austin Area Research Organization (AARO) and currently serves as a director of the Texas Lyceum.