Dr. Jennifer Griffis is a Program Manager in the Office of Academic Affairs at The University of Texas System, where she leads and supports student success initiatives across the system. Her work focuses on program development, project management, and fostering collaboration across UT institutions. Dr. Griffis facilitates multi-campus communities of practice to leverage shared expertise and resources in service of student success. She also partners with individual institutions to support student-centered curricular redesign efforts. Dr. Griffis manages Finish@UT, the UT System’s inter-institutional course enrollment program, which provides students with access to courses across multiple UT institutions to help them complete their degrees.
Dr. Griffis’s work is informed by a deep background in both K-12 and higher education student success initiatives, with a focus on supporting students along the PK–workforce continuum. Before joining the UT System in December 2022, Jen served as a Director at the National School Climate Center, where she led inclusive school climate improvement initiatives and directed a multi-year leadership certification program for school district leaders nationwide. She previously spent 14 years at Communities In Schools of Central Texas, holding positions including Chief Program Officer. There, she led strategic initiatives to implement integrated student support models in K-12 schools to promote student success and prepare students for college and career pathways.
Jen earned her Ph.D. in Organizational Development and Leadership from the University of Arizona Global Campus, where her research focused on inter-organizational learning among universities. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from The University of Texas at Austin, where she began her career supporting first-generation college students. She is honored to be back in the UT System working alongside campus and system leaders to remove barriers and empower students to reach their goals.
