Monica Tschauner has joined University of Texas Permian Basin as the new Executive Director for the Shepperd Leadership Institute.
“Monica brings to SLI a passion for leadership, serving the community, and a love for West Texas. She will no doubt grow the Institute’s programs to the community and help connect the resources of the Institute to other organizations, schools, and non-profits,” Senior Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Becky Spurlock said in a news release.
The Shepperd Leadership Institute is committed to serving UTPB students, faculty, staff, and the community. The Institute hosts established programming like the Distinguished Lecture Series and leadership training and founded the Permian Basin Water In Energy Conference. They recently embarked on a partnership with the Ellen Noel Art Museum to reimagine and reanimate the Presidential Archives, the release said.
Tschauner is a native Odessan. She graduated from Odessa High, attended Odessa College, and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree from Texas Tech University.
“I served as the Executive Director for West Texas Gifts of Hope from 2014-2017 which is a nonprofit that serves cancer patients in 18 surrounding counties. In 2017-2023, I became the Director for Discover Odessa at the Odessa Chamber of Commerce. Discover Odessa recruits conferences, meetings and sporting events to bring visitors to the community and also markets all the city has to offer,” Tschauner said.
In a Facebook post, she said she loves the opportunities the Shepperd Leadership Institute offers to students and the community.
“We host events and offer programs that inspire, educate, and connect people to one another. It’s exciting knowing these efforts will impact the Permian Basin in positive ways,” Tschauner said.
As a fun fact, she added that when she was in high school, she was a part of a student delegation that attended a Lorenzo de Zavala Youth Legislative Session in Austin.
“We met with state and local leaders to learn how the legislative process works. I was so inspired that I had a dream to become the first Hispanic female Governor of Texas! Ha! That is no longer a dream of mine, but I know an experience like that one is where having dreams start!!” Tschauner said.
