University of Texas at Austin Expert Promoted to Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel
The University of Texas at Austin has promoted Amanda Cochran-McCall to vice president for legal affairs and general counsel.
Effective immediately, Cochran-McCall serves as the University’s chief legal officer and chief ethics officer, leads the day-to-day operations of the University’s Legal Affairs team, and continues to lead the University’s open records unit.
“I’m honored and humbled by this opportunity,” said Cochran-McCall. “UT Austin is a remarkable place comprised of exceptional students, world-class faculty and talented staff members. I’m thrilled to lead a team that prides itself on excellence, action and solutions, and I want to thank President Hartzell for his confidence in me.”
“Amanda has demonstrated extraordinary leadership, skill and care, plus a strong ability to collaborate with leaders across campus on a variety of issues,” said Jay Hartzell, UT Austin president. “Amanda is a creative problem solver who possesses a deep understanding of the University and the legal and regulatory framework we inhabit. She is a trusted source of guidance and strategic insights, both in the legal domain and more broadly as part of our leadership team. We are grateful for her ongoing commitment and dedication to the University and its research and teaching missions, as well as our goal to be the world’s most impactful public research university.”
Cochran-McCall served as deputy vice president for legal affairs at UT for four years prior to this promotion. Before joining the University in 2019, she served in various roles during almost a decade at the Texas Attorney General’s Office, managing and directing 12 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 a trial attorney, she directed and performed all aspects of litigation in state and federal court.
Cochran-McCall is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin and Oklahoma City University School of Law.