Representatives of Academic Enterprise

Karen joined UTMB in Feb 2023 (a newbie relative to the longevity of UTMB employees). She works in the Office of Research Integrity and Regulatory Affairs, where she directs the office workflow and processes (post-approval monitoring of research studies that engage human participants, investigational new device applications to the Food and Drug Administration, and registration and maintenance of UTMB clinical trials).

Before arriving at UTMB, Karen worked at a research institute in Boston and then at a Tier 1 research college in Boston for ten years. At her previous institution, Karen served on the planning committee for the institution’s annual diversity summit, was the co-chair of the Black Faculty Staff and Administrators Association, a member of the Women’s Coalition, and an ally to other affinity groups (ones with whom she did not share a salient identity but supported fully like the Veteran’s group). She hopes to continue to live her servant leadership philosophy at UTMB by providing service as needed to the institution that promotes and nurtures a healthy work environment.

Yvette is a Program Manager for Aerospace Medicine in the School of Public and Population Health (SPPH).  She has a Bachelor of Health Care Administration from the University of Texas Medical Branch and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.  She began her UTMB career on the clinical side almost thirty years ago and has spent the last several years working in support of aviation and space medicine business development and education. Yvette was born, raised and lives with her family in Galveston.  She has served on several boards and committees and enjoys volunteering for UTMB and the Galveston County communities.    

During my six years of progressive experience at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), I have developed a strong foundation in healthcare operations, clinical education, and administrative coordination. I began my career at UTMB in 2019 as a Patient Service Specialist, gaining hands-on experience in patient care and front-line healthcare support.

In 2022, I transitioned to the Health Education Center as a Clinical Skills Training Coordinator, where I led recruitment efforts for the Human Simulation Division and provided administrative support for simulation-based clinical programs. This role expanded my knowledge of healthcare education and interdisciplinary collaboration.

In 2024, I was promoted to Administrative Coordinator on the Business Operations Team within the Health Education Center. In this role, I provide operational and administrative support to five divisions within the department, contributing to process improvement, resource coordination, and strategic planning.

In addition to my professional experience, I am currently pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resource Management at Lamar University, with an expected graduation in Summer 2027.

My career reflects a strong commitment to professional growth and a passion for supporting teams and systems that improve both learning and overall patient outcomes.