Career Insights
Creating Opportunities for UT Learners
Meet Dana R. Willett
Associate Vice Provost and Executive Director
Exploring the Forty Acres and creating opportunities are top priorities for Dana R. Willett, new Associate Vice Provost and Executive Director for Extended Campus at The University of Texas at Austin. He oversees the university’s popular services for continuing and professional education and other opportunities beyond degree programs.
“We provide a special connection to campus for those who are interested in having the UT experience in their portfolio,” said Willett, who praises world-class faculty and experienced staff for the foundational work that has enrolled hundreds of learners in non-traditional programs at UT in the last year.
“I believe in the tremendous benefit of a University of Texas degree while also understanding that not everyone can pursue a traditional academic program here. UT’s Extended Campus opens the door for unique opportunities to help learners grow. Our job is to help people connect with the UT experience through special degree, certificate, and professional education programs,” said Willett, who is excited to share the opportunities offered through the Extended Campus gateway—a catalog of short programs, certificates, conferences and career-focused graduate degrees.
“Being attuned to the needs of others, with a certain amount of empathy, is required for our team,” Willett said. “We are always thinking about doing our best for our learners including making sure that these programs address a range of interests and provide marketable skills.”
With more than 25 years of experience leading credit and non-credit programming, Willett has helped learners expand their horizons in Texas, Tennessee and Indiana. “I’ve had a great time following the path that’s led me to UT. And, now that I’m here, I’m learning everything I can learn about this wonderful place and meeting as many people as I can.”
He clearly loves his calling and his enthusiasm for UT is obvious as he navigates his new campus home—capturing images for his Instagram account along the way. “There's so much to learn every day. I've walked into buildings and just curiously entered classrooms and thought, ‘Now, how many people have sat at these desks?’ I'm loving every minute here like I hope everyone who comes to UT does. It’s part of what motivates me to invite as many people as possible to get even a little bit of this experience.”
Return On Investment
Willett is also eagerly meeting those enrolled in Extended Campus programs and those considering their futures at UT. “What I hear from learners is their focus on relevance and return on investment,” which may be different for each individual, he explained. “Some folks are interested in professional development. Others are interested in personal development. Some people are looking to build a career, some people are looking to build themselves, their self-esteem and their own capacity and capabilities.”
By listening carefully, Willett hopes to help people understand how what UT has to offer is relevant and adds the value they seek. “We want to help them make the most of that investment. How can we help you get from where you are today to where you'd like to be tomorrow?” Every program has different benefits, but the bottom line is the UT name, he believes. “A UT experience really means something; it gives learners a leg up in a very competitive world.”
Service to the Community
Ultimately, Willett’s goal is to be a good partner within the campus community. “Through servant leadership, I want to contribute to the alignment of what Extended Campus learners need with what the greater university and the individual colleges, schools and programs are trying to accomplish.”
He circles back to what excites him most about the Extended Campus approach: Innovative alternatives to providing non-traditional learners with the same robust, rigorous academic experience that the world expects from UT. “With Extended Campus, recognition that some learners need flexibility is baked in. Some programs are offered online. Some are self-paced. Some are in a very short form or a condensed timeline. But all offer the quality experience and outcomes you’d expect from UT Austin.”
What’s Next?
With an MBA from the University of Southern Indiana, Willett has taught both credit and non-credit courses and has not ruled out returning to teaching when time permits. He’s also looking forward to announcing new partnerships, infrastructure improvements and finding more paths to working with world-class teams across the Forty Acres. And welcoming new learners, of course. “UT is a fabulous institution, and there are a lot of great ways to engage. We're here to make sure that the next step in your career gets a boost from some burnt orange on your resume.”
