Meet Jade DeKinder

"We take really smart people with fantastic raw talent and give them the skill set and educational opportunities to take their careers to the next level." 

DeKinder's broad responsibilities as an administrator include overseeing strategic decisions related to new programs and existing curriculum, leveraging corporate opportunities for students, the admissions process, marketing goals and the student experience journey for those enrolled in specialized MS programs. 

It's a long list, but it doesn’t keep her away from the classroom, where she strives to make topics like statistics accessible and to help students feel confident. 

"Passion and energy. That’s the most frequent feedback I get from my students. My passion comes through and I bring the energy!" said DeKinder, who has taught Marketing and Analytics in the BBA, MS and MBA programs at UT since 2007. Her favorite classroom topic is marketing analytics, which she teaches in the MBA program. 

As an undergraduate at Emory University, DeKinder studied Economics and fell in love with the idea of using mathematical models and quantitative techniques to understand business problems. That appreciation for statistical models and applications drove her to complete her Ph.D. in Marketing at Emory University's Goizueta Business School. 

She still enjoys sharing that passion and understanding in the classroom. "For a lot of students, statistics is a really daunting topic. They have a hard time having the confidence to approach it. I definitely pride myself in making students feel empowered. They can do it." 

She also enjoys helping her students use their new tools to become agents of positive change. "They can harness data to solve real world business challenges. They can guide businesses to success with data. They can make impactful, informed decisions by using analytical insights. I am proud to see them putting new confidence to work to upskill, get a job promotion or change the direction of their career." 

DeKinder’s academic recognition echoes the success of her students. She was named a Provost's Teaching Fellow, 2018-2021; recipient of the Kate Mackie Award in Teaching Excellence, MSTC, 2019, 2021, 2022); and to the Faculty Honor Roll, 2016-2023.

DeKinder enjoys living in Austin and encourages potential students to share her enthusiasm. "It's a thriving economy with people moving here every single day. Companies moving here. Intellectually curious people moving here and a thriving music and art scene." 

Plus, she urges career-minded students to "never underestimate the reach of the 100,000 strong Longhorn alumni network."