Wendy Elder

An accomplished fundraising and strategic communications leader, Wendy Elder serves as chief development officer for the College of Education. She is a proud Longhorn whose years of experience on the Forty Acres—both as a student and a fundraiser—provide her with a deep appreciation for and commitment to advancing the University’s mission. 

Before joining the COE in October 2025, Wendy served as senior director of corporate strategy in the Office of the Provost, where she spearheaded the campus-wide reimagination of corporate engagement. 

Prior to that, she spent nine years as senior director of corporate and foundation relations at the McCombs School of Business, managing a portfolio of high-profile partners and guiding a team that consistently exceeded fundraising goals. During her tenure, she secured the first seven-figure corporate and foundation gifts, including a $1.4 million launch gift for the Sports Analytics Institute and a $1 million gift for the McCombs Summer Institute.  

Widely recognized for her collaborative spirit and dedication to the transformative power of education, she has developed impactful stewardship programs and marketing initiatives that have strengthened relationships with donors and partners across the University. Her leadership is instrumental in expanding philanthropic support for the College of Education programs and research, and in expanding UT Austin’s ambitious “What Starts Here” campaign. 

Wendy earned her bachelor’s degree in advertising from UT’s Moody College of Communication and a master’s degree in organizational leadership and ethics from St. Edward’s University.