Darlene Lanham brings over 10 years of leadership experience in public affairs, policy and public administration to serve UWest's mission. Her skills include strategic planning, financial trend analysis, public finance and budgeting, change management and legislative advocacy. Ms. Lanham is Communications Manager with Texas Nursery and Landscape Association. She has served as Director of Public Affairs for TMPA and Director of National Coalition Building Institute's Texas chapter.

In 2010, Ms. Lanham was elected Chair of the Capital Area Council of Government's Criminal Justice Advisory Committee, which prioritizes grant funding for critical services such as women's shelters and after school programmes for a 10-county region. She is former Chairwoman of the City of Austin Comimssion for Women, which advises the city manager and Council on matters affecting women and the families who are connected to them. Her volunteer work also includes service to the

Central Texas chapter of the American Society for Public Administration and moderating discussions on Democracy, Social Security and Medicae with Texas Forums/Future Forums.

She earned her Master's Degree in Public Affairs from the Lyndon B. Johnson School at the University of Texas at Austin in 2005. Prior to her studies in public policy and administration, she managed events at the University of North Texas College of Music's Murchison Performing Arts Center.