Laura Waits
Assistant vice president for digital strategy and web development — University of Texas at Tyler
Biography
Laura Waits is a seasoned digital strategist with over a decade of experience in higher education. Since joining UT Tyler in 2023, she has been the driving force behind UT Tyler's digital initiatives for developing, deploying and optimizing digital efforts that increase enrollment and engagement, strengthen the university's brand reputation, and support a range of strategic initiatives.
Waits previously served as the executive director of marketing at the University of Houston-Downtown. She oversaw brand, enrollment, and digital marketing, web, social media, emergency communications, photography, video and graphic design. During her almost 10 years at UHD, the university successfully migrated two websites. Her small yet mighty team rolled out two new brands, supported the largest incoming freshmen classes, and recorded enrollments across all student types.
Waits is known for her collaborative approach. She works closely with faculty, staff and students to ensure that digital strategies align with the university's goals and enhance the student experience. Her student-focused mindset drives her to create engaging and accessible digital content that meets the needs of the UT Tyler community. She firmly believes that "everything is figureoutable" in digital strategy and web development, embodying a can-do attitude that inspires her team.
She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in personnel management from Loyola University Chicago and a Master of Business Administration degree with dual concentrations in strategic marketing and management from the University of Houston-Victoria (Texas A&M Victoria). She is currently in the inaugural cohort of the Human Resource Development Higher Education Leadership Ph.D. program at The University of Texas at Tyler.
In addition to her professional achievements, Laura is an Adult Fan of LEGO, showcasing her passion for creativity and innovation in and out of the workplace.
Waits previously served as the executive director of marketing at the University of Houston-Downtown. She oversaw brand, enrollment, and digital marketing, web, social media, emergency communications, photography, video and graphic design. During her almost 10 years at UHD, the university successfully migrated two websites. Her small yet mighty team rolled out two new brands, supported the largest incoming freshmen classes, and recorded enrollments across all student types.
Waits is known for her collaborative approach. She works closely with faculty, staff and students to ensure that digital strategies align with the university's goals and enhance the student experience. Her student-focused mindset drives her to create engaging and accessible digital content that meets the needs of the UT Tyler community. She firmly believes that "everything is figureoutable" in digital strategy and web development, embodying a can-do attitude that inspires her team.
She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in personnel management from Loyola University Chicago and a Master of Business Administration degree with dual concentrations in strategic marketing and management from the University of Houston-Victoria (Texas A&M Victoria). She is currently in the inaugural cohort of the Human Resource Development Higher Education Leadership Ph.D. program at The University of Texas at Tyler.
In addition to her professional achievements, Laura is an Adult Fan of LEGO, showcasing her passion for creativity and innovation in and out of the workplace.