Posted on October 16, 2026 by College of Sciences
#LeadershipSpotlight
Chris Edmiston, Director of Development, College of Sciences Office of the Dean
Please join us in welcoming Chris Edmiston, who joined UT San Antonio on Monday, October 12, as the new Director of Development for the College of Sciences. Most recently, Chris served as the Major Gifts Manager at Haven for Hope in San Antonio, where he built relationships with donors, community partners and corporations in support of the organization's mission. He previously held development, creative and leadership roles with Foundry, Catholic Charities, and New Balance.
Chris earned a B.S. in Organizational/Non-Profit Leadership from Moody Institute and an A.A. in Music and Music Business from San Antonio College. Throughout his career, he has focused on building relationships and creating meaningful engagement through development, communications and marketing.
What did your journey to UT San Antonio look like?
My professional career started in sales and marketing before making a strategic shift into nonprofit leadership and development. Throughout that journey, my hope has been to treat others with dignity and respect and to help them accomplish their goals both personally and professionally, and I am thankful for each opportunity I've been given to do just that. I have many dear friends who have worked or currently work in development at institutions of higher education, and I am excited to be a part of this incredible team at this iconic institution.
What do you enjoy most about your role or discipline?
The aspect of development that I love the most is creating connection points between creativity and the resources to see creativity come to life. There's something wonderful about hearing from people wanting to better understand and make a difference in our world; their passion and excitement is contagious. So to be able to understand them and share their excitement with those who have the means to see their vision brought to life, and to see those people then support and invest in that vision, there's nothing like it.
Describe your new leadership role and how it will help support students, faculty, and/or staff in COS.
I believe that the greatest way I can support students, faculty, and staff in the College of Sciences is by taking the time to listen to their stories, hear their values and priorities, and create connections between those things and the resources to see them become a reality. I am confident that by listening and better understanding their needs, we can remove barriers and create new and unique opportunities for those seeking to make a difference in the world.
What are you most looking forward to in this new role?
Growing up in Northeast Bexar County, UT San Antonio has been an ever-present institution in my life. I left San Antonio a little over a decade ago, and it's been incredible to come home and see the growth and the impact of the university. What I am most looking forward to is the ability to make a lasting impact on my community through the sustained growth and increased influence of UT San Antonio and to see that growth and influence make a difference for generations.
What has been or do you anticipate being the most rewarding part of your work in this role?
I believe the most rewarding part of this work in my role will be helping someone accomplish something they once thought was improbable, if not impossible. There are so many people who have vision and drive and imagination, and all they need is someone to see them, invest in them, and support them to see that vision come alive. It excites me to know that I may be able to play a part in that process. I'm equally eager for the moment when someone makes a transformational gift and has the opportunity to see their investment make a difference in the world around them for years to come.
How would you spend your ideal Saturday?
My ideal Saturday starts with a pour over at the house before making my way to a farmer's market or local kolache shop (ideally Bexar Kolache Co.) with the family for a light breakfast, enjoying time at a record store (probably Hogwild) and/or a bookstore (likely Nowhere Bookshop), and catching a bite with friends and family before attending a show or playing one with my band.
What are your book recommendations?
I'm into a wide variety of books, with comedic writing, sports non-fiction, and thought provoking sci-fi, historical fiction, and thrillers taking the primary spots in my library. With that being said, a few of my favorites over the last few years have been Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel, House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski, Universal Harvester by John Darnielle, and Based on a True Story: Not a Memoir by Norm Macdonald.
— College of Sciences
