Each month, Get to Know… will feature two members of UT System Administration’s talented and diverse staff as they offer insights into their lives in and out of the office. Each new edition will be published here.
Tamra English
Assistant Vice Chancellor and Managing Counsel, General Law Section
Office of General Counsel
What are your primary job responsibilities?
I lead a team of 10 attorneys and four legal administrative professionals, am the de facto Chief Legal Officer for UT Permian Basin and provide legal advice and counsel to the UT System and its 14 institutions on a broad range of topics. Our section provides legal advice on issues including faculty and staff employment matters, student affairs, civil rights, torts, law enforcement and campus safety, Title IX compliance, the Texas Public Information Act, and other business-related and compliance matters.
What do you most enjoy about your job?
I enjoy the collaborative environment and the opportunity to work with talented and passionate people. I also enjoy the diversity of topics we handle, as I continuously have the opportunity to learn and grow.
What advice would you give someone who is new to UT System?
Build good work relationships. Be honest, honor your commitments, admit when your wrong and be an active listener.
What do you do to disconnect or de-stress?
To recharge, I enjoy golfing, hiking and spending time in Colorado to get away from technology and civilization. Two of my favorite spots in Colorado are Telluride and Morrison. In Morrison, enjoy hiking and spending time at Red Rocks Amphitheater. In Telluride, I enjoy hiking in the summer and snowshoeing and Nordic skiing in the winter. I gave up downhill skiing after I tore my ACL — not much fun going down the mountain strapped to ski patrol wrapped like a burrito. I also enjoy “taste testing” at local craft breweries. A couple of my favorite breweries in Colorado are Living the Dream, Breckenridge Brewery and Telluride Brewing Co. I play golf as often as time will allow, which boils down to about once a week on the weekend. I typically play at the Hills in Austin. Most of my vacations involve golf. My favorite places to play outside of Texas are Scottsdale, Ariz., Colorado and California. Some of the best courses I have been fortunate to play are the Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill and a few courses in Hawaii.
Who is currently playing on your Spotify playlist?
It really depends on the day. I enjoy a variety of genres. My top playlists are probably Today's Easy Hits, Today's Top Country, Songs to Sing in the Shower, 70s Road Trip, All Out 80s Hits and Daily Drive.
