OE Team

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Elida Lee Ed.D, Director of Organization Effectiveness

Email: elida.lee@austin.utexas.edu

Phone: 512-232-2325

Elida Lee leads the organization effectiveness office which offers campus leaders high level consulting in organizational change management, planning, operational optimization and culture. The work of Organization Effectiveness spans across both the administrative and academic sides of the University. She brings together leaders to facilitate efforts that help the university operate with greater effectiveness and reduced risk.

Elida has been with the university since 2000. In her previous roles, Elida designed several staff leadership development programs for UT Athletics and the McCombs School of Business. She also designed and lead the staff leadership program for the administrative side of the university which spanned over 20 departments and is still developing future university leaders. Additionally, Elida has contributed to various campus committees such as Workday, UTLearn, Honor Texas, and University Communications.

Academically, Elida teaches an undergraduate Organizational Learning class, as a lecturer for the Human Dimensions of Organizations, in the College of Liberal Arts. She has also given presentations across the United States, and most recently presented on organizational agility to a virtual audience for the annual conference of the Network for Change and Continuous Innovation. Her most recent co-published study explored academic capitalism and the entrepreneurial university.

Elida has a doctorate of education degree in the area of Higher Education Leadership and a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction, both from the University of Texas at Austin.  She also has a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and International Business from St. Edward’s University. Elida is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.

Prior to working for UT Austin, Elida worked for Apple Computer and was a founding member of a startup called Rightsworld.com.

Sandy Abney, Program Manager of Organization Effectiveness

Email: sandy.abney@austin.utexas.edu

Phone: 512-471-8742 

Sandy Abney is a seasoned professional with a diverse career spanning over two decades in sport performance and management. With a background deeply rooted in strength and conditioning coaching, business management, and leadership within the sports industry, Sandy leveraged her extensive experience to successfully transition into project management.

Currently serving as a Program Manager, Sandy assists with an innovative employee listening strategic program aimed at enhancing the overall employee experience. She helps drive initiatives aligned with the University's Change Starts Here Strategic Plan, contributing her expertise to foster positive organizational change. Prior to her role at UT, Sandy made significant contributions as the Chief Science Officer for the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCa), where she played a pivotal role in the re-accreditation of the SCCC certification. Her responsibilities included overseeing the certification exam maintenance and developing the CEU handbook, crucial resources that supported the professional development and recertification of strength and conditioning professionals.

Before her tenure with the CSCCa, Sandy served as the Deputy Director of High Performance for Team China under the Chinese Olympic Committee, where she gained valuable international experience in high-performance sports management.  Earlier in her career, Sandy held key positions at the University of Texas, including Assistant Head Coach of Athletic Performance and Director of the Olympic Sports Strength and Conditioning Internship program. She also served as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for Women's Crew, Softball, and Women's Swimming programs, leaving a lasting impact on collegiate athletics.

Sandy's educational background includes a master’s degree in Education from Concordia University, specializing in Sports Administration, and a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Sports Science from Texas State University. Sandy is currently pursuing an Executive MBA. She holds prestigious certifications such as MSCC and SCCC from the CSCCa, as well as an ICE-Credentialing Specialist Certificate from Institute for Credentialing Excellence.

Her dedication to sports and science continues to influence her career and drive her passion for improving organization performance and employee satisfaction. Sandy's career journey exemplifies her commitment to excellence, leadership, and continuous learning; making her a respected figure in both the athletic and project management communities.

Julie Gillespie, Training Specialist III

Email: julie.gillespie@austin.utexas.edu

Julie Gillespie serves as a part-time organizational consultant and leadership coach. Prior to her current role, Julie spent 28 years with The University of Texas Police Department serving much of that time in leadership roles, including 10 years as a Captain. Julie is a proud University of Texas graduate with a BS in Education and also attended the FBI National Academy during her law enforcement career.

Julie is a certified Essential Life Coach and holds many other teaching certifications. In addition, she is also an MBTI® Certified Practitioner knowledgeable in the administration and interpretation of the Step I and Step II assessments.

In her current role, Julie supports team members in coordinating various training programs, collecting consulting notes, managing documents, and analyzing data.