The University of Texas at Austin has selected Hemlata Jhaveri as the new executive director of Housing and Food Service, a department in the Division of Student Affairs. Jhaveri will oversee the university’s 14 on-campus residence halls, university apartments and 11 dining and retail venues and will lead the university’s efforts to provide living and learning environments that support student success.
“With nearly 20 years of experience in higher education, Hemlata will be an asset in helping us provide the best and most innovative on-campus housing and food services. She clearly understands the university’s core purpose and values, being attentive to our students’ needs while working collaboratively with campus partners and faculty,” said Gage E. Paine, vice president for student affairs.
On-campus residence halls house 7,300 students and organize 1,850 events each year aimed at building community and supporting students. The associated dining and retail locations, which range from buffet dining to cafes to convenience stores, handle 25,000 transactions with the university community each day.
“We operate one of the most comprehensive student housing and dining programs in the country. With the higher education landscape and student profile continually changing, it will take a dynamic leader to stay ahead of the curve. Hemlata’s business savvy coupled with her commitment to student and staff success make her the perfect fit for this leadership role,” said Tom Dison, the senior associate vice president who oversees Housing and Food Service.
Jhaveri currently serves as director of administrative services for Housing and Food Service at the university and was the university’s director of residence life for four years. Prior to joining the Longhorn community, Jhaveri was an associate director of residence life at California State University, Chico. She also worked as an area housing coordinator at Illinois State University where she began her career as a resident assistant.
“It is an honor to be asked to lead one of the most well respected housing programs in the country. The department has a tradition of being student-centered, having strong academic and community partnerships and providing high-quality living environments. The Housing and Food Service staff takes pride in what they do and in serving our students. I am excited to build upon this culture of serving students and the university community,” said Jhaveri.
Jhaveri received a Ph.D. in education and human resource studies from Colorado State University, Fort Collins and a master’s of business administration degree from Illinois State University. She also earned a master’s of arts in English literature from the University of Mumbai and a bachelor of arts in English literature from Sophia College in Mumbai, India.
Jhaveri begins her new position June 1.
