President Francisco G. Cigarroa, M.D., recently announced the promotions of Deborah Morrill, M.S., and Mary Etlinger DeLay, M.B.A. Morrill, who has served as associate vice president for development for the past year, will assume the role of vice president for development. And Etlinger, who has served as chief of staff since 2000, will take on an additional role as chief communications officer. The promotions become effective Sept. 1.
“I’m confident that both Mary and Debbie are capable of increasing efficiency at our ever-changing institution,” Dr. Cigarroa said. “They are two highly accomplished individuals and I’m certain their work will positively affect the growth of all of our Health Science Center campuses and programs.”
Morrill joined the Health Science Center in 2005. Before that she worked for 11 years at Special Olympics Texas, and spent six years at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). She served in a variety of capacities at the JDRF, including leading the major gifts and corporate relations departments. She was an instrumental leader during a period of great growth for both organizations.
As vice president for development, Morrill will emphasize the Health Science Center’s fund-raising initiatives. She plans to continue to strengthen the Health Science Center’s development team and grow philanthropy for the university by working closely with President Cigarroa, deans, and faculty and staff.
“Philanthropy is the only way we will accomplish our goals,” Morrill said. “We have a strong community of support on which to build and a great story to tell. The contributions to our Health Science Center truly have the potential to change the world. We have a lot to accomplish, and I feel privileged to be here to help make it happen.”
Morrill holds a bachelor’s degree in English and Spanish from The University of Texas at Austin and a master’s degree in psychology from Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi.
In 1990, Etlinger joined the Health Science Center as its first director of development. Five years later she assumed a position overseeing the president’s office operations and interacting with both internal and external communities on numerous projects. When Dr. Cigarroa became president in 2000, he expanded Etlinger’s job duties and named her chief of staff.
Due to the recent retirement of Judy Wolf, senior vice president for external affairs, Dr. Cigarroa gave Etlinger an additional role as chief communications officer. Her new duties include overseeing the Health Science Center’s media and community relations, university-level publications and special events.
“Since Judy Wolf raised the bar exceptionally high in all of these areas, I have a tall order to fill in improving upon her successes,” Etlinger said. “I am pleased and honored that President Cigarroa would ask me to take on these responsibilities and I look forward to continuing to work with the faculty, staff and students at Health Science Center at all of our campuses. The employees in external affairs are an extraordinarily talented and motivated group, and it will be a true pleasure for me to work with them on a daily basis.”
Etlinger holds a bachelor’s degree in English from St. Mary’s University and a Master of Business Administration degree from The University of Texas at San Antonio.
