Mary Lopez, MBA is the Acting Associate Dean of Management for the UTHealth Houston School of Behavioral Health Sciences. Mary has over 26 years of experience in higher education, with a strong focus on administrative and operational management. She earned her Bachelors of Business Administration (BBA) from the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Houston in 2017. Mary's journey in higher education began with a solid foundation in business administration, which she has skillfully applied to the management and operational aspects of academic institutions. Her extensive experience includes roles in financial management, research administration, and grants management, where she has consistently demonstrated her commitment to excellence and innovation.
Throughout her career, Mary has been driven by a deep passion for helping those with mental health challenges. Her work at UTHealth Houston has allowed her to combine her expertise in business administration with her dedication to improving mental health care. As the Director of Management Operations at the Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, she has played a crucial role in ensuring efficient and effective service delivery, ultimately enhancing patient care and outcomes.
Mary values connecting patients to care and mentoring staff, making a daily impact on lives at UTHealth Houston. She values the institution's commitment to extraordinary events and service. In recognition of her positive impact, Mary was named a "SHE-RO" during Women’s History Month in 2024, an honor celebrating her significant contributions to the McGovern Medical School community.