Mauricio Benitez is a highly skilled finance and administrative operations professional with extensive experience in higher education. As associate provost and senior advisor, Benitez is responsible for advancing the work of the provost and the university. He provides leadership, counsel and management support for the planning and implementation of strategic initiatives as well as day-to-day operations.

Benitez advises the provost and campus leadership in developing initiatives to achieve the university’s strategic vision for recruiting, supporting and retaining a talented, diverse faculty and staff. He works closely with the associate provost of academic budgetary affairs to align the academic mission with the academic budget.

He serves as the principal aide and advisor to the provost, representing the provost to internal and external constituents and working collaboratively with cabinet members, deans, department/school heads, directors and faculty leaders.

In this senior position, Benitez will also track the progress of the priorities that will be laid out in the university’s new strategic plan.  

He earned his Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Houston-Downtown.