Erica Saenz

About Erica Saenz

Erica Saenz currently serves as Interim Assistant Director of the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department. In this role, Erica oversees administrative services, community engagement, policy and strategy development, equity initiatives and government relations. Erica formerly served as Chief Administrative Officer with Vincent Strategies in the areas of operations, community engagement, external relations and organizational development. In previous roles, Erica served as Chief Operating Officer for the Waterloo Greenway Conservancy overseeing organizational and park operations, communications, community engagement, human resources and programming. She also previously served as Associate Vice President for Community and External Relations and Associate Vice President for Assessment and Strategic Planning at UT Austin. Erica was born in the Rio Grande Valley and moved to Austin in 1993 to attend UT Austin. She holds a BA from UT Austin and an MFA from UCLA. Erica is an alum of Leadership Austin and Leadership Texas. Her board and service commitments include Austin Soundwaves, Community Advancement Network, Goodwill Industries of Central Texas, I Live Here I Give Here, Restore Rundberg, Somos Austin, Texas Exes Hispanic Alumni Network, Texas Exes Alumni Association Network Advisory Board, The Hispanic Alliance and The Long Center for the Performing Arts.

Experience

1. Interim Assistant Director

   City of Austin

   Aug 2025 — Present · Austin, TX, US

   Erica Saenz was appointed as Interim Assistant Director of the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department in August 2025. As Interim Assistant Director, she oversees administrative services, community engagement, policy and strategy development, equity initiatives and government relations.

Education

• The University of Texas at Austin

  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

  1994 — 1998

• UCLA

  Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

  2005 — 2008

Skills

• Teaching
• Public Speaking
• Marketing Communications
• Spanish
• Volunteer Management
• Public Relations
• Higher Education
• Program Evaluation
• Grant Writing
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Internal & External Communications
• Research
• Nonprofits
• Marketing
• Creative Writing
• Community Outreach
• Community Development
• Event Management
• Fundraising