Staff & Contact Information

Systemwide Compliance                  

210 W. 7th St.
Austin, TX 78701

Fax: (512) 579-5085
Email: systemwidecomp@utsystem.edu

Kathy Carlson

Chief Compliance and Ethics Officer

The Chief Compliance and Ethics Officer is responsible for leading the Office of Systemwide Compliance, providing strategic direction and oversight for comprehensive compliance and ethics programs across the UT System.

Kathy Carlson 

Kathy Carlson, JD, LLM, CCEP serves as the Chief Compliance and Ethics Officer for the University of Texas System (UT System).  She is responsible for leading the Office of Systemwide Compliance, providing strategic direction and oversight for comprehensive compliance and ethics programs across the UT System. Kathy also serves as a key resource and advisor to the UT System institutions, supporting their efforts to uphold the highest standards of integrity and accountability.

With experience in both higher education and the corporate sector, Kathy has held multiple compliance and legal leadership roles. She began her legal career in 2012 as a compliance and employment attorney at The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), where she advanced into a leadership role within the Office of Legal & Regulatory Affairs. Her work there included strengthening compliance programs, launching an investigation function, and redesigning policies and training initiatives. In 2020, Kathy transitioned to Waste Management (WM), a Fortune 200 company with 60,000 employees worldwide, and she established a new department in the legal department responsible for investigations, mitigating risks, and enhancing ethics and compliance. 

Kathy earned a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management (Cum Laude) from New York University (2005), a Juris Doctor from South Texas College of Law (2012), and a Master of Laws in Compliance and Enterprise Risk Management from Loyola University Chicago School of Law (2023).  She also holds the designation of Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional (CCEP).

Last updated January 2026

Cristina Blanton

Cristina Blanton serves as the HIPAA Privacy Officer and Counsel for the UT System. She specializes in state, federal, and international privacy protection laws, and serves as the designated HIPAA Privacy Officer for the UT System health and benefits plan which serves over 200,000 members across the state. Cristina provides training and guidance on various privacy related matters surrounding the use of technology with health and confidential data, as well as the legal implications of the use of artificial intelligence tools in the gathering, storing, and use with patient information, and other confidential data.

Cristina has more than 17 years of experience in legal practice working, advising, collaborating and providing state and local level government entities and officials with an understanding of complex and ever-evolving laws and regulations. Prior to joining the Systemwide Compliance Office, Cristina worked for the Texas Association of School Boards as Senior Attorney and Special Risks Consultant, advising Texas school districts on issues related to student privacy, data security, breach response and myriad other school-business matters. Cristina provides state wide and national support and expertise to higher ed, healthcare, and student focused industry non-profit organizations.

Last updated September 2024

Jennifer Kennedy

Jennie Kennedy serves as the Associate Systemwide Compliance Officer and Privacy and Data Protection Officer. In this role, Jennie collaborates with colleagues and institutions to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and security of confidential information across the University of Texas System. Jennie specializes in privacy law, including FERPA, and provides specialized training and guidance to system administration and institutions on all matters related to privacy and data protection.

A licensed attorney and a Certified Information Privacy Professional, Jennie has spent her career working in education and state government. Prior to joining the Office of Systemwide Compliance, Jennie established the privacy program at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, creating policies, developing training programs, and providing counsel to executive leadership. Jennie has also worked as a Chief of Staff and General Counsel in the Texas House of Representatives and as Director of Policy for the University of North Texas System.

Last updated October 2024

Krista Anderson

Krista Anderson serves as the Systemwide Title IX Coordinator for The University of Texas System. Ms. Anderson’s responsibilities include providing systemwide guidance, training materials, and resources on Title IX and sexual misconduct, Clery Act and VAWA requirements, and Youth Protection Programs for minors on campus. She creates systemwide training curriculum on Title IX/sexual misconduct prevention and response tools, case management, pregnancy and related conditions, sexual misconduct investigations, informal resolutions, crisis management and threat assessment, avoiding bias and conflicts of interest, and on various adjudication roles, among others.

Ms. Anderson’s career highlights in student affairs and higher education includes overseeing a campus-wide Title IX program, developing victim advocacy services for students, administering a campus-wide crisis management program for student emergencies, managing threat assessment and behavior intervention strategies for student wellness and safety issues, and working in residence life and academic/graduate affairs in various capacities.

Ms. Anderson previously served as the Associate Vice President and Title IX Coordinator for The University of Texas at Austin, and she was with U.T. Austin for almost 7 years in various roles before joining the U.T. System Administration in 2019. Ms. Anderson earned a B.S. in Applied Sociology, and an M.Ed. in Counseling and Guidance (with an emphasis in student affairs), both at Texas State University.

Last updated October 2023

Angela Ossar

Angela Ossar serves as the Records & Data Management Officer for University of Texas System Administration, providing leadership and support to System Administration departments in developing policies, records retention schedules, and best practices guidance to ensure adherence to state and federal rules for records and data management. She collaborates with partners across System Administration on focused projects to ensure the appropriate identification, capture, preservation, and disposition of records and data in all formats. As the Systemwide Records Management Officer (RMO) and Data Management Officer (DMO), she also has the pleasure of collaborating with and connecting RMOs and DMOs at UT System’s 13 institutions.

Ms. Ossar brings a multitude of archives and records management experience to System Administration. Prior to joining the Systemwide Compliance Office, she directed the Records & Information Management program of the Office of the Governor, served statewide clients at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, and created a University Archives program for the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Ms. Ossar received a BA from The University of Texas at Austin and an MSLS from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is a Certified Records Manager and chairs the Career Support Programs Committee of the National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators (NAGARA), supporting NAGARA’s Internship, Mentorship, GARA Certificate, and Travel Grants programs.

Last updated October 2023