Sara Lujan Donatto: Assistant Vice Chancellor/Assistant Vice President, Local Relations and Strategic Initiatives

Sara Lujan Donatto serves as the Assistant Vice Chancellor and Assistant Vice President for Local Relations and Strategic Initiatives, where she leads both the operational strategy and community relations efforts for the Department of Government and Community Relations. She brings over a dozen years of experience in higher education and decades in leadership roles.

During Sara’s tenure on the Government and Community Relations team, and with her leading the department’s operational efforts, the department has experienced exponential growth both physically and programmatically. Under her guidance, the department expanded its footprint in the Houston office and successfully launched its Washington, D.C. office, significantly enhancing its presence and capabilities at the local, state, and national levels. Most notably, Sara, alongside the Executive Steering Committee, led the University of Houston’s successful effort to achieve the prestigious Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement, a national designation recognizing the University’s deep commitment to community engagement. These milestones are a direct reflection of Sara’s strategic leadership, operational expertise, and commitment to advancing the University’s mission.

In her pivotal role, Sara ensures the seamless operations of the department across offices in Houston, Austin, and Washington, D.C. She also collaborates closely with community relations leaders from across the UH System, serving as both a resource and a partner to align efforts and maximize impact. In addition, Sara is leading the strategic vision and operational direction of the Judy Cook Building, positioning it as a premier community engagement hub and a front porch to the University. She is known for steering established processes with precision while also forging new paths to strengthen the University’s connection with the broader community.

Sara approaches her work with a deep belief that successful partnerships are built on reciprocity. Guided by this philosophy, she founded the Community Relations Alliance (CRA) in 2022, an initiative that unites community engagement-focused faculty and staff across campus to exchange ideas, share best practices, and foster more meaningful and coordinated engagement. CRA has become a powerful vehicle for institutional impact and community collaboration.

Her leadership extends well beyond the department. Sara has spearheaded multiple university-wide initiatives and is consistently driven by a commitment to excellence. Her unique ability to navigate operational complexity while cultivating deep community relationships makes her a dynamic force in advancing the mission of both the department and the University.

Committed to continuous growth, Sara successfully graduated from the Leadership Houston Program (Class XLI) and is a graduate of the prestigious Governor’s Executive Development Program at the University of Texas LBJ School. In 2024, Texas Executive Women honored her as a Woman on the Move, and most recently, she was named by Houston Woman Magazine, one of Houston’s 50 Most Influential Women of 2025. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the East End Chamber of Commerce and several other boards across Houston. Her longstanding involvement in the Junior League of Houston, volunteer work with Child Advocates, and mentorship of emerging leaders through partner organizations reflect her passion for service and leadership development.

Sara holds a BBA and an Executive MBA from Sam Houston State University and proudly considers herself an honorary UHS alumna after more than a dozen years of dedicated service to the UH System. Her passion for government and community relations is evident in her unwavering commitment to the success of the department, the University, and the UH System.

Sara and her husband, Adam Donatto, are the proud parents of two amazing sons, Alec and Amir, and their beloved boxer, Juan Carlos.

Ximena Mondragon: Senior Director, Community Relations

Ximena Mondragon is the Community Relations Director at the University of Houston. In this capacity she serves an essential role in fostering and developing reciprocal partnerships with local businesses, educational institutions, civic groups and community stakeholders. Ximena has focused her career in helping uplift communities through advocacy, public policy, government relations and coalition building.

Prior to this role, she was a Policy Analyst for the Government Relations Department at the Houston Independent School District. In this role, she collaborated with local, state, and federal elected officials to bring forth legislation, statutes and regulations that enhance public education opportunities for the students, teachers and staff. Before joining the Houston Independent School District, Ximena served as the Manager of Civic Engagement at BakerRipley. She focused on increasing advocacy and civic engagement in the Northside, East End and Third Ward by coordinating special projects with community partners, government offices and external stakeholders. Ximena was also the former District Director for Texas State Representative Christina Morales, she established the Texas House District 145 office as a trusted resource for the community and key stakeholders. She coordinated food distributions, vaccine clinics, townhalls, job and career fairs and other events that addressed the needs of the communities in Texas House District 145.

Ximena earned a Bachelors Degree in Political Science from St. Mary’s University. She serves on League of Women Voters of Houston Board as a Trustee at Large and on the Greater Northside Chamber Board of Directors.

Ella Warren: Senior Administrative Intern

Ella Warren is an intern at the Government and Community Relations department. She is a Sophmore Computer Information Systems major in the Cullen College of Engineering- Technology Division. As a Administrative Assistant Intern, she ensures smooth administrative operations through her work in executing contracts, voucher requisitions, procurement, and other administrative responsibilites under the supervision of Ilze Benavides, the Administrative Operations Coordinator. She is thrilled to have this opportunity and is excited to learn more about administrative operations at the executive level!