Patti Ohlendorf

Patti Ohlendorf retired from paid employment on February 1, 2019 after 45+ years at The University of Texas at Austin. This last year has been an exciting adjustment and adventure – and there still are not enough hours in the day! She and her husband, Curtis, have lived in the Barton Creek area of Austin for 15+ years and enjoy time with their two sons and their wives (primarily through Zoom, picture windows, and FaceTime currently), one family now in Austin with a three year old daughter and 18 month old son, and the other family now in Dallas with a 7.5 month old daughter. Patti also admires all of the work Curtis and their sons have put into their family longhorn cattle ranch, Rocking O Longhorns Ranch. At her retirement, Patti was an executive officer of the University as vice president for legal affairs with executive responsibility for legal affairs and serving as chief legal officer, general counsel, and chief ethics officer. Her service included a number of standing university-wide committees such as the Internal Audit Committee, the Executive Compliance Committee, the Classified Research Committee, a number of ad hoc committees, and parliamentarian of the general faculty and faculty council. Recent national higher education service included the NCAA general counsel’s advisory board, the AAU general counsel advisory group, and the Big 12 general counsel group. She also served a 9 year term on the NCAA Division I Infractions Appeals Committee, the last two as committee chair, and now continues to hear appeals for the NCAA beyond that term. Patti received her bachelor’s degree from The University of Texas at Austin and her doctor of jurisprudence degree from The University of Texas School of Law. During her career at the University and after, Patti has devoted time to a number of organizations. Current and recent selected activities include Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Headliners Foundation, membership in the State Bar of Texas, National Association of College and University Attorneys, Austin Area Research Organization, Leadership Austin Alums, Austin Junior League Sustainers, Member of the Finance Council of the Catholic Diocese of Austin, Member of the Board and Executive Committee of the Headliners Club, Member of the UT Club Board of Governors, Governance Committee Chair of the Barton Creek North Home Owners Association, and Member of the Board of the Greater Austin Crime Commission. Patti also enjoys walking, yoga, dancing, music, reading, writing, watching and following sports, planning a home renovation, and especially spending time in person or electronically with family and friends.