Kristina Butts
Office of Governmental Relations
Vice Chancellor for Governmental Relations
Kristina Butts is the vice chancellor of governmental relations at the Texas Tech University System. Butts initially joined the TTU System in April 2016 as the director of strategic initiatives, and the following year she assumed the position of chief of staff in the Office of the Chancellor for Chancellor Robert Duncan.
Butts also served as the chief of staff for Dr. Tedd L. Mitchell during his first year as chancellor of the TTU System in from 2018-19.
Butts leads the Office of Governmental Relations team, which serves as a liaison between the TTU System and elected officials, while supporting each of the System’s university initiatives and efforts in West Texas, Austin and Washington, D.C.
The governmental relations team ensures adequate representation on the state and federal levels and increases awareness of each institution’s academic and research programs. In addition, the office monitors state and federal legislation, garners public, and governmental support necessary to the operations of the TTU System.
Butts was instrumental in the TTU System’s success during the 86th Texas Legislature in 2019. She helped create a comprehensive strategy for the session and worked diligently with the TTU System team, and its universities, which led to achieving historic success with legislative support and startup funding for a new veterinary school at Texas Tech University and dental school at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso.
As the chief of staff, she served on the Chancellor’s executive cabinet and worked closely with Chancellor Duncan and Chancellor Mitchell to develop policy initiatives, identify strategic priorities and execute plans to achieve the Chancellor’s goals.
During her time as director of strategic initiatives, Butts coordinated federal priorities for the TTU System’s institutions among other responsibilities.
Butts is also a past chairwoman of the Texas Tech Alumni Association National Board of Directors. Prior to joining the TTU System, Butts worked for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s Government Affairs office in Washington (2008-2016). She led the organization’s lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill and worked closely with the federal agencies on behalf of NCBA’s membership.
She started her career in Washington as a member of Congressman Lamar Smith’s D.C. team from 2004-08. She was responsible for managing a variety of efforts on behalf of the constituents of the 21st Congressional District along with the Congressman’s committee assignments.
She earned a bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University in agricultural communications with a minor in animal science and a Master of Science in animal and food sciences with a food safety emphasis from TTU. Kristina and her husband, Randy, have two daughters, Josephine and Katherine, and a son, Carter.
Contact Kristina at Kristina.butts@ttu.edu or 806-742-2120.