Incoming Chancellor Announces Key Members of His Leadership Team
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas — When Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar takes over as the next chancellor of The Texas A&M University System on July 1, he will bring several seasoned, highly respected and experienced senior staff members to help guide the System into its next chapter.
Three of these new leaders were unanimously approved by the Board of Regents on Wednesday. They include individuals from Texas A&M University, the Comptroller’s Office and the private sector.
The new officials who received Board approval are:
- Susan Ballabina, Ph.D., who will become Executive Vice Chancellor of the Texas A&M System, serving as Hegar’s chief lieutenant. She previously has served as chief of staff for General (Ret.) Mark A. Welsh III, president of Texas A&M University;
- Chris Bryan, who will be the System’s Vice Chancellor of Marketing and Communications. He most recently has led the Communications and Information Services Department at the Office of the Comptroller of Public Accounts; and
- Ryan Griffin, who will serve as Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer at the System. Griffin joins the System from Cheniere Energy, Inc.
Additionally, Korry Castillo will become the Chief Strategy Officer for the System. Her role does not require board approval. Castillo previously has worked as Hegar’s Associate Deputy Comptroller for Operations and Support. Also, Hegar’s longtime executive assistant, Kim Buzard, will join the System.
Ballabina, Bryan, Castillo and Buzard will begin their new roles on July 1, while Griffin will start on July 21.
“The newest members of the team will provide principled leadership, a high level of business acumen and plenty of fresh ideas to make our already-impressive System even stronger,” Hegar said. “I am excited about the possibilities and new initiatives ahead.”
Hegar also plans make a change in government relations. At the next regents’ meeting, Hegar will recommend that Nikki Cobb become the System’s next Vice Chancellor of Government Relations. Previously, Cobb led the Government Affairs and Programs Department at the Comptroller’s Office.
Deputy Chancellor Billy Hamilton and General Counsel Ray Bonilla have agreed to stay with the System through August to ensure a smooth transition.
Please see the bios that follow.
About The Texas A&M University System
The Texas A&M University System is one of the largest systems of higher education in the nation, with a budget of $7.3 billion. Through a statewide network of 11 universities, a comprehensive health science center, eight state agencies, Texas A&M-Fort Worth and Texas A&M-RELLIS, the Texas A&M System educates more than 165,000 students and makes more than 25.3 million additional educational contacts through service and outreach programs each year. System-wide, research and development expenditures exceed $1.5 billion and help drive the state’s economy.
Contact: Tim Eaton
Acting Vice Chancellor of Marketing and Communications
(979) 458-6018
teaton@tamus.edu
Bios of members of the new leadership team.
Susan Ballabina, Ph.D., Executive Vice Chancellor
Susan Ballabina, Ph.D. previously served as the Chief of Staff to the president of Texas A&M University, where she spearheaded the delivery of the president’s vision, working in concert with the cabinet and guiding staff of the Office of the President.
She also has served as External Affairs Officer and Senior Vice President for Academic and Strategic Collaborations, leading strategic partnerships and community impact programs and initiatives for the university.
She began her career with AgriLife Extension in 1994, serving as a county extension agent in multiple counties before serving as a regional program leader. In 2014, she began statewide service to AgriLife Extension and served as the Executive Associate Director of the agency. She then moved into the role of Deputy Vice Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer for Texas A&M AgriLife.
Dr. Ballabina was named a Regents Fellow by The Texas A&M University System in 2014 and has received the Superior Service Award from AgriLife Extension four times. Tarleton State University’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources has recognized her as a distinguished alumna.
Ryan Griffin, Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer
Ryan Griffin is the Director of Compensation, Benefits and Payroll at Cheniere Energy, Inc. and has more than 22 years of experience developing total rewards programs. At Cheniere, he is responsible for designing and implementing competitive compensation structures and benefits programs that attract and retain top talent.
In his nine years at Cheniere, he has held several HR roles focused on leading compensation strategy, optimizing benefit offerings and enhancing payroll efficiencies.
Prior to Cheniere he worked 13 years in the Health and Benefits department of Mercer, where he advised Fortune 500 and mid-sized companies on complex benefits design solutions across energy, healthcare and public sector industries. He received a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics from Texas A&M University.
Chris Bryan, Vice Chancellor of Marketing and Communications
Since 2014, Chris Bryan has served in senior leadership roles at the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, most recently as Director of Communications and Information Services. In that role, he led a 50-member division responsible for all external-facing content, including media relations, digital strategy and editorial production for one of the state’s largest agencies. As the agency’s chief spokesperson, he directed communications efforts across print, broadcast, and online platforms—reaching stakeholders across Texas and beyond.
Mr. Bryan’s professional experience spans government, political campaigns and strategic consulting. He has advised elected officials at the state and national level, managed high-profile political campaigns, and he has served as a trusted voice in shaping public narratives. In addition to his public service, he was appointed to the City of Austin’s Arts Commission from 2016 to 2019, where he championed cultural development and civic engagement.
A graduate of Princeton University, Mr. Bryan is known for his collaborative leadership, creative problem-solving and commitment to public service. In his new role, he will oversee marketing and communications across the Texas A&M System’s universities and state agencies, advancing the System’s mission and broadening its impact statewide and nationally.
Korry Castillo, Chief Strategy Officer
Korry Castillo previously was a member of Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar’s executive leadership team, serving as the Associate Deputy Comptroller for Agency Operations and Support. In the role she provided policy administration and strategic oversight for several agency divisions, including Agency Administration, Communications & Information Services, Data Analysis & Transparency, Government Affairs & Programs, Information Technology, Professional Development, Property Tax Assistance and Statewide Procurement. She led the launch of several major program areas, including the Broadband Development Office, Opioid Abatement Fund Counsel and Jobs, Energy, Technology and Innovation Program.
Ms. Castillo, who joined the Comptroller’s Office in 2009, served in many roles including the director of the Property Tax Assistance Division, director of Data Analysis and Transparency and assistant director of Tax Policy. She is a graduate of the Governor’s Executive Development Program. She is a certified tax administrator (CTA) by the Institute of Certified Tax Administrators, and licensed property tax appraiser (RPA) and tax assessor/collector (RTA) with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and a Certified Texas Contract Developer (CTCD).
Nikki Cobb, Vice Chancellor for Government Relations
Nikki Cobb is a seasoned government affairs professional with over twenty years’ experience in various roles around the Texas Capitol. She most recently served as the Director of Government Affairs and Programs at the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts where she oversaw the agency’s legislative efforts and provided strategic advice on state budget and policy matters to agency leadership.
She also managed several grant programs, including the Broadband Development Office, State Energy Conservation Office, and Opioid Abatement Fund Council. Prior to joining the Comptroller’s office, she worked in a range of positions in the Texas House of Representatives, including as a senior policy advisor to the Speaker of the House and as chief of staff to the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Texas State University and her MBA from Texas Tech University.