The Archer Center

Katie Cook Romano, Director

Katie Cook Romano is the Director of The Archer Center, The University of Texas System Center founded to provide professional and academic experiences for UT System students in Washington, D.C. Central to her role at the Archer Center is the management of all aspects of the Center, including developing, marketing and promoting all programs of the Archer Center across the UT System, Archer Fellow recruiting at each of the UT System universities, raising endowment monies through capital campaigns, fundraisers and donor relations activities, securing foundation, corporate and other grant funding, overseeing the Center’s budget, and long-term planning for the Center. Before transitioning into the role of Director in 2007, Katie served as the Interim Director of The Archer Center, where she managed the Bill Archer Fellowship Program in addition to her current responsibilities. Katie has actively volunteered with the Center since 2005, serving as both a mentor for Archer Fellows and on the Friends of The Archer Center Advisory Board.

Before joining the Archer Center, Katie was the Research Associate for Federal Relations in The University of Texas System Office of Federal Relations in Washington, D.C., where she identified competitive Federal grant opportunities and Federal funding for each of the 15 UT System Institutions, coordinated and facilitated Congressional visits and Federal Agency meetings for UT System administrators, researchers and faculty, and planned special events, receptions, conferences and campus visits to aid UT System’s Federal initiatives.

Prior to working for the UT System, Katie was the Event Coordinator for Mrs. Laura Bush on the Bush-Cheney ’04 Campaign, including the 2004 Republican National Convention. Following her role on the reelection campaign, she was a Managing Director of Bush Family Operations on the 55th Presidential Inaugural Committee, where she oversaw all Inaugural events and activities for President and Mrs. Bush’s daughters, Barbara and Jenna.  Katie’s previous positions include working as a Constituent Relations Coordinator in the Washington, D.C. Office of United States Senator John Cornyn of Texas and on the 2002 John Cornyn for Senate Campaign.

A native Texan, born in Corpus Christi, Katie is a third generation Longhorn and a proud graduate of The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Science with Honors in Communication Studies and a major in Political Communication. She is an active member of the Texas State Society and the Texas Taste of the South Fundraising Committee and serves as the Director of Events of the Washington, D.C., chapter of the Texas Exes. From 2003 to 2009, she enjoyed volunteering at the White House during Garden and Holiday Tours, and was a volunteer Advance Representative for the White House and the U.S. Department of State from 2004 to 2009, where she traveled domestically and abroad to set up official events for First Lady Laura Bush prior to her arrival.

Katie actively volunteers for Calvary Women's Services, a nonprofit organization that provides housing and support services to homeless women in order to help educate and empower them for independent living.  In addition, she and her husband, Miguel, have served on the Planning Committee for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in Arlington, Virginia since 2006.

Colleen Davies, Program Coordinator

Colleen Davies is the Program Coordinator for the Archer Center, an extension of the University of Texas System that strives to provide professional and academic experiences in Washington, DC to undergraduate interns from the UT System campuses.  Colleen works with the Archer Fellows throughout all aspects of their experience in DC.  Her responsibilities include recruiting, interviewing and selecting potential Archer Fellows, planning and executing orientation events both in Texas and in Washington, DC for incoming Archer Fellows, and assisting Archer Fellows in securing internships and continually researching new internship opportunities.  She also acts as the first contact for all Archer Fellows while they are in DC.  In addition, Colleen is charged with coordinating annual Archer Center programs such as the week long “Welcome to the Beltway” seminar and summer speaker series for the LBJ School of Public Affairs.

Prior to working for the Archer Center, Colleen worked on Capitol Hill in the office of Congressman Ted Poe, the distinguished representative from the 2nd congressional district of Texas.  Colleen served Congressman Poe as his Staff Assistant where she managed his internship program and served as tour and constituent services coordinator.

Colleen is a proud Texan, originally from Odessa.  She is the product of an oilfield family and has lived all over the United States.  She has always been a longhorn at heart and came back to Texas to attend the University of Texas at Austin.  She graduated from UT Austin in 2002 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing.  Colleen spent 4 years in the retail industry as an Assistant Buyer and Senior Assistant Buyer for both Foley’s and JCPenney before moving with her husband, Jonathan, to Washington, DC in June of 2007.  Colleen and Jonathan are both avid UT football fans and love to have friends over to watch the games and feast on whatever Jonathan has prepared on the grill. On January 19, 2009, Colleen and Jonathan welcomed Charles Austin Davies into the world. Charlie is an honorary Texan and a Longhorn-in-training.

Sally Lemmon, Graduate Program Coordinator

Sally Lemmon is the Graduate Program Coordinator for The Archer Center, The University of Texas System Center founded to provide professional and academic experiences for UT System students in Washington, DC.  Sally works with the Graduate Program Fellows throughout all aspects of their experience in DC.  Her responsibilities include recruiting, interviewing and selecting potential candidates for the Graduate Program in Public Policy and planning Graduate Program orientation events in Texas and Washington, D.C.  Sally assists Graduate Fellows in securing internship opportunities and is their contact at the Archer Center while they are in living and working in DC.  Sally also assists with other Archer Center Programs and activities including the Archer Fellowship Program, the “Welcome to the Beltway” seminar and summer speaker series for the LBJ School of Public Affairs.

Before joining The Archer Center Sally, worked for four years at Special Olympics International managing several global Special Olympics initiatives surrounding health and constituent outreach.  Prior to her work with Special Olympics Sally worked as a legislative assistant at a Washington DC based government relations firm representing Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, colleges and universities, hospitals, local governments and not-for-profit organizations.  Sally began her career in Washington DC in 2001 as a Federal Legislative Assistant at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. 
Sally originally hails from the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania and is proud alum of The Pennsylvania State University.  She graduated from Penn State in 2001 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations and a minor in Political Science.  After moving to DC Sally went on to continue her studies at the George Washington University and graduated with a Masters degree in Public Administration in 2007.

During the Fall Sally loves to watch football and is a devoted fan of the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Philadelphia Eagles.  Sally also enjoys volunteering at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum and with other various volunteer opportunities around the Washington DC area.