Waterloo Greenway Names Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette as CEO

AUSTIN, Texas (March 18, 2025) — The Waterloo Greenway Board of Directors today announced Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette as its new chief executive officer, effective April 1, 2025. Dr. Burnette is a respected and accomplished community builder who brings not only her civic passion, but her engineering, financial, and executive expertise to guide the completion of Waterloo Greenway.

“After conducting a rigorous national search, Dr. Burnette emerged as the clear choice,” said Martha Smiley, Chair of the Waterloo Greenway Board. “As a former Board member and community leader, we are thrilled to welcome Colette back to Austin. Her invaluable institutional knowledge, visionary leadership, and ability to unite diverse stakeholder interests are crucial skills in our dynamic community.”

Dr. Burnette joins at a critical moment as Waterloo Greenway continues to create an urban ecosystem that connects downtown Austin from Lady Bird Lake in the south to the medical school and health innovation district in the north. Phase I (including Symphony Square, Waterloo Park, and Moody Amphitheater) is complete, and Phase II is scheduled to open in 2026. The next project segment will focus on Palm Park followed by Phase III which spans 4th to 12th Streets.

“I am honored to return to Waterloo Greenway to lead the next part of this transformative initiative,” said Dr. Burnette. “I am excited to return to Austin, a city I love, and to reconnect with a community I deeply care about. This visionary 35-acre park system exemplifies the power of
public-private partnerships and demonstrates what’s possible when community, government, and private supporters unite around a shared vision. I look forward to ensuring this extraordinary project continues to develop in ways that greatly benefit all Austinites and remain an integral
part of our city’s vibrant future.”

Dr. Burnette will lead the organization’s strategic vision, overseeing sustainability, fundraising, operations, and partnerships. She will serve as Waterloo Greenway primary ambassador, fostering relationships with stakeholders and guiding the completion of the project.

Dr. Burnette previously served in Austin as the first female president of Huston-Tillotson University. During her transformative tenure, the university’s endowment increased by more than 55%, student enrollment grew, and the institution successfully received a ten-year reaffirmation of its reaccreditation with no findings. Also under her leadership, the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, an MBA program, and partnerships with the Texas State Department of Parks and Wildlife, Apple, and Army Futures Command were established.

Her career spans higher education leadership, engineering, and information technology, with roles at Pierce College, Central State University, and the Washington State Department of Transportation. Most recently, she served as President and CEO of Newfields, a cultural institution in Indianapolis.

Her many honors include The Ohio State University Outstanding Engineering Alumnus Award, The Ohio State University Lifetime Achievement Award, and the University of Texas at Austin’s LBJ School of Public Service’s Barbara Jordan Award. In 2021, the Austin Chamber of Commerce honored her as Austinite of the Year for her significant contributions to business, civic, and non-profit leadership across the city. In 2019, ULI Austin awarded Dr. Burnette the Visionary Award for her outstanding contributions to the Austin region.

Dr. Burnette holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from The Ohio State University, a Master’s in Administration from Georgia College & State University, and a Doctorate in Higher Education Administration from the University of Pennsylvania.

Waterloo Greenway will publicly welcome Dr. Burnette at Pop-Up Picnic on April 5 at 6 p.m. at Moody Amphitheater at Waterloo Park. The public can purchase tickets to attend with proceeds supporting Waterloo Greenway’s mission to create a vibrant downtown park system. For tickets
and more information, please visit waterloogreenway.org/picnic.