Posted on February 2, 2026 by Wendy Frost
Recognizing that she wouldn’t be where she is now in life without the help of UT San Antonio, Ann Janson, ’97 began her journey of giving back to the university that helped shape her.
Ann Janson, '97
“I know I would not be who I am, or where I am today without the help I received at UTSA,” said Janson, who received her degree in personnel and human resource management.
“Throughout my career I was hired because of the education, networking opportunities and relationships that I developed [at Alvarez].”
ann janson, Alumni, Alvarez College of Business 1997
Ann Janson, an HR business partner at Phillips 66 in New Jersey, initially began giving back to the college financially. Her gifts are in support of the college’s Student Success Center, and she has also established a planned gift in this area.
Ultimately that led to an invitation to speak to a group of business students almost 10 years ago when she was in town visiting family.
“As an HR professional I was invited frst to speak in the college’s Career Action Program,” said Janson, who has over 28 years’ experience in human resources leadership. “And over the years it’s evolved from there.”
Since then she has become a fixture on campus lecturing in classes, meeting with student organization groups, mentoring business students and serving on the Dean’s Advisory Council — all while having worked in multiple locations across the United States and abroad.
A pivotal moment in Janson’s college experience was her introduction to the college’s student chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Struggling through her academic experience, that all changed once she became a part of the organization and embraced the field of human resources. “There’s so many more opportunities for students now than there were when I was a student,” she said.
“If I can reach just one student and make them want to power through and get their diploma, that’s impactful.”
ann janson, Alumni, Alvarez College of Business 1997
Coming full circle, Janson has the opportunity to connect now with the student SHRM chapter as a professional. “I met Heather Staples [SHRM advisor and management faculty member] at one of my speaking events and immediately connected with her since she is an HR practitioner with real world experience like me,” said Janson.
“From there I was invited to speak at student SHRM events and became connected with other HR professors.”
Janson was also one of the first alumni to participate in the college’s mentorship program. First through the Business Honors Program and now through the college’s Alvarez Mentoring Program. “These interactions have re-energized me professionally,” she said. “The students are starved to interact with someone from the real world. They want to learn what a day in the life of a professional looks like. I encourage them to use me as a resource and as a part of their professional network.”
The Alvarez Mentoring Program allows alumni and business leaders the opportunity to share their strengths and skills with business students and enrich their professional journey. The program requires a yearlong commitment with monthly one-hour connections.
“Being out of state, I get to expand their horizons and remind them that San Antonio is just a plane ride away if they choose a career outside of Texas.” Her most recent mentee, Camila Gonzalez, '25, a human resources management graduate and now current MBA student, completed a human resources internship with Kohl’s at their corporate headquarters in Wisconsin.
“It’s so heartwarming to interact with the students and to be able to share my experiences over the last almost 30 years with them,” said Janson. “My interactions with the students, my work with UTSA and my work in general makes me feel like I’m doing something good for the world.”
Wishing that a program like this existed while she was a student, Janson encourages other alumni to get involved on campus and through the mentorship program.
“There are ways to give back that aren’t financial. These opportunities allow you to stay connected with the university and help the next generation of business leaders. The time commitment is minimal, and the joy it can bring is priceless. And if you do try it and don’t like it, then there are other ways you can stay involved as alumni.”
— Wendy Frost
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Read more stories like Ann's in our 2025 Alvarez Alumni Magazine.
