It’s a scorching morning in June, and the line of cars carrying soon-to-be Longhorns and their anxious parents is growing by the minute. Jester Center begins to fill as volunteers wave signs to guide families through unfamiliar Austin streets and garages. Another first-year orientation session is underway.
For Dennis Delaney of UT Parking and Transportation Services, orientation is just one of many responsibilities he and his team manage.
“UT hosts thousands of events each year,” Delaney says. “It could be 200,000 people coming for a football game to a single person coming to speak about an archaic language.”
Delaney was eager to work in any UT department possible early in his career. After being hired as a parking cashier back in 2001, he quickly found his passion for the work. He has advanced through multiple roles, including administrative associate and garage manager, and he currently serves as assistant director.
“I applied for this job so I could get my foot in the door at UT and possibly move around, but lo and behold, I really love this job,” Delaney says.
Delaney starts each day by checking in with his people. He makes sure they have what they need from him before he heads into any meetings or commitments.
“The people in this department are what helps me get up in the morning,” Delaney said. “We are truly a family of folks here.”
The feeling is mutual. Delaney “doesn’t just manage parking and transportation operations — he elevates them,” PTS director Blanca Gamez says.
“His attention to detail, steady dedication and genuine care for the campus community make a lasting impact every single day,” she says. “At PTS, Dennis doesn’t just do the job, he takes ownership of it, ensuring everything runs smoothly because he truly cares about the people and the system he serves.”
In addition to overseeing busy orientation weeks and athletic events on campus, Delaney works to ensure every request made to the PTS department is heard. Programs such as Sure Walk and PTS Shop Shuttle, which provides students with transportation to nearby grocery stores, fall under Delaney’s supervision.
“Sometimes the thoughts are internal,” Delaney says of creating such programs. “Sometimes a student group will pitch an idea to us, and then we’ll start working through how we can make it happen.”
The PTS Shop Shuttle idea was originally pitched by UT Student Government in 2024. Delaney and his team worked to find the resources and provide the funding needed to market the program.
“We saw the need for it,” Delaney says. “It was helpful to address food insecurity by giving students an easy way to reach a nearby grocery store.”
People don’t just come knocking on Delaney’s door with PTS requests. Faculty, staff and students come seeking advice from the perspective of someone who’s seen it all on campus.
“I’m actually an introvert, if you can believe that,” Delaney says, “but everybody says I’m the mayor because people will come up and start talking to me asking how I’d take care of a situation.”
Although some larger requests seemed impossible to Delaney at first, he’s never one to shy away from a challenge. In 2024, the governor’s office requested a ceremony for the Interstate 35 construction plans be held on the roof of the East Campus Garage. Hesitant at first, Delaney found a way to make the event happen safely.
“The weight of a vehicle is dispersed over four points, whereas the weight of a human is dispersed over one point,” Delaney said. “If not set correctly, it could cause a major structural issue with the garage.”
Delaney brought in a structural engineer to make sure the roof could safely hold the crowd. Compensating for windy conditions, his team moved support barracks to make room for a tent large enough to cover over 125 people.
“It worked out very well, and everybody was happy at the end of it,” Delaney said. “The garage didn’t fall, so I was pretty happy, too.”
To us, every event is important because someone’s experience with parking is their first experience of our campus and could be their last experience on our campus.
Outside of work, Delaney is deeply involved in his community. He enjoys the simple things like attending concerts and walking his dogs, he says. He shares his life with his husband of 11 years and serves as a deacon at his church. Delaney, who is a heart and liver transplant recipient, also visits hospitals to speak with people navigating transplant journeys.
“I sit in parking lots during Halloween for trunk-or-treats in a heart costume for people to come up and talk to,” Delaney says.
After 25 years and counting, Delaney continues to build lasting connections on campus and beyond. Whether it’s coordinating events, managing new programs or meeting people in a heart costume, he is motivated by the people around him to continue shaping meaningful experiences through PTS.
“To us, every event is important,” Delaney says, “because someone’s experience with parking is their first experience of our campus and could be their last experience on our campus.”
