Greater Austin YMCA Names Kate C. Henderson Chair of Metro Board of Directors
Healthcare executive and longtime YMCA volunteer leader returns as board chair during pivotal growth period
AUSTIN, Texas — July 16, 2026 — The Greater Austin YMCA has named Kate C. Henderson, MHA, FACHE, as Chair of its Metropolitan Board of Directors, marking Henderson’s second tenure in the role and bringing one of Central Texas’ most experienced healthcare and civic leaders back to the board’s top volunteer leadership position.
Henderson currently serves as Regional Market President for Urology Austin, the largest private urology practice in Central Texas, where she oversees a clinical network of more than 50 board-certified providers across a dozen locations, including two specialized cancer centers. Earlier in her career, she served as Regional Hospital President for Ascension, leading operations for four Austin-area hospitals, and held leadership roles with the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics and The Cleveland Clinic.
Henderson’s appointment comes after more than 15 years of volunteer service with the Greater Austin YMCA, including three years as board chair during her previous tenure, as well as past board roles with the Settlement Home for Children, Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM) and Foundation Communities.
“Kate Henderson understands the YMCA at the deepest level — not only as a board leader, but as someone who sees the connection between health, opportunity, belonging and community infrastructure,” said Kathy Kuras, President and CEO of the Greater Austin YMCA. “Her commitment to the Y and to the people of Greater Austin has been extraordinary. At this pivotal moment, as we expand early education, mental health services, affordable housing partnerships and new community facilities, Kate’s leadership will be essential in guiding the Greater Austin YMCA into a new era of impact.”
Henderson has also served as chair of the TownLake YMCA redevelopment task force, helping guide the vision for one of the organization’s most significant projects. In May 2025, the Greater Austin YMCA announced that it had selected MP-Austin, an affiliate of Millennium Partners, to reimagine the TownLake YMCA property as a community hub for wellbeing that is expected to include a new YMCA facility, affordable and market-rate housing, a YMCA Tomorrow Academy early education center and wraparound services such as mental health counseling. The initial vision includes up to 90 affordable rental units in partnership with Foundation Communities, a new YMCA of approximately 110,000 square feet and 50,000 square feet of programmable youth space, including a 10,000-square-foot early education center.
In announcing the TownLake project, Henderson said the redevelopment would create “an economic engine” to help sustain Greater Austin YMCA centers and childcare programs for future generations.
Her board leadership comes as the Greater Austin YMCA is advancing several major initiatives tied to the community drivers of health. In March 2025, the Y opened its first YMCA Tomorrow Academy locations in Four Points and Dove Springs, providing full-time early childhood education for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old. The program includes early literacy, creative arts, nature play and physical exercise. The Dove Springs location comes in partnership with the City of Austin, co-located at the Dove Springs Public Health Facility and funded through a 2016 bond.
In May 2026, the Greater Austin YMCA announced an $18 million total investment from The Schmetterling Foundation, led by Colleen and Jim Clark, to support the future Schmetterling YMCA in Four Points. The commitment includes a new $15 million gift building on the foundation’s earlier $3 million investment in YMCA Tomorrow Academy and is expected to allow the YMCA to move toward opening the full-facility community center in late 2028.
The organization is also expanding access to mental health care through Greater Austin YMCA Counseling, created to provide high-quality, low-cost counseling in YMCA centers and through telehealth sessions. The program was launched in partnership with graduate counseling programs at Texas State University and St. Edward’s University, creating clinical internship opportunities while increasing access to care for YMCA members and the broader community. The current counseling program includes licensed clinicians and graduate-level counseling interns serving multiple YMCA locations across the region. (
“For nearly 75 years, the Greater Austin YMCA has evolved to meet the changing needs of Central Texas,” said outgoing YMCA board chair Reagan Nash. “Today, that means helping families find childcare, giving children safe places to learn and grow, supporting mental health, improving access to wellness, and creating new models for how nonprofit community assets can serve the public good. Kate’s experience in healthcare and her long history with the Y make her exactly the right leader for this moment.”
Henderson resides in Austin with her spouse, Dr. Ty Henderson, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs at the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business. They have two sons and enjoy sporting events, hiking, water recreation and visiting National Parks.
About Greater Austin YMCA:
The Greater Austin YMCA is a dynamic force elevating quality of life in Greater Austin by boldly expanding access for all children, adults, families and seniors in our rapidly growing community. For nearly 75 years, the Greater Austin YMCA has evolved to address each community's greatest needs, touching every phase of life and nurturing happier, healthier people, a stronger community and a better world.
We believe everyone deserves access to quality programs that are keeping our community strong. As a proud 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we provide financial assistance to expand access for our community members to learn, grow and thrive through our early learning childcare centers, fitness centers, youth programs, future workforce development, adult programming, mental health counseling and more.
The Y serves nearly 145,000 people each year across Travis, Williamson and Hays counties in eight community fitness centers, nearly 50 licensed campuses in four school districts and two YMCA Tomorrow Academy™ locations. Globally, the YMCA is one of the oldest and largest youth-serving organizations in the world. More information is available at www.austinymca.org.
Details
July 16, 2026
Greater Austin YMCA
Name: Sean Doles
Phone: 5129235015
Email: sean.doles@austinymca.org