Sheila Amin Gutiérrez de Piñeres, Ph.D. is Dean of the Burnett Honors College and professor of public administration. Dr. Piñeres received her Ph.D. in economics from Duke University, M.A. from the University of Chicago, and B.A. from Texas A&M University. She joined UCF in 2018 following her role as Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs & Special Initiatives and Dean of Faculty at Austin College in Sherman, TX. Previously, she served as Dean of Undergraduate Education and professor of economics at the University of Texas at Dallas. She is a founding member of the University of Texas System Academy of Distinguished Teachers. Her research focuses on economic development and political stability in developing countries. Sheila enjoys spending time with her husband Victor, who she met in Colombia during a student exchange program. They have two sons: Victor, who recently graduated from Austin College and works as a financial analyst in Dallas, and Sebastian, a student at the University of Tulsa. They also have three rescue dogs: Lola, Lucky and Bautista.