Augustin “Augie” Rivera, Jr., is the General Counsel for the Del Mar College District in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he serves on the President’s Executive Cabinet. Rivera joined Del Mar College’s administration in 2015 after more than 27 years of working as a civil trial and appellate lawyer throughout South Texas. His representation of Del Mar College began in 2005, when he was engaged to serve as the external Board Counsel.

Rivera is a frequent speaker on higher ed law, community college board ethics, and free speech, and he has presented nationally before the Association of Community College Trustees, the American Association of Community Colleges, the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, and the National Association of College and University Attorneys (NACUA). He is a member and past board director of NACUA and serves on the board of the Texas Association of Community College Attorneys. He also serves as chair of the Texas Board of Law Examiners and is on the Council of the Hispanic Lawyers Section of the State Bar of Texas for 2025-26.

Born and raised in Driscoll, Texas, Rivera is a graduate of Yale University and Stanford Law School and was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1988. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, U.S. Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, and several U.S. District Courts, and he is an elected member of the American Law Institute and a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

Nelly R. Herrera is the Vice Chancellor and General Counsel for the Texas State University System (TSUS).  She has been with the TSUS Office of General Counsel since 2011, serving first as an Associate General Counsel on the Texas State University campus before being promoted to Deputy General Counsel. 

Prior to joining TSUS, Herrera worked with the Texas Attorney General’s Office, spending most of her career in the Tort Litigation Division, where she defended numerous governmental agencies throughout the state in personal injury matters. She was promoted to Division Chief of the Tort Litigation Division and served in that capacity for 16 years before moving to higher education law. She’s been board certified in personal injury trial law since 2002.

Herrera received her Bachelor of Arts from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio and received her Juris Doctor degree from The University of Texas School of Law.

Doug serves as General Counsel for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. In this role, he provides legal counsel on matters involving higher education policy, regulations, governance, intellectual property, litigation and contracts. His responsibilities have included leadership on federal and state grant programs and improvements in grants administration focused on an outcomes framework. Prior to joining THECB, Mr. Brock advised public school districts, charter schools, community colleges, and universities on employment law, board governance, student issues, constitutional law, litigation, and policy development. His broad experience navigation the intersection of education and law informs his commitment to promoting ethical and effective governance across education systems for the benefit of the students those systems serve. Mr. Brock began his professional career in education, serving as a teacher, curriculum developer and policy researcher. He holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, a Master of Public Policy from Vanderbilt University, and a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education and History from Bowling Green State University."

Stacey Napier is the General Counsel to The University of Texas (UT) System Board of Regents. She was appointed to the position following her service as Vice Chancellor for Governmental Relations at the UT System.

Napier began her public service career in the Texas House of Representatives as a legislative aide to State Representative Kenn George and later served as General Counsel and Chief of Staff to State Senator Florence Shapiro. In 2003, she joined then-Attorney General Greg Abbott at the Office of the Attorney General as Chief of the Intergovernmental Relations Division. Over the next 12 years, she held several leadership roles, including Senior Counsel to the Attorney General and Deputy Attorney General for Administration, overseeing eight divisions.

In 2015, Gov. Abbott appointed her Director of Administration for the Office of the Governor, where she oversaw day-to-day operations, routinely interacted with legislators, and testified for the agency at budget hearings throughout the session. She was later named Executive Director of the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR), overseeing the agency’s $750 million biennial budget and statewide technology initiatives. Napier joined the UT System Administration in 2018 and continued to serve as the governor’s higher education appointee to the DIR Board until 2023.

Napier earned a bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University and a law degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law.

Stacy Hock is a private investor, philanthropist, and conservative public policy advocate. She serves on the boards of Atlas Energy Services (AESI); Aminex Therapeutics, a privately held clinical stage drug development company; the African Dream Initiative; and the Texas Public Policy Foundation. She also serves on the Blanton Museum of Art National Leadership Board, the Hildebrand MBA Advisory Board for The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business, and the UATX Board of Advisors.

Hock served as the Texas GOP 2020 Victory Chairwoman and has been a gubernatorial appointee for several organizations, including serving as vice chair of the Texas Commission on Next Generation Assessment and Accountability. Previously, she served on the boards of Brigham Minerals, City Harvest, and The Bowery Mission in New York City.

Hock received her BS in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and her MBA from The University of Texas in Austin

Luke Schwartz is a third-year medical student in the inaugural class at The University of Texas at Tyler (UT-Tyler) School of Medicine. He is also pursuing a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in Health Care Management. He graduated from Texas A&M University in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and holds an Associate of Science in Biology from Tyler Junior College.

Prior to attending medical school, Schwartz served as a medic in the military, where he received multiple accolades including the Army Commendation Medal and Humanitarian Service medal. Currently, he remains highly active in his community and within UT-Tyler School of Medicine. Most recently, he was appointed by Governor Abbott to The University of Texas System Board of Regents after completing a one-year term as the student representative for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Fred W. Heldenfels IV is Executive Chairman of Heldenfels Enterprises Inc., a manufacturer of precast/prestressed concrete structures for the highway, industrial, commercial, and sports construction markets. His firm has won numerous industry design awards and other recognitions.

He was appointed chair of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board by Governor Rick Perry in May 2010, serving on the board from July 2006 through December 2013. He also served as an appointee of Governor George W. Bush on the Coastal Coordination Council from 1995 to 1998.

He serves as treasurer on the board of Texans for Lawsuit Reform and its PAC and has served on numerous boards, including as chair of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce’s Board (2022), the A&M PAC board, the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (2004), the Texas A&M Twelfth Man Foundation (2001), the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Foundation (1997), and the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce (1993), where he helped initiate support for tort reform in the Coastal Bend as well as the creation of a four-year university within the Texas A&M University System.

In 2015, Heldenfels was honored as a Distinguished Alumni of Texas A&M University, and in 2018, he was named an Outstanding Alumni of the Mays Business School at Texas A&M. He is also a member of the Corpus Christi Business Hall of Fame and is the 1996 recipient of the Outstanding Leadership Alumni Award from Leadership Corpus Christi.

Heldenfels graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Business Administration

Dr. Kristy Vienne, EdD, serves as Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer at Lone Star College System in Houston. With more than 26 years of experience in higher education, she provides financial leadership for a $548 million budget across 26 locations serving over 97,000 students. In her role, Vienne oversees key administrative and financial functions, including systemwide forecasting and budgeting, treasury, governmental relations, financial reporting, payroll, procurement, supply management, accounts payable, real estate, student financial services, auxiliary services, and advancement operations.

Vienne has also led efforts to revitalize auxiliary services at Lone Star College, introducing equitable access textbook programs, reestablishing bookstore and food service operations, and launching initiatives such as meal plan scholarships and employee and student scholarship funds. Most recently, she worked to reimagine veteran’s affairs for Lone Star College and supporting veterans in the community.

In recognition of her leadership, Vienne was named one of the inaugural Best CFO Awards honorees by the Houston Business Journal, celebrating the top 30 CFOs in the Greater Houston area. A committed servant leader, she emphasizes process efficiency, collaboration, inclusion, and mentorship—fostering a culture that supports both the employees she leads and the students the system serves. She is passionate about aligning financial strategy with institutional mission, ensuring that fiscal stewardship directly advances access, retention, and student success.

Dr. Amanda Allen, EdD, is the President of Wharton County Junior College (WCJC), where she previously served as Executive Vice President. Since joining WCJC in 2018, she has led major initiatives in strategic planning, accreditation, enrollment management, and grants development. Under her leadership, WCJC has secured over $2 million in competitive grants in 2025, supporting emergency aid, allied health expansion, workforce training, and student success acceleration programs. In addition, she actively worked to increase Pell Grant totals by more than $3 million over the two most recent academic years.

Allen’s career spans K-12 education, universities, and health science centers across Texas, bringing a breadth of experience in curriculum design, institutional effectiveness, and cross-sector partnerships. At WCJC, she has overseen initiatives related to strategic alignment with House Bill 8 completion metrics, resulting in improved student outcomes and an increase in state Performance Tier funding in Fisal Year 2025. She has also led multiple professional development opportunities for faculty and staff, reinforcing a culture of growth and innovation.

Allen holds a bachelor’s degree in biomedical science from Texas A&M University, a master’s degree in educational technology, and a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration from Lamar University.

Orkun Toros, a financial leader with more than 19 years of experience in higher education, is the Vice President for Budget and Finance at the University of Texas at Dallas (UT-Dallas). He leads the university’s core financial operations, including budgeting, accounting, financial reporting, student financial services, payroll, procurement, and the UT System Shared Information Services department.

Toros has a demonstrated leadership driving financial strategy, operational improvements, and innovation to support institutional growth. During his 12 years at UT-Dallas, he has played a central role in strengthening the university’s financial operations, advancing resource planning, and driving technology solutions to support business services.

Prior to joining UT-Dallas, Orkun held positions at the University of North Texas System and Texas A&M University, where he developed broad expertise in financial management and systemwide operations.

An active member of the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), the leading organization for higher education finance professionals, Toros frequently presents on topics related to financial leadership, business intelligence, and the integration of artificial intelligence into university business operations.

Toros has a Master of Business Administration from Southeastern Louisiana University, a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Hacettepe University, and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Penny Harkey serves as the Executive Vice President of Finance and Operations at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC). She is responsible for the executive management of the finance, human resources, facilities and safety, and information technology functions of the institution. During her 38-year tenure at TTUHSC, Harkey has served in various capacities, including a term as interim Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer of the Texas Tech University System. She has also participated in many Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board committees and workgroups over the years. She is a Certified Public Accountant and a graduate of Texas Tech University.

Ginny Gomez-Leon serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at The University of Texas at San Antonio Health Science Center (UT Health San Antonio), bringing over 25 years of strategic and collaborative experience in academic medicine. She oversees fiscal strategy, financial management, and business technology systems, advising executive leadership on financial policy, strategic investment priorities, and institutional growth.

As the principal architect of UT Health San Antonio’s $1.9 billion fiscal budget strategy, Gomez-Leon has been instrumental in driving the institution’s financial transformation and expansion. She has secured over $1.5 billion in external funding for capital projects, supported the launch of UT Health’s first greenfield specialty hospital (2024), and has enhanced business tools and processes that strengthened fiscal discipline, transparency, accountability, and operational efficiencies through the implementation of a centralized budgeting and financial performance system and the modernization of the university’s 25-year-old legacy HR and payroll platform.

Gomez-Leon plays a pivotal role in the historic integration of UT Health San Antonio and The University of Texas at San Antonio, positioning the merged institutions as Texas’s third-largest public research university and a national model for higher education.

She represents UT Health in key statewide organizations, including the Texas Association of College & University Business Officers and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's Health-Related Institutions Formula Advisory Committee, and serves as a fiscal liaison to the UT System, Texas Legislative Budget Board, and other state and federal agencies.

A Texas-licensed CPA, Gomez-Leon earned a BBA from The University of Texas at Austin and an MBA from Our Lady of the Lake University and is a graduate of the NACUBO Fellows Leadership Program.

Dr. Richard M. Rhodes, PhD, currently serves as President of Texas A&M University-Central Texas (TAMU-Central Texas). Prior to joining TAMU-Central Texas, Rhodes retired from Austin Community College (ACC) District, where he served as Chancellor for 12 years, working to improve pathways into higher education and giving students the tools to accomplish their educational, professional, and personal goals. Before joining ACC, he served as President of El Paso Community College for 10 years and Vice President for Business Services at Salt Lake Community College for seven years.

Rhodes’ professional associations include past chair of American Association of Community Colleges and Texas Association of Community Colleges, founding chair of Trellis Foundation, and a board member for Trellis Company, Texas Workforce Investment Council, IntermediaryEd Foundation, Workforce Solutions-Central Texas and National University.

Rhodes is a Certified Public Accountant and received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Master of Arts in Educational Management and Development from New Mexico State University. He earned a PhD in Higher Education Leadership and Policy at The University of Texas at Austin, receiving its Distinguished Graduate Award in 2001.

Lisa Cantu is a second-year doctoral student at Texas A&M University (TAMU), pursuing a PhD in Educational Administration with an emphasis in Educational Leadership and Policy, and serves as the student representative for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Her research interests include postsecondary education preparation and access; specifically state and institutional policies surrounding early college credit opportunities, such as Advanced Placement courses and dual enrollment programs. Her passion for college access and success is underscored through her service as an Advisory Council member to the Hispanic Scholarship Fund.

Cantu is highly engaged with student life at TAMU. A recipient of Texas A&M’s Buck Weirus Spirit Award, her passion for positively impacting students has included previous service as president of Texas A&M’s campus tour guides. She serves on TAMU’s 2040 Strategic Plan committee, Citizenship and Service committee, and Student Experience committee. Additionally, she currently serves as the executive vice president for the 1879 Society Ambassadors program.

Cantu graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science alongside a Master of Public Service and Administration from Texas A&M University in 2024.

Liberty Heidenreich is a senior agricultural education major at West Texas A&M University. She grew up in agriculture, being homeschooled by her mom until she was a freshman in high school. She then went to Sunray ISD, where she graduated and became a Texas Leadership Scholar.

Liberty's passion is to help others love agriculture as much as she does and to help students achieve great things. She lists faith as the most important thing in her life. As a Christian, she desires to spend her life serving the Lord. Her hobbies include reading, writing, crochet, guitar, cooking, traveling, hiking, and playing board games. She has a love for learning and believes you never stop learning.

Thanush Koshekay is a graduate student at The University of Texas at San Antonio, pursuing a Master of Science in Computer Science with a focus in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. He currently serves as a graduate assistant at the Najim Center for Innovation and Career Advancement, where he supports research, data analysis, and program development across several high-impact student initiatives.

Austin Messer is a radiologic technologist with MD Anderson Cancer Center pursuing a bachelor’s degree in science as well as a certification in computed tomography and interventional radiology. Messer's goals are to potentially earn a master's degree, a certification in magnetic resonance imaging, and become involved in management after gaining experience in the field.

Vanessa Maló is an accomplished educator and administrator, currently serving as Director of Workforce Education Initiatives at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. She leads statewide work-based learning initiatives and has over twenty years of experience in secondary and post-secondary education administration. Vanessa specializes in strategic planning for P-16 initiatives and develops federal and state policies and programs that promote student success and career readiness.

Vanessa has taught at both secondary and higher education levels. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University-Kingsville, as well as a master’s and doctorate in Educational Leadership (K-16) from Concordia University.

Laura Cardenas is the Senior Director of Leadership, Culture, and Communication at DHR Health. She is a communication, marketing, and leadership development executive with more than 20 years of experience helping organizations connect people, purpose, and performance. For the past five years, she has brought that expertise to healthcare. In her role at DHR Health, Cardenas provides strategic direction for several systemwide departments: Leadership and Professional Development, Culture and Wellness, Internal Communication, and Digital Communication, serving more than 6,000 employees. She partners closely with executive leadership to advance initiatives that strengthen leadership, enhance employee engagement, and promote trust and transparency across the organization.

Cardenas has led several transformative initiatives, including launching a monthly video message from the CEO to enhance communication and connection, establishing a monthly directors meeting to align leadership across all hospitals and clinics, and developing DHR Health’s Leadership Development Program in partnership with the University of Houston.

Known for her strategic clarity, empathy, and ability to bring people together, Cardenas is passionate about developing leaders, elevating culture, and helping organizations communicate with authenticity and purpose.

Dr. Joseph (Joe) Seabrooks, PhD, is the President of Dallas College Cedar Valley Campus. Seabrooks brings over 30 years of distinguished experience in higher education, marked by his dynamic leadership and transformative student-centered initiatives. Renowned for his adeptness in fostering connections and stimulating growth, he has served as a catalyst for change throughout his career in the higher education sector.

Seabrooks is recognized for his visionary approach to workforce and economic development. Under his guidance, the Dallas College Cedar Valley Campus has experienced rapid enrollment growth, now boasting over 10,000 credit students. Affectionately known as "Uncle Joe," he excels in mentoring and nurturing the next generation of leaders in higher education. Seabrooks is guided by his purpose in life, which is to help people discover the tools, the fortitude, and the belief to find their pathway to prosperity.

With a background spanning from his early roles at the University of Missouri-Kansas City to his presidency at Metropolitan Community College, Seabrooks has consistently demonstrated his dedication to advancing education and empowering communities. He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, master's and educational specialist degrees in higher education administration, and an Interdisciplinary PhD in Urban Leadership, Policy Studies, and Education Administration, all earned from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Juan Galindo is a Human Resources intern at DHR Health and an undergraduate business management major from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, set to graduate December 2025. Recognized for his reliability, dedication, and collaborative approach, Galindo is committed to expanding his experience in the human resources field and bringing a growth-minded approach to every opportunity that supports his career development. Galindo aims to continue forming strong relationships, building networks, and enhancing his current strengths and skillsets to become a future business partner in healthcare.

Daniel R. Pérez serves as the Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Academic and Workforce Initiatives at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). In this role, he oversees strategic agency initiatives that advance student success and strengthen pathways from education to the workforce, including the Texas Leadership Scholars program, ApplyTexas, My Texas Future, and the agency’s Open Education programs. He leads efforts to align academic policy and workforce needs, supporting student success and economic mobility across Texas.

Pérez's leadership advances the goals of Building a Talent Strong Texas through data-informed policy and collaboration with institutions, industry partners, and policymakers. With more than a decade of experience in higher education, his work has been recognized nationally and cited by leading media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post.

Pérez holds a master’s degree from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin and is currently a doctoral candidate at The George Washington University’s Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration. His dissertation research focuses on evaluating the use of performance-based funding in higher education and the development of credentials of value in Texas.

Dr. Elizabeth “Sev” Severance serves as the Director of Advanced Academics for Austin Independent School District (ISD), where she is responsible for Gifted and Talented, AVID, College Readiness, Advanced Placement, and the International Baccalaureate programs. Before joining Austin ISD in 2018, she worked at both the campus and state levels empowering students (and families) to believe in themselves to be college, career, and life ready.

 

Severance's prior experience at the Texas Education Agency in the College, Career, and Military Prep Division and at Somerset High School providing college advising and wraparound services motivates her to continue her work to close opportunity gaps for students at a district level. She is a college advisor at heart and is always happy to talk about expanding pathways and options for ALL students. 

Severance earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Educational Studies from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. She earned her Master of Public Administration and her doctorate in Educational Leadership, with a concentration in higher education and a graduate certification in program evaluation, from The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Elizabeth Bustamante is a college advisor for Trinity University College Advising Corps. She is a second-year advisor at a high school in the Northeast Independent School District in San Antonio, Texas.

Bustamante was raised in Center Point, a small unincorporated city in the Texas Hill Country, where her class—the largest at the time—had about 50 students. Growing up, she was shaped by her parents’ journey to the United States. Her mother immigrated as a young adult, and her father as a child. Inspired by their experience, Bustamante pursued higher education to create positive change in college access. This commitment guides her as an advisor, where she helps students achieve their goals. She especially enjoys seeing their excitement and relief as they navigate the college application process.

Bustamante is pursuing a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration at The University of Texas at San Antonio. By continuing her education, she is preparing to become more informed about data related to student affairs professionals, policies and data regarding college accessibility, understanding campus needs, and providing as well as creating an inclusive learning environment.

Claudia Arellano Ferretiz serves as an Early College Programs Coordinator for Austin Independent School District (AISD), where she supports districtwide efforts to expand access to college-level opportunities for students. In her role, she supports the development and implementation of the Early College High Schools and Dual Credit programs while providing guidance and resources to college and career advisors across the district. Her work ensures that all students—particularly those who are first-generation college-goers—have equitable access to pathways that prepare them for postsecondary success.

Before stepping into her current role, Arellano Ferretiz served as a college and career advisor, where she worked directly with students and families to navigate the college application process and remove barriers to access. She has a deep connection to her community that fuels her commitment to creating opportunities for local students to thrive and is passionate about ensuring that every student in Austin sees college and career readiness as an achievable and supported goal.

Arellano Ferretiz holds a Bachelor of Science in Family and Child Sciences from Texas State University and a Master of Education in Student Development and Leadership from Angelo State University. Guided by a belief in the transformative power of education, she is dedicated to helping students build confidence, self-efficacy, and a strong foundation for lifelong success.

Melissa Humphries is the Assistant Commissioner for Data Management and Research at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The Data Management and Research portfolio includes management of the entire data pipeline from collection through data provisioning, including Texas’ K-12 education and workforce data. The division’s teams provide data and research aimed at informing policy and practice to a wide range of constituents and ensure that the data pipeline is structured to meet agency goals and stakeholder needs. 

Humphries also currently serves as the chair of the Advisory Board for the Education Research Centers, which are centers where researchers can access Texas education and workforce data to inform policy and practice. 

Humphries received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Policy Studies from Rice University and a Master of Arts and PhD in Sociology from The University of Texas at Austin.

Brittni Hollis is the Assistant Director of Transfer Pathways at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. In this role, she supports statewide initiatives that strengthen transfer policy, transparency, and credit mobility across Texas institutions. Hollis collaborates across divisions to advance the implementation of the Texas Direct initiative and align agency efforts with current legislation to inform decision-making and improve outcomes for Texas students.

Prior to joining the Coordinating Board, Hollis spent more than a decade at Tarrant County College in Fort Worth, where she led districtwide initiatives in faculty and student affairs, academic policy compliance, and institutional operations in collaboration with senior leadership.

Hollis holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from The University of Texas at Austin and Master of Public Affairs degree from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Elizabeth Mayer is the Assistant Commissioner for Academic and Health Affairs (AHA) for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). The AHA division provides leadership, guidance, expertise, and resources to improve the efficiency and quality of higher education in Texas, promotes the goals of the agency’s refreshed strategic plan, Building a Talent Strong Texas, and facilitates collaborative solutions with Texas higher education institutions. Under Mayer's leadership, the division develops new degree and certificate programs that are responsive to workforce needs, encourages quality across the higher education landscape, and drives student completion. AHA is also responsible for the administration and management of more than $700 million in grant funding to support the Texas health-care workforce pipeline.

Mayer began her career in higher education at the THECB in 2008 as a Program Director. In 2013, she joined the staff at The University of Texas System, where she served as a Senior Research and Policy Analyst, focusing on issues of affordability, dual credit, transfer, and educator preparation. She returned to the THECB in 2020 as its Director of Policy.

Mayer has a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from Seton Hall University and a Master of Public Affairs from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Jenna Cullinane Hege, PhD, serves as the Vice Chancellor of Institutional Research and Analytics at Austin Community College (ACC). In this position, she is responsible for leading the college’s collection and analysis of data to support data literacy, informed decision-making, and strategic planning.

Cullinane Hege came to ACC from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, where she served as the Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Strategic Planning. She has worked extensively with the state's vast data resources to inform policy and improve student success and educational equity in Texas.

Outside of ACC, Dr. Cullinane Hege was a fellow in the Aspen Institute’s Community College Excellence program, was an Assistant Professor of Practice in Education Leadership and Policy at The University of Texas at Austin, serves on the Board for Austin Partners in Education, and is a graduate of the Leadership Austin Essential 45-2024 cohort.

Cullinane Hege holds a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies from UC Berkeley, and a Master of Public Affairs and PhD in Public Policy from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Sarah Gallimore, PhD, is the Director of Planning and Decision Support at the University of North Texas Health Science Center, where she leads institutional research initiatives that connect analytics with strategic decision-making. With more than a decade of leadership experience in institutional research across both private undergraduate-focused and public graduate-focused institutions, she brings a broad understanding of how success metrics and data priorities vary across sectors.

Gallimore's portfolio includes developing intuitive dashboards, scenario-planning tools, and forecasting models that help leaders anticipate change, allocate resources wisely, and make timely, student-centered decisions. Her work strengthens data literacy across campus and ensures stakeholders have trusted insights to support students from classroom to career. She regularly presents at conferences including AIR Forum, SAIR, NEAIR, and TAIR, where she is known for making analytics accessible, engaging, and actionable.

Gallimore holds a Master of Science in Statistics and a PhD in Psychometrics from Virginia Tech University and is passionate about ensuring data fuels institutional success and student achievement.

Dr. Christina Zavala, PhD, is a Senior Director in the Data Management and Research Division at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. In her current role, Zavala oversees and supports the agency’s data efforts in higher education topics relating to the high school to higher education transition, college enrollment, student persistence, transfer process, and graduation. Her team is responsible for updating many of the agency’s data products, such as Data Bridge, Online Resumes, Almanac, and Accountability.

Christina holds a BA in Psychology and Spanish from The University of Texas at Austin, a MEd in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Texas State University, and a PhD in Higher Education and Organizational Change from UCLA.

Steve Wilkerson serves as the Senior Vice Provost for Strategic Analytics and Integrated Systems at The University of Texas at San Antonio, where he leads institutional research, state and federal reporting, academic financial analytics, and enterprise systems and data strategy. His work focuses on advancing data-informed decision-making, aligning analytics with institutional planning, and strengthening the connection between activity drivers, academic strategy, and resource allocation within a responsibility-based budget model.

With a 30-year career in higher education spanning academic advising, learning assistance, assessment, strategic planning, and institutional research, Steve brings a practitioner lens to data. As a first-generation college graduate, his primary research interest is student success and equity-conscious improvement. His teaching interests include program evaluation, survey methodology, research design, and higher education administration. Steve’s core mission is simple: serve students and faculty by making data useful, trusted, and actionable — and create cultures where people can do their best work with joy. He welcomes collaboration, idea exchange, and new professional connections.

Wilkerson earned bachelor’s and master’s degree in biology from UTSA and holds a PhD in Higher Education Administration from Texas A&M University.

Ray Martinez serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Texas Association of Community Colleges (TACC), a comprehensive membership association comprised of a diverse mix of 48 community colleges from across Texas.

Before joining TACC, Martinez served as Deputy Commissioner for Academic Affairs and Workforce Education for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, President of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas, Chancellor of Western Governors University Texas, and he has held senior government affairs positions at Rice University and Texas A&M International University. He has also served as the director of the Committee on Higher Education in the Texas Senate.

A native of Alice, Texas, Martinez received his bachelor’s degree from Southwestern University, his law degree from the University of Houston Law Center, and he recently completed postgraduate studies at the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Dr. David Troutman, PhD, serves as Deputy Commissioner for Academic and Workforce Initiatives at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), where he provides leadership and strategic direction in the following divisions: Academic and Health Affairs, College and Career Advising, Student Success, Digital Learning, and Data Management and Research. One of his key responsibilities is advancing the goals of the state's strategic plan for higher education, Building a Talent Strong Texas, and the Governor's Tri-Agency Workforce Initiative. These initiatives aim to enhance the talent pipeline in Texas by aligning higher education programs with workforce needs and fostering economic growth through education.

Before his current role at THECB, Troutman was Chief Data Officer and Associate Vice Chancellor for Institutional Research and Analysis at The University of Texas System, where he led a team of research and policy analysts to transform data into actionable information, which supported the system's initiatives and policy decisions across its 13 institutions. He has also collaborated with other state systems and with federal and national organizations, such as the City University of New York System, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the Institute for Higher Education Policy. His involvement in advisory boards for organizations like the National Student Clearinghouse Research Board and the American Council on Education's Carnegie Classification Technical Review Panel further showcases his national presence in higher education.

Additionally, Troutman has worked on several projects with nonprofit foundations, including the Gates Foundation, Lumina Foundation, Strada Education Foundation, and Lopez Foundation.

Andy MacLaurin is the Assistant Commissioner of Funding and Resource Planning at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The Funding and Resource Planning division oversees formula payments to general academic institutions, health-related institutions, and community colleges. MacLaurin spent most of his career working for several legislative agencies, including working for more than five years as the Legislative Budget Board’s Public Education Team Manager. He also has nearly 10 years working as an attorney for state agencies. 

MacLaurin received his undergraduate degree from Texas State University and his law degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law.

Dr. Kevin G. Fegan, EdD, serves as the President of Navarro College District. With more than three decades of experience across all levels of higher education, he has dedicated his career to expanding access, fostering innovation, and developing industry-aligned academic pathways. Before joining Navarro College, he held key leadership positions at Northwood University, including President of Texas Operations and Vice President of Executive Education and Corporate Programming.

Throughout his career, Fegan has created and advanced undergraduate, graduate, and professional education programs tailored to meet the needs of diverse industries and learners. His work includes establishing degree and certification opportunities within major automotive manufacturers, such as Toyota, Ford, and General Motors; developing specialized programs for fire science and police academy graduates; advancing continuing education for accounting and financial professionals; and supporting customized degree pathways for military personnel and their families through partnerships with institutions such as NASJRB, Lockheed, and AAFES. He has also collaborated with health care organizations, including Methodist Health System, to provide targeted workforce advancement programs. A respected speaker on leadership, communication, culture, and organizational vision, Fegan is known for his ability to guide transformational change. His service on numerous civic, governmental, and nonprofit boards has strengthened his expertise in regional economic development, advocacy, partnership building, and resource optimization.

Fegan holds a BBA from Northwood University, an MA from Central Michigan University, and an EdD from Wayne State University.

Fegan holds a BBA from Northwood University, an MA from Central Michigan University, and an EdD from Wayne State University.

Tony Cucolo is President and CEO of Professional Contracting Services, Inc. (PCSI), a nationwide nonprofit enhancing the lives of people with disabilities through employment and advocacy, a role he assumed in April 2021. Prior to joining PCSI, he served more than 35 years in the U.S. Army, retiring at the rank of major general in 2014. His military service took him worldwide, leading organizations varying in size from 100 personnel to 22,000 in peace and war. His duties as a general officer included leading combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, serving as the Army’s Chief of Public Affairs, developing and executing the Army’s $35 billion equipping strategy, and serving as president of the U.S. Army War College.

After transition from the Army, he spent over four years in public higher education on the executive team of The University of Texas System Administration. There, he led the development of the chancellor’s strategic plan; conducted leader development programs for students, faculty, and administrators; and served as the senior veteran’s advocate for the system, as well as the chancellor’s liaison to faculty senates. Cucolo then co-founded an Austin-based nonprofit, the National Security Innovation Council, to accelerate the participation of business, academic research, and entrepreneurs across Texas in solving national security problems. He remains the council's pro-bono chair and senior military advisor. He sits on several boards, including serving on the Texas 2036 Board of Directors.

Bryan Ashton serves as the Chief Strategy and Growth Officer at Trellis and the Head of Trellis Strategies. In this capacity, he is responsible for leading the organization's research, consulting, and talent pathways work in higher education. Bryan is the co-founder of the Higher Education Financial Wellness Alliance and is a frequent speaker at national conferences on issues of college access and affordability.

Bryan holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with an emphasis in accounting, from Ohio State University and a Master's in Education, with a focus in higher education, from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Chris Willuhn serves as the Director of Policy within the Student Financial Aid Programs division of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). In this role, Willuhn leads divisional policy development, data analysis and reporting, and resource development efforts. Prior to joining the THECB in 2023, he worked in both chambers of the Texas Legislature and in research and advocacy roles, with a particular interest in higher education access and affordability. Originally from Huntsville, Alabama, Willuhn holds bachelor's degrees in public health and music performance from Tulane University and a master's degree from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin.

As a former Regional Chief Nursing Officer for Select Medical, she oversaw up to 18 hospitals and led initiatives improving quality outcomes, patient experiences, and employee engagement. She is passionate about leading teams, driving innovation, and launching system-level change from the ground up.

Jennings also is the founder of Doin Well, LLC, a company dedicated to improving health literacy and access to care through interactive, tailored workshops empowering individuals to advocate for themselves within the healthcare system. Her research and advocacy focus on youth with lived experience in foster care and other underrepresented populations.

Jennings has presented nationally, including at APHA, Sigma Theta Tau, and The Root Cause Coalition. In the community, she serves as chair of Government Affairs for the Texas Nurses Association, District 8, and president of the board for Thru Project, a nonprofit working with youth who have a lived experience in foster care.

Dr. Deanne Pickney, PhD, is the Debt Management & Financial Literacy Coordinator at UT Southwestern Medical Center. An accomplished higher education leader and program administrator with extensive experience in financial management, grants coordination, and student success initiatives, she has over a decade of experience spanning financial aid, student accounts, enrollment services, and program evaluation. Pickney brings a rare blend of policy expertise, data-driven decision-making, and student focused program design. A 2024 Presidential Management Fellow, she is passionate about empowering individuals through education, financial literacy, and public service.

Brandon Griggs, PhD, serves as the Assistant Commissioner for College and Career Advising at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. In his leadership role, he oversees efforts to improve higher education access for students in Texas. He also leads initiatives that target improving career and college pathways from P-12 to higher education and into the workforce.

Previously, Griggs served as the Assistant Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs (Chief Student Affairs Officer) at Texas A&M University-Central Texas, with more than 20 years leading student success programs at the university level. In his previous roles, he has provided leadership and oversight for comprehensive student support programs to improve student success outcomes, including academic support programs, campus recreation, career and professional development, disability support and access, first-year and transition programs, fraternity and sorority life, family and parent programs, residence life, student conduct, student and civic engagement, student government, student leadership programs, student success, student wellness and counseling, study abroad, testing, tutoring, and various initiatives. He also taught graduate courses in leading change in higher education, history and administration of higher education, and strategy and human resources in higher education.

Griggs earned a bachelor's degree from Tarleton State University, a Master of Education from Baylor University, and both a doctoral-level certificate in strengths-oriented higher education and a PhD in Higher Education from Azusa Pacific University. He focuses on innovative practices and partnerships in higher education, and his research interests include leading change, human and organizational design, and community psychology.

Barbara Jimenez serves as a High School College Adviser at William B. Travis Early College High School in Austin, Texas, through The University of Texas at Austin’s Advise TX College Advising Corps. In her role, she supports high school seniors as they navigate college admissions, financial aid, and scholarship opportunities, helping students and families access clear information and resources throughout the process. She has led major initiatives such as Financial Aid Nights and the Rebel Ready Center’s Student Ambassador Program, both designed to strengthen a college-going culture and prepare students for success after graduation.

Jimenez's work focuses on expanding college and career readiness across her campus community. She is passionate about helping young Texans plan their next steps with confidence and purpose, and she continues to promote opportunities that connect classroom learning to future education and career pathways.

A proud first-generation college graduate, Jimenez earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a credential in Social and Behavioral Sciences from The University of Texas at Austin.

Xochitl Martinez is the Project Coordinator for College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) for Education Service Center (ESC) Region 13. She has been in education for more than 24 years. She started as a high school English teacher before moving on to higher education, where she served as a Senior Student Advisor and Instructional Lead for the Gateway to College program at Palo Alto College. She then transitioned her experience with dual credit and early college planning to her role as the Director of Early College High School at South San Antonio ISD before taking on her current role as Project Coordinator for CCMR for ESC Region 13.

Angelica (Angie) Haro, EdD, is the Director of Technology Services at Education Service Center (ESC) Region 19. She also oversees College and Career Readiness for ESC Region 19. Haro has served in K-12 and higher education for over 18 years in different capacities at school districts, El Paso Community College, and at The University of Texas at El Paso (UT-El Paso). She is a Texas-certified teacher, school administrator, and community college and university instructor, specializing in technology leadership, instructional systems design, business education, online instructional design, CTE, and data analytics.

Haro holds a bachelor’s degree from UT-El Paso in accounting and international business, an MBA from UT-El Paso, a Master of Education in Education Administration from UT-Tyler, and a Doctor of Education from Sam Houston State University.

Daniela Garcia is a senior at Travis Early College High School, where she is working toward completing two degrees by May: her high school diploma and an associate degree. She currently serves as vice president of Student Council, public relations officer for the National Honor Society, and is an active member of the Senior Committee.

Carrie Gits is the Assistant Commissioner for the Division of Student Success and Institutional Partnerships at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). With more than 20 years of experience in higher education, she leads statewide initiatives focused on student success, access, and affordability.

Before joining THECB in 2022, she held leadership roles as an academic librarian and library director across institutions in Illinois, Florida, and Texas. A long-time advocate for open education, she has advanced efforts to expand access to affordable, high-quality learning materials and innovative programs. Her leadership style emphasizes collaboration, strategic partnerships, and the thoughtful integration of technology to create student-centered learning environments.

Gits holds a BA in Spanish and Cultural Anthropology from Augustana College, as well as an MA in Foreign Language and Literature and a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Lisa Petrides is CEO and founder of the Institute for the Study of Knowledge Management in Education (ISKME), a nonprofit dedicated to making learning and knowledge-sharing participatory and open for all. She is a scholar and international open education expert who has led the development of research, policy, and practice to create and support the field of open education practice. Her work includes the creation of ISKME's OER Commons, a digital public library of open educational resources (OER) and collaboration platform that facilitates the search, discovery, and adaptation of high-quality digital resources that are free, openly licensed, and available for a diverse range of learners.

Petrides also serves as a member of UNESCO’s OER Dynamic Coalition Advisory Group, supporting the implementation of the UNESCO Recommendation on OER. A former professor at Columbia University Teachers College, she has advised and led efforts that enable schools, colleges, universities, ministries of education, and the organizations that support them to expand their capacity to create knowledge-driven environments focused on teaching and learning.

Petrides received a PhD in Education Policy from Stanford University. She was also reelected to a second term on the San Mateo County Community College District Board of Trustees in November 2024, the governance body of the three-campus community college system in California serving more than 30,000 students.

Jimmy Stratton is the Industrial Technology Chair at South Plains College in Levelland, Texas, where he leads one of the state’s most hands-on and innovative technical education programs, with immersive training for careers in manufacturing, energy, transportation, and other industrial sectors. With more than 20 years of experience in the welding industry and higher education, he has become a driving force behind workforce-aligned training and open educational resource (OER) development in technical programs.

Under his leadership, South Plains College has modernized its welding curriculum to meet current industry standards while integrating cutting-edge digital learning tools. Stratton serves as the principal investigator on the Welding OER Workforce Development Grant, developing freely available, high-quality instructional materials that support both traditional and dual credit students across Texas.

Recognized for his excellence in teaching and innovation, Stratton is the recipient of the South Plains College Faculty Excellence Award, the 2025 Anthology Catalyst Award for Leading Change, and the 2025 Levelland Chamber of Commerce Educational Professional of the Year Award.

Known for his collaborative approach and commitment to student success, Stratton partners with local industry, educators, and state initiatives to strengthen pathways from classroom to career. His leadership has not only advanced OER adoption in technical education but also built bridges between faculty innovation and workforce needs. His engaging speaking style reflects his passion for teaching, mentorship, and the belief that skilled trades change lives.

Denise Neill, PhD, is the inaugural Director of Nursing at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. A leader in Texas nursing education, Neill brings 30 years of experience to the challenge of preparing a diverse and future-ready nursing workforce. Having taught across every modality—online, hybrid, and face-to-face undergraduate and graduate programs—she possesses deep, firsthand insight into the academic and financial challenges students face when moving from classroom to career.

A recognized open educational resources (OER) champion, Neill has translated her experience into systemic change for removing barriers to education. Her foundational advisory role on the impactful OER Nursing Essentials Project helped pioneer a new, affordable model for essential curriculum. Her work demonstrates a commitment to innovation and access, underscored by her successful adoption of OpenStax nursing textbooks and the strategic incorporation of competency-based education models.

Neill speaks with authority on leveraging technology and open content to ensure students not only gain access to materials but also achieve demonstrable mastery of skills, ensuring that the cost of education is less of a barrier to achieving a career in healthcare and ultimately helping to reach all Texans.

Jennifer Pate is the Director of OpenEd at Texas A&M University Libraries, where she supports student success by leading textbook affordability initiatives for the campus and supporting broader open educational resources (OER) efforts across the Texas A&M University System. Prior to joining Texas A&M, Pate was the Open Education Resources and Scholarly Communications Librarian at the University of North Alabama, where she implemented the school's first-ever OER grant program and started their first digital press.

Pate has worked with the American Association of Colleges and Universities' Institute on Open Education to mentor campuses through their OER program development and is a Founding Fellow with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's OER Fellowship program. She is currently on the Open Education Network's Steering Committee, is an active member of the Driving OER Sustainability for Student Success Collaborative, and is vice chair of both the Texas Digital Library's OER Users Group and the Houston Area OER Consortium.

 

Pate holds a Master of Library and Information Studies from the University of Alabama and a Master of Science in Instructional Technology and Design from the University of North Alabama, where she focused on incorporating open educational practices in course design

Ian Reyna is a student at Austin Community College pursuing studies in mechanical engineering while working as an Engineering Technician at Applied Materials. He supports equipment testing and technical operations, gaining valuable hands-on experience with advanced semiconductor systems.

Melissa Humphries is the Assistant Commissioner for Data Management and Research at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The Data Management and Research portfolio includes management of the entire data pipeline from collection through data provisioning, including Texas’ K-12 education and workforce data. The division’s teams provide data and research aimed at informing policy and practice to a wide range of constituents and ensure that the data pipeline is structured to meet agency goals and stakeholder needs. 

Humphries also currently serves as the chair of the Advisory Board for the Education Research Centers, which are centers where researchers can access Texas education and workforce data to inform policy and practice. 

Humphries received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Policy Studies from Rice University and a Master of Arts and PhD in Sociology from The University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. David Troutman, PhD, serves as Deputy Commissioner for Academic and Workforce Initiatives at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), where he provides leadership and strategic direction in the following divisions: Academic and Health Affairs, College and Career Advising, Student Success, Digital Learning, and Data Management and Research. One of his key responsibilities is advancing the goals of the state's strategic plan for higher education, Building a Talent Strong Texas, and the Governor's Tri-Agency Workforce Initiative. These initiatives aim to enhance the talent pipeline in Texas by aligning higher education programs with workforce needs and fostering economic growth through education.

Before his current role at THECB, Troutman was Chief Data Officer and Associate Vice Chancellor for Institutional Research and Analysis at The University of Texas System, where he led a team of research and policy analysts to transform data into actionable information, which supported the system's initiatives and policy decisions across its 13 institutions. He has also collaborated with other state systems and with federal and national organizations, such as the City University of New York System, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the Institute for Higher Education Policy. His involvement in advisory boards for organizations like the National Student Clearinghouse Research Board and the American Council on Education's Carnegie Classification Technical Review Panel further showcases his national presence in higher education.

Additionally, Troutman has worked on several projects with nonprofit foundations, including the Gates Foundation, Lumina Foundation, Strada Education Foundation, and Lopez Foundation.

Chris Fernandez is the Senior Director of Strategy and Policy at the Texas Association of Community Colleges (TACC). He recently returned to the TACC after three years at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), where he worked primarily on development and implementation of Texas' transformative new community college funding system under House Bill 8. Before joining THECB, he served as TACC Director of Policy Analysis, conducting original data collections and analyses focused on community college enrollment trends and financial dynamics, and as a researcher studying college affordability and financial aid programs with Trellis.

Fernandez earned a bachelor's degree from Swarthmore College and a master's degree in public affairs from The University of Texas at Austin's LBJ School of Public Affairs.

Pam Anglin, EdD, is the Chief Financial Officer at Tarrant County College. Her career has been spent in higher education serving as an accounting faculty and division chair at Navarro College, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President at Blinn College and Grayson College, and President of Paris Junior College.

Anglin serves on the Community College Finance Steering Advisory Committee and has served on the SACSCOC Board of Trustees and the American Association of Community Colleges Board of Directors.

Kristen C. Mosley, PhD, is the Director of Research and Evaluation for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s Community College Finance team. A former K–12 public school teacher, administrator, and district researcher and evaluator, Mosley's research and evaluation portfolio spans quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods designs, with experience in educator development, institutional improvement, and applied policy research.

Mosley has presented her work at multiple international conferences, published in peer-reviewed journals and edited volumes, and is co-editing a forthcoming book on educator support and sustainability. She also serves on the Journal for Trauma Studies in Education Editorial Board and is a former member of the Teach For America Austin Alumni Board.

Mosley earned degrees from Vanderbilt University (BS), Southern Methodist University (MEd), and The University of Texas at Austin (MEd, PhD).

Torca Bunton is the Senior Director of the Educational Data Center at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). With more than two decades of dedicated service to higher education in Texas, she has been an integral leader at the THECB. She began her career with the agency in 2003 in the Office of Campus Planning and joined the Educational Data Center in 2005. Since then, she has guided statewide efforts to modernize and enhance higher education reporting systems, coordinate institutional data submissions, and advance funding and outcomes-based initiatives that inform policy and strengthen educational opportunities across Texas.

Dr. Jenna Cullinane Hege, PhD, serves as the Vice Chancellor of Institutional Research and Analytics at Austin Community College (ACC). In this position, she is responsible for leading the college’s collection and analysis of data to support data literacy, informed decision-making, and strategic planning.

Cullinane Hege came to ACC from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, where she served as the Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Strategic Planning. She has worked extensively with the state's vast data resources to inform policy and improve student success and educational equity in Texas.

Outside of ACC, Dr. Cullinane Hege was a fellow in the Aspen Institute’s Community College Excellence program, was an Assistant Professor of Practice in Education Leadership and Policy at The University of Texas at Austin, serves on the Board for Austin Partners in Education, and is a graduate of the Leadership Austin Essential 45-2024 cohort.

Cullinane Hege holds a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies from UC Berkeley, and a Master of Public Affairs and PhD in Public Policy from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin.

Charles (Chad) Contéro-Puls joined the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in 2015, after spending 24 years working in financial aid offices across the Northeast. He serves as Assistant Commissioner of the Division of Student Financial Aid Programs, providing leadership and strategic oversight for the division, which includes the state’s student loan, grant, exemption, work-study, and loan repayment programs.

Prior to joining the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, he served for over a decade as Associate Dean of College Enrollment at the University of Rochester, focusing on financial aid and change management. He has also served in financial aid leadership positions at Boston College, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, the University of Massachusetts Boston, and Dartmouth College.

Contéro-Puls holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Delaware; a Master of Science in College Student Personnel Administration from Indiana University, Bloomington; and an EdD in Higher Education Management at the University of Georgia’s Louise McBee Institute of Higher Education.

Heather Fountain serves as the Director of Financial Aid Operations at Texas A&M University, bringing over two decades of experience in student financial aid. Her journey began as a student worker in the Scholarships and Financial Aid office, where she discovered a desire to help students navigate the complexities of higher education funding. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Psychology, she joined Scholarships and Financial Aid office full time, focusing on default aversion and student loan management.

Various roles within the Scholarships and Financial Aid office led to opportunities to expand her knowledge of Pell Grant and ISIR processing. Now, as Director of Financial Aid Operations, she oversees strategic initiatives that support student success and operational efficiency. Her passion is streamlining financial aid operations and enhancing service delivery.

Fountain is currently pursuing her PhD in Higher Education Administration, furthering her commitment to advancing equity and innovation in student services.

Dr. JoEllen Price, EdD, is the Dean of Financial Aid at San Jacinto College. Prior to her current role, she was the Executive Director of Financial Aid at Houston Community College for 10 years. She has led financial aid operations for six different institutions (public, private, and proprietary) in four states over her 38-year career. Positions held include Executive Director of Student Financial Programs, overseeing student accounts and financial aid; Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Management, overseeing admissions, financial aid, and marketing; Interim Director of Institutional Research; Registrar; and Vice President of Operations for a full-service financial aid consulting company.

Price served on the Board of Trustees and was Vice President for the Texas Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators in 2023-34, currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Southwest Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (SWASFAA), and serves on multiple committees and task forces for the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA). She completed all 16 NASFAA credentials in September of 2021 and is an NASFAA Certified Financial Aid Administrator.

Price earned a bachelor's degree in business (1991), a master's degree in business administration (1997), a master's degree in information technology (2015), and completed her Doctorate in Education in 2022. She is passionate about higher education financing and providing resources to eliminate barriers to student success.

Lisa Martin is the Senior Director for Financial Aid at Baylor University. She has over 22 years of progressive experience in financial aid, serving at both public and private institutions across three states. Over the course of her career, she has led efforts in regulatory compliance, scholarship strategy, policy development, and student-centered service, always focused on improving access and supporting student success.

 

Martin's passion for financial aid stems from her belief in the transformative power of education. She finds purpose in helping students and families navigate the often complex world of college financing, ensuring they have the resources and support needed to achieve their educational goals.

In her current role at Baylor University, Martin collaborates with academic, advancement, and operational partners to align financial aid strategies with institutional priorities. She brings both technical expertise and a student-focused perspective to her work and looks forward to sharing her insights.

Amanda Cochran-McCall serves as the Vice President for Legal Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin, where she performs the duties of chief legal officer, general counsel, and chief ethics officer. In this role, she serves the institution as in-house counsel, guiding its course on a broad array of legal issues including constitutional, civil rights, employment, athletics, business contracts, real estate, and litigation strategy. She collaborates daily with university leadership in the executive administration, colleges, schools, and business units to support their needs and goals. She also has the honor of leading the day-to-day operations of the university’s Legal Affairs team in support of its mission to deliver excellence in legal services to every part of campus.

Prior to joining the university, Cochran-McCall served in various roles over almost a decade at the Texas Attorney General’s Office. She managed and directed 12 civil litigation divisions of over 600 employees, 30,000 active litigation matters and a $40 million budget. She also provided strategic legal guidance and direction on various matters including First Amendment, Due Process, Equal Protection, Title IX, employment law, and higher education issues for university systems and component institutions, state elected and appointed officials, and state agencies. As a trial attorney, she directed and performed all aspects of litigation in state and federal court.

Cochran-McCall is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin and Oklahoma City University School of Law.

Dona Cornell became Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs and General Counsel for the University of Houston System and Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel for the University of Houston in June 2002. In her role, she is responsible for all legal matters of the system and each of its campuses, which includes transactional matters, all aspects of compliance and ethics, athletics issues, litigation management, and advice and counsel regarding academic and student issues as well as many other legal matters affecting the system.

Prior to her appointment, Cornell served as the Deputy Chief of the General Litigation Division for the Texas Attorney General's office. In that role, she supervised 30 attorneys with responsibility for the 700-plus cases handled by the division. Previously she was a shareholder in the Austin-based law firm Morehead, Jordan & Carmona.

Cornell earned her undergraduate and law degrees from The University of Texas at Austin. She is licensed to practice law throughout Texas and in U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Prior to receiving her law degree, she served as a committee clerk and legislative aide in the 68th Texas Legislature and was an assistant director of Senate Bill Analysis for the 70th Texas Legislature.

R. Brooks Moore, JD, is the General Counsel of the Texas A&M University System. He leads the Office of General Counsel (OGC), an office he has served for most of his career. The Office of General Counsel provides legal services for the Texas A&M University System Offices and the system's member institutions, assists with litigation representation from the Texas Attorney General’s Office, and secures outside legal counsel services.

 

Moore was named General Counsel in 2025 after nine years as the office’s top Deputy General Counsel and previously served in various other roles. Moore's practice has focused on ethics/conflicts of interest, the Public Information Act, Open Meetings Act, Texas A&M University System policies and regulations, legislation, state and federal relations, and records management. Other areas of his practice have included state and federal statutory and regulatory compliance, employment law, and athletics.

 

Prior to joining OGC in July 2005, Moore was in private practice in Austin representing Texas school districts. He started his career as an attorney with the Texas Attorney General’s Office.

Lesli Gattis is the Deputy General Counsel for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. She has served in this role since 2020, providing legal counsel to the agency on a wide variety of matters, including all aspects of student financial aid programs, agency operations, legislation, rules, contracting, and litigation.

Gattis has more than 20 years of state agency experience, including more than a decade of handling and managing financial litigation for state agencies with the Office of Attorney General and as the executive director of the State Office of Administrative Hearings. She is also a graduate of the Governor’s Executive Development Program.

Gattis earned a BS in Criminal Justice from Texas State University, from which she received a Young Alumni Rising Star Award, and a JD from the University of Houston Law Center.

Amanda Cochran-McCall serves as the Vice President for Legal Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin, where she performs the duties of chief legal officer, general counsel, and chief ethics officer. In this role, she serves the institution as in-house counsel, guiding its course on a broad array of legal issues including constitutional, civil rights, employment, athletics, business contracts, real estate, and litigation strategy. She collaborates daily with university leadership in the executive administration, colleges, schools, and business units to support their needs and goals. She also has the honor of leading the day-to-day operations of the university’s Legal Affairs team in support of its mission to deliver excellence in legal services to every part of campus.

Dr. Kimberly McLeod, EdD, is Professor of Educational Leadership at Abilene Christian University (ACU). Before joining ACU, she served several other institutions as a Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Associate Vice President of Economic and Academic Development, and Dean of the College of Education and Human Services. She is an accomplished education leader whose career spans public and higher education.

McLeod is the president-elect of the National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE), a Deans for Impact Senior Fellow, and founding editor of the National Journal of Urban Education and Practice. She has authored eight academic and three children’s books and led a Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board-funded study on student success.

Francisco Martinez is the President and CEO of Project QUEST, a nationally recognized workforce development organization based in San Antonio. Founded in 1992, QUEST was created through a community-driven effort to support displaced workers and today continues to equip underemployed and unemployed adults with training that leads to high-demand, family-sustaining careers. With a proven track record validated by independent research, QUEST has transformed thousands of lives while generating billions in wage gains and a strong return on investment for the region.

As President and CEO, Martinez oversees all facets of the organization, including service delivery, community engagement, financial health, contractual commitments, and organizational culture. He works closely with the QUEST Board of Directors to provide strategic leadership that strengthens the organization's impact and ensures it attains its mission of creating pathways out of poverty remains central.

A first-generation college graduate and the son of immigrants, Martinez embodies the transformative power of education. He brings over 25 years of experience spanning public policy, local government, education, corporate social responsibility, and nonprofit leadership, always committed to expanding opportunity and equity.

Martinez holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California, San Diego, and a Master of Public Administration from California State University, Los Angeles.

Alyssia Palacios-Woods is the Executive Director of Capital IDEA. A community builder and nonprofit leader with more than 15 years of experience supporting workforce development initiatives in Central Texas, she is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) dedicated to best practices in nonprofit operations and fundraising. Prior to joining Capital IDEA, Palacios-Woods served as the President and CEO of the Austin Young Chamber, where she championed regional collaboration, entrepreneurship, talent development, and workplace diversity.

Palacios-Woods was recognized as an Austin Business Journal Profiles in Power Nominee in 2019 and an Austin Under 40 Finalist in 2023. Her previous board service includes the Austin Chamber of Commerce, Transit Forward, and Capital IDEA. She currently serves on the Regional Advisory Council for Austin Community College and the Education and Workforce Councils for the Austin Chamber and Round Rock Chamber.

Palacios-Woods received her bachelor’s degree from St. Edward’s University and her master’s degree from The University of Texas at Austin.

Xavier Urrutia is the Alamo Colleges District's Vice Chancellor for External Relations and Chief of Staff. His responsibilities include overseeing the district’s legislative, governmental, industry, partnership, and global engagements, as well as relations in the areas of arts, culture, and community.  AlamoPROMISE, one of the district’s signature initiatives, which provides tuition free college at any of the five Alamo Colleges, is also included in the portfolio.    

Urrutia also serves as Interim Vice Chancellor for Economic and Workforce Development, which includes overseeing the district’s continuing education efforts and numerous workforce development grant programs from the Department of Labor, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the City of San Antonio, including the $51M grant for the Ready to Work program. Along with the seven neighborhood or regional Education and Training Centers within the district’s service region, he oversees the district’s Adult Education and Literacy services, including GED and high school diploma programs.  

Before coming to the Alamo Colleges, Urrutia worked for the city of San Antonio for over 23 years, where he served as the San Antonio Parks Director for over a decade. His municipal government experience includes executive leadership roles in various operational and service delivery departments, including the Department of Human Services, Solid Waste Management Department, and the Alamo Care Services Department, as well as serving as an interim Assistant City Manager.

Dr. Nina Almasy, DNP, is the Associate Vice Chancellor of Health Sciences at Austin Community College (ACC), where she leads 14 nationally accredited Health Science programs and the Health Science Academy. Prior to her current role, she served as Dean of Health Sciences and Chair of the Nursing Department at ACC.

In addition to her work at ACC, Almasy’s leadership extends to state-level contributions. She was appointed by Governor Rick Perry to serve on the Texas Board of Nursing from 2012 to 2019 and is the recipient of the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Award for Excellence in Teaching and Organizational Leadership in 2008. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees for South Austin Medical Center and is a member of the Leadership Council of the Central Texas Healthcare Partnership, where she plays a key role in shaping the region’s healthcare workforce.

Almasy is committed to creating a healthier community through collaborative and innovative healthcare education. She is passionate about nurturing the next generation of healthcare professionals and leaders who are ready to meet the evolving needs of the healthcare industry.

Almasy earned her Baccalaureate in Nursing from Ahwaz Medical Sciences University in Iran, and her master’s degree and Doctorate in Nursing Practice from The University of Texas at Austin. Her strong academic and professional background has equipped her with the expertise to lead and inspire in the field of healthcare education and workforce development.

Jennifer Pate is the Director of OpenEd at Texas A&M University Libraries, where she supports student success by leading textbook affordability initiatives for the campus and supporting broader open educational resources (OER) efforts across the Texas A&M University System. Prior to joining Texas A&M, Pate was the Open Education Resources and Scholarly Communications Librarian at the University of North Alabama, where she implemented the school's first-ever OER grant program and started their first digital press.

Pate has worked with the American Association of Colleges and Universities' Institute on Open Education to mentor campuses through their OER program development and is a Founding Fellow with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's OER Fellowship program. She is currently on the Open Education Network's Steering Committee, is an active member of the Driving OER Sustainability for Student Success Collaborative, and is vice chair of both the Texas Digital Library's OER Users Group and the Houston Area OER Consortium.

 

Pate holds a Master of Library and Information Studies from the University of Alabama and a Master of Science in Instructional Technology and Design from the University of North Alabama, where she focused on incorporating open educational practices in course design

Lisa Petrides is CEO and founder of the Institute for the Study of Knowledge Management in Education (ISKME), a nonprofit dedicated to making learning and knowledge-sharing participatory and open for all. She is a scholar and international open education expert who has led the development of research, policy, and practice to create and support the field of open education practice. Her work includes the creation of ISKME's OER Commons, a digital public library of open educational resources (OER) and collaboration platform that facilitates the search, discovery, and adaptation of high-quality digital resources that are free, openly licensed, and available for a diverse range of learners.

Petrides also serves as a member of UNESCO’s OER Dynamic Coalition Advisory Group, supporting the implementation of the UNESCO Recommendation on OER. A former professor at Columbia University Teachers College, she has advised and led efforts that enable schools, colleges, universities, ministries of education, and the organizations that support them to expand their capacity to create knowledge-driven environments focused on teaching and learning.

Petrides received a PhD in Education Policy from Stanford University. She was also reelected to a second term on the San Mateo County Community College District Board of Trustees in November 2024, the governance body of the three-campus community college system in California serving more than 30,000 students.

Carrie Gits is the Assistant Commissioner for the Division of Student Success and Institutional Partnerships at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). With more than 20 years of experience in higher education, she leads statewide initiatives focused on student success, access, and affordability.

Before joining THECB in 2022, she held leadership roles as an academic librarian and library director across institutions in Illinois, Florida, and Texas. A long-time advocate for open education, she has advanced efforts to expand access to affordable, high-quality learning materials and innovative programs. Her leadership style emphasizes collaboration, strategic partnerships, and the thoughtful integration of technology to create student-centered learning environments.

Gits holds a BA in Spanish and Cultural Anthropology from Augustana College, as well as an MA in Foreign Language and Literature and a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Jimmy Stratton is the Industrial Technology Chair at South Plains College in Levelland, Texas, where he leads one of the state’s most hands-on and innovative technical education programs, with immersive training for careers in manufacturing, energy, transportation, and other industrial sectors. With more than 20 years of experience in the welding industry and higher education, he has become a driving force behind workforce-aligned training and open educational resource (OER) development in technical programs.

Under his leadership, South Plains College has modernized its welding curriculum to meet current industry standards while integrating cutting-edge digital learning tools. Stratton serves as the principal investigator on the Welding OER Workforce Development Grant, developing freely available, high-quality instructional materials that support both traditional and dual credit students across Texas.

Recognized for his excellence in teaching and innovation, Stratton is the recipient of the South Plains College Faculty Excellence Award, the 2025 Anthology Catalyst Award for Leading Change, and the 2025 Levelland Chamber of Commerce Educational Professional of the Year Award.

Known for his collaborative approach and commitment to student success, Stratton partners with local industry, educators, and state initiatives to strengthen pathways from classroom to career. His leadership has not only advanced OER adoption in technical education but also built bridges between faculty innovation and workforce needs. His engaging speaking style reflects his passion for teaching, mentorship, and the belief that skilled trades change lives.

Denise Neill, PhD, is the inaugural Director of Nursing at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. A leader in Texas nursing education, Neill brings 30 years of experience to the challenge of preparing a diverse and future-ready nursing workforce. Having taught across every modality—online, hybrid, and face-to-face undergraduate and graduate programs—she possesses deep, firsthand insight into the academic and financial challenges students face when moving from classroom to career.

A recognized open educational resources (OER) champion, Neill has translated her experience into systemic change for removing barriers to education. Her foundational advisory role on the impactful OER Nursing Essentials Project helped pioneer a new, affordable model for essential curriculum. Her work demonstrates a commitment to innovation and access, underscored by her successful adoption of OpenStax nursing textbooks and the strategic incorporation of competency-based education models.

Neill speaks with authority on leveraging technology and open content to ensure students not only gain access to materials but also achieve demonstrable mastery of skills, ensuring that the cost of education is less of a barrier to achieving a career in healthcare and ultimately helping to reach all Texans.

Ian Reyna is a student at Austin Community College pursuing studies in mechanical engineering while working as an Engineering Technician at Applied Materials. He supports equipment testing and technical operations, gaining valuable hands-on experience with advanced semiconductor systems.

Melissa Humphries is the Assistant Commissioner for Data Management and Research at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The Data Management and Research portfolio includes management of the entire data pipeline from collection through data provisioning, including Texas’ K-12 education and workforce data. The division’s teams provide data and research aimed at informing policy and practice to a wide range of constituents and ensure that the data pipeline is structured to meet agency goals and stakeholder needs. 

Humphries also currently serves as the chair of the Advisory Board for the Education Research Centers, which are centers where researchers can access Texas education and workforce data to inform policy and practice. 

Humphries received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Policy Studies from Rice University and a Master of Arts and PhD in Sociology from The University of Texas at Austin.

Brittni Hollis is the Assistant Director of Transfer Pathways at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. In this role, she supports statewide initiatives that strengthen transfer policy, transparency, and credit mobility across Texas institutions. Hollis collaborates across divisions to advance the implementation of the Texas Direct initiative and align agency efforts with current legislation to inform decision-making and improve outcomes for Texas students.

Prior to joining the Coordinating Board, Hollis spent more than a decade at Tarrant County College in Fort Worth, where she led districtwide initiatives in faculty and student affairs, academic policy compliance, and institutional operations in collaboration with senior leadership.

Hollis holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from The University of Texas at Austin and Master of Public Affairs degree from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Elizabeth Mayer is the Assistant Commissioner for Academic and Health Affairs (AHA) for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB). The AHA division provides leadership, guidance, expertise, and resources to improve the efficiency and quality of higher education in Texas, promotes the goals of the agency’s refreshed strategic plan, Building a Talent Strong Texas, and facilitates collaborative solutions with Texas higher education institutions. Under Mayer's leadership, the division develops new degree and certificate programs that are responsive to workforce needs, encourages quality across the higher education landscape, and drives student completion. AHA is also responsible for the administration and management of more than $700 million in grant funding to support the Texas health-care workforce pipeline.

Mayer began her career in higher education at the THECB in 2008 as a Program Director. In 2013, she joined the staff at The University of Texas System, where she served as a Senior Research and Policy Analyst, focusing on issues of affordability, dual credit, transfer, and educator preparation. She returned to the THECB in 2020 as its Director of Policy.

Mayer has a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from Seton Hall University and a Master of Public Affairs from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Ben Stafford, DrPH, is the Vice President of Workforce Development and Continuing Education at Lamar State College Port Arthur. He has been with Lamar State College Port Arthur since 2010. For the last 10 years he has focused his efforts on workforce development with a special focus on the needs of rural East Texas. His current efforts involve creating rural training in line with the demand jobs list, actively matching rural graduates with rural jobs to stabilize rural small business, and utilizing graduates to create the next generation of rural small business owners by introducing all rural students to the concept of business ownership and by matching aspiring students with a small business lending partner.

Stafford comes from an American Indian family, with parents who emphasized both the importance of education and of working for what you want to achieve. Because of this, Stafford's education and work background is long and varied. He holds an Associate of Science in Industrial Technology and worked at the Texaco refinery for several years. Following a layoff, he returned to college for a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in social work and worked for some years as a counselor. Seeking to make an impact on the larger scale, he returned to college for master and doctoral degrees in public health.  While working as a hospital administrator, he was in a motorcycle accident and endured more than a year of recovery, finishing his dissertation from a hospital bed in his home.

Dr. David Troutman, PhD, serves as Deputy Commissioner for Academic and Workforce Initiatives at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), where he provides leadership and strategic direction in the following divisions: Academic and Health Affairs, College and Career Advising, Student Success, Digital Learning, and Data Management and Research. One of his key responsibilities is advancing the goals of the state's strategic plan for higher education, Building a Talent Strong Texas, and the Governor's Tri-Agency Workforce Initiative. These initiatives aim to enhance the talent pipeline in Texas by aligning higher education programs with workforce needs and fostering economic growth through education.

Before his current role at THECB, Troutman was Chief Data Officer and Associate Vice Chancellor for Institutional Research and Analysis at The University of Texas System, where he led a team of research and policy analysts to transform data into actionable information, which supported the system's initiatives and policy decisions across its 13 institutions. He has also collaborated with other state systems and with federal and national organizations, such as the City University of New York System, the U.S. Census Bureau, and the Institute for Higher Education Policy. His involvement in advisory boards for organizations like the National Student Clearinghouse Research Board and the American Council on Education's Carnegie Classification Technical Review Panel further showcases his national presence in higher education.

Additionally, Troutman has worked on several projects with nonprofit foundations, including the Gates Foundation, Lumina Foundation, Strada Education Foundation, and Lopez Foundation.

Dr. Lori Rice-Spearman, PhD, became the ninth President of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) in June 2020, making her the first female president in the Texas Tech University System. She joined TTUHSC in 1987 and has held various leadership positions with the university, including Provost, Chief Academic Officer, and School of Health Professions Dean.

Rice-Spearman is a nationally recognized innovator in health professions education and has numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals. She also has served as an accreditation reviewer and site visitor for the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences and the Commission on Accreditation for Physical Therapy Education. She remains deeply connected to her West Texas roots and is committed to expanding access to health care for those in the region and across the state.

Rice-Spearman earned her master’s and PhD from Texas Tech University and is an alumna of the School of Health Professions’ inaugural class in the Clinical Laboratory Sciences program.

Dr. Peter Bahr, PhD, is the Vice President and Managing Research Director of the Institute for the Future of Work at Strada Education Foundation. Prior to joining Strada, he served as a tenured professor in the University of Michigan’s Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education, where he built a multimillion dollar research program focused on education and workforce outcomes.

A nationally recognized scholar and expert on postsecondary education and economic mobility, Bahr's research focuses on the role of public colleges and universities—especially community and technical colleges—in creating and advancing educational and economic opportunities for socioeconomically disadvantaged students, adult-age students beginning in or returning to college, individuals returning to the community after incarceration, and other disadvantaged groups. Working closely with policymakers and institutional leaders, his research directly informs policy and practice aimed at improving education and workforce outcomes, reducing inequality, achieving educational attainment goals, and strengthening state economic vitality and growth.

Dr. Garrett Groves, PhD, is Vice Chancellor of Strategic Initiatives for Austin Community College District (ACC). He joined the college in 2018 and leads the institution’s efforts to build strategic partnerships benefiting the region and ACC students. A particular emphasis is healthcare programs, where ACC is working with the Central Texas Healthcare Partnership to create a dynamic K-12 and industry partnership that will serve as a national model of career pathway building for high school students.

Groves is also an inaugural member of the workforce advisory board for the National Semiconductor Technology Center at the US Department of Commerce and serves as the workforce subcommittee chair for the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium advisory panel to the governor and Texas Legislature.

Before joining ACC, Groves directed the Economic Opportunity Program at the Center for Public Policy Priorities. He also served as a scholar in residence at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and as a Senior Policy Analyst at the National Governors Association in Washington D.C.
 
Groves has a bachelor's degree from the University of Denver, a master's degree from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin, and a PhD in Higher Education Leadership from The University of Texas at Austin.

Mark Derderian is the Director of Talent Development and Training at Applied Materials. In this role, he leads the Global Manufacturing Training Institute. He began his career at Applied Materials in 1999 as an engineering technician and later transitioned to Operations Management. He then joined Applied Global University as a trainer, quickly advancing to management, and he now oversees a global team. He also supports Manufacturing Strategic Programs. Derderian holds an MBA from St. Edward’s University as well as a BS in Business Management and an AAS in Electronics.

Dr. Alyssa Reinhart, PhD, is the Director of Workforce Development for the Texas Institute for Electronics (TIE) at The University of Texas at Austin (UT-Austin). TIE is a $1.45+ billion national semiconductor innovation and manufacturing initiative—a “startup within UT”—building the facilities, technology platforms, and talent pipelines needed to keep the nation competitive in advanced electronics. She leads TIE’s $40+ million workforce portfolio, including the workforce strategy for DARPA’s Next Generation Microelectronics Manufacturing program, and partners across Texas to develop new degree, certificate, and training pathways aligned with emerging industry needs.

Reinhart's career spans more than 15 years across the education sector in the U.S. and abroad. She has worked at every level—from classrooms and school districts to national research centers and statewide agencies—and brings deep expertise in policy design, program evaluation, and data-driven improvement. Her analytics work with the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard focused on improving education-to-workforce transitions and has informed large-scale efforts to align postsecondary pathways and labor market systems. Before joining TIE, she also served in leadership roles at both the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas Education Agency, contributing to initiatives on college and career pathways, longitudinal data systems, and strategic planning. She continues to strengthen Texas’s talent pipeline through partnerships with Austin Community College and service on the Workforce Subcommittee of the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium, advising state leaders on strategies to meet growing workforce demand.

Reinhart holds BS, M., and PhD degrees from UT Austin.

Dr. Wynn Rosser, PhD, is the Commissioner of Higher Education and CEO of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), where he provides statewide leadership and oversees higher education budget and policy for the world’s eighth-largest economy.

With a background in cultivating cross-sector collaboration, Rosser has extensive experience partnering with others to advance shared goals for education across Texas. Through these experiences, he brings deep knowledge and commitment to advancing Texas higher education and the goals of the state's strategic plan for higher education, Building a Talent Strong Texas.

Before joining THECB, Rosser spent almost two decades in philanthropic leadership, serving as President and CEO of the T.L.L. Temple Foundation, a family foundation focused on issues facing rural East Texas, and as Chief Executive of the Greater Texas Foundation, a foundation that focuses on improving postsecondary access and success. Prior to that, he worked for 14 years at Texas A&M University in faculty, staff, and senior administrative roles, including as a lecturer at the Bush School of Government and Public Service.

Rosser holds an associate degree from Kilgore College and bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral degrees from Texas A&M University. Additionally, he completed emergency medical technician (EMT) training through the School of EMS and is a nationally registered and Texas state-licensed EMT.

Dr. Julie Philley, MD, is the sixth president of The University of Texas at Tyler (UT-Tyler). She also serves as board chair of UT Health East Texas.

 

A professor of medicine and board certified in internal, pulmonary, and critical care medicine, Philley served as UT-Tyler’s Executive Vice President for Health Affairs following the 2021 merger of UT-Tyler and the UT Health Science Center at Tyler, which created a single, integrated university. Growing up in Overton with a population of 2,000, she is passionate about meeting the workforce challenges in rural Texas.

Philley earned a bachelor’s degree from Texas Woman’s University and her MD at UTHealth Houston’s McGovern Medical School, completing an internal medicine residency program at Johns Hopkins University/Sinai Hospital and a fellowship at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

Dr. William Serrata, PhD, has served as President of the El Paso County Community College District (EPCC) since 2012, leading the institution to record growth in dual credit and early college high school enrollment, as well as significant gains in student retention and graduation, particularly among first-generation and Hispanic students.

Under his leadership, EPCC was named one of 10 national finalists for the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence in 2015 and received both the AACC Student Success Award and the ACCT Western Regional Equity Award in 2016. In 2023, EPCC celebrated its 100,000th degree or certificate awarded, with over half earned since 2012.

Active locally, Serrata serves as board chair of the El Paso Collaborative for Academic Excellence and holds board roles with the Region 19 Advisory Committee, Community en Acción, and Medical Centers of America. Statewide, he is past chair of the Texas Association of Community Colleges, serving on its Executive Committee and Business Advisory Council, and he sits on the Humanities Texas Board of Directors.

Nationally, he serves on the boards of the American Council on Education, Lumina Foundation, National Student Clearinghouse, Ferris State University, and the Global Community College Leadership Network. He is also a former chair of both the American Association of Community Colleges and Excelencia in Education.

Serrata earned degrees from Texas A&M University and The University of Texas at Brownsville.

Rep. Terry Wilson is the state representative for House District 20. In this role, he is honored to serve as chair of the House Committee on Higher Education. He is committed to expanding vocational education opportunities for all students so they can graduate with a degree and be college and job ready with a certificate in hand. He also serves on the House Committees on Elections and Redistricting and is the chair of the Select Committee on Civil Discourse and Freedom of Speech in Higher Education.

Wilson retired as a colonel from the US Army after serving over 30 years, where he was a highly regarded senior leader. As a Department of Defense Acquisition Executive, he managed research and development programs with multi-billion-dollar budgets and partnered in systems development with major corporations and universities. He gained a reputation for exceeding performance expectations while delivering needed capability that was ahead of schedule and under budget. He has extensive experience in providing leadership, balancing budgets, and working with Congress, Homeland Defense, the State Department, and foreign governments.

Wilson is also an assistant scoutmaster and supports local education by speaking to students in schools and serving on special projects.

Wilson holds a BS in Business Administration from Texas A&M University and an MS in Strategic Logistics Plans and Management from the Air War University.