Class Notes

Shannon (Carrico) Schwartz, ’16, of San Angelo, has been hired as executive director of communications for San Angelo Independent School District. Schwartz previously held positions as the digital media coordinator for Lubbock ISD and assistant director for athletic communications at Texas Tech.

Desiree (Mitchell) Sers, ’03, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, has been awarded a Golden Apple Award for her teaching excellence. Sers is a science teacher at Volcano Vista High School and founded the school’s forensics program.

Jennifer (Noviello) Wasserman, ’06, of North Richland Hills, was honored by Birdville Independent School District as elementary teacher of the year for 2024–25. She teaches fourth grade at Green Valley Elementary and credits the TXST College of Education “for laying the foundation that shaped her into the educator she is today.” 

Alexis Andaverde, ’21, of McAllen, has joined the U.S. Energy Department’s Savannah River National Laboratory as a graduate fellow in the Advanced Modeling and Simulation group. His work consists of modeling and simulation of nuclear waste deposits.

Walter Arimokwu, ’22, of Houston, has joined DWG CPA PLLC as a staff accountant. Arimokwu previously worked as a financial analyst at Empire Communities.

Amy Atkins, ’96 and ’09 (M.S.), of Georgetown, has been named director of Parks and Recreation for Harker Heights. Atkins has worked in parks administration for more than 20 years, including in Pflugerville and College Station.

Regina Birchum, ’97, of Edmond, Oklahoma, has been appointed executive director of the Oklahoma Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency. Birchum has been with the office since its creation in 2020 and previously served as interim director and deputy director. She has more than 15 years’ experience working in Oklahoma state government. 

Dr. Richard Black, ’00 (M.A.), of Maryville, Missouri, presented his paper—“‘St. Peter got your name in the book’: August Wilson’s ‘Fences’ and Turkin and Thompson’s ‘The Official Encyclopedia of Baseball’”—this summer at the 35th Cooperstown Symposium on Baseball and American Culture at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. Black is an English professor at Northwest Missouri State University.

Ross Black, ’07, and his wife, Cheryl Black, ’23 (M.B.A.), of Round Rock, have launched First Responding Home Inspections, offering comprehensive home inspections. Ross previously served with the Georgetown Fire Department for 12 years, and Cheryl has a career in marketing. Published February 2026.

Timothy Booker, ’85, of Gary, Indiana, has retired from a 24-year career in the glass container production industry, most recently with Ardagh Group. Booker is also a veteran of the U.S. Army. He plans to spend his retirement studying the history of the Vietnam War. Published February 2026.

Robert Cavazos, ’17 (M.B.A.), of Austin, has joined Amazon as a technology vendor program manager, supporting Whole Foods and other business units. He previously worked for AT&T for 15 years with positions in client service management. Published February 2026. 

Quincy (Charleston) Atwood, ’17, of Carthage, Missouri, has been inducted into the Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College Athletics Hall of Fame. Atwood was a NJCAA All-American before joining the Bobcat softball team as a pitcher. She now works for the Specialty Risk Insurance Agency in Carthage.

Timia Cobb, ’22, of Dallas, has joined The Dallas Morning News as a breaking news reporter. Cobb previously held a reporting position at Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard in Syracuse, New York, and worked as a fellow with The Texas Tribune. At TXST, she was a journalism major and served as news editor of The University Star. 

Will Conley, ’01, of Wimberley, Texas, has been named to the Austin Business Journal’s 2023 Power Players list. Conley is a principal at civil engineering firm American Structurepoint and serves on the board of the Wimberley Independent School District. He previously served as Hays County Commissioner and on the Capitol Area Regional Transportation Planning Organization. 

Teri Daley, ’88, of Sammamish, Washington, has been named vice president of corporate communications for H&R Block, a publicly traded tax preparation firm. Dailey previously held positions at global PR agencies and tech companies, including Microsoft and Samsung.

Keny Daniele, ’12, of Houston, was recently featured on the cover of Recycling Today, a trade publication that serves the recycled materials industry. His company, Prestige Auto and Metal Recycling, was recognized for its new automobile shredder and expansion of a pick-a-part yard.

Brady Dubois, ’95, of Columbia, Missouri, is entering his second year as president and chief executive officer of Boone Health, a comprehensive health system. Dubois has over 17 years of executive experience in healthcare leadership, including CEO positions in Louisiana, Michigan, and Indiana, along with service as a Medical Service Corps Officer with the U.S. Navy.

Angela Elizondo Baxter, Ed.D., ’97 (M.Ed.), of Altadena, California, was named superintendent of South Pasadena Unified School District, starting with the 2025–26 school year. She was previously the assistant superintendent of educational services at Culver City Unified School District. Published February 2026.

Geoff Ellis, ’15, of Austin, is the owner and chef at Mum Foods Smokehouse & Delicatessen in Austin. The restaurant—which opened in 2022 and is known for its smoked pastrami, brisket, sausage, and matso ball soup—made USA Today’s 2024 “Restaurants of the Year” list.

Carter English, ’16, of San Antonio, was promoted to Chief Business Officer of Employee Benefits for Higginbotham, an insurance, financial, and HR/employee benefits services company based in Fort Worth. Carter has been with Higginbotham for eight years, previously in the role of managing partner.

Brett Finley, ’11 and ’13 (M.A.), of New Braunfels, has been named president and CEO of the North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. Finley previously served as government affairs director at the San Antonio Board of Realtors.

Chris Formeller, ’00, of Berthoud, Colorado, has been named vice president of product management for Epoch Solutions Group, consultants in workforce management and data migration geospatial solutions. Formeller has 24 years of experience in the tech industry.

Lisa Fullerton, ’83, of Boerne, has been reappointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to the state’s Small Business Assistance Advisory Task Force. Fullerton has owned and operated multiple Auntie Anne’s and Cinnabon franchises in San Antonio since 2000.
 

Jennifer Garcia-Edwardsen, ’07 (M.Ed.) and ’14 (Ph.D.), of Austin, has been named superintendent of Taylor Independent School District. She has a doctorate in school improvement from TXST and has held positions in the New Braunfels and Hays school districts.

Jordan Gass-Pooré, ’15, of New York City, won a Bronze Award in the 2025 Barlett and Steele Awards for Investigative Business Journalism for Fumed, a podcast about the petrochemical industry that she co-created and executive-produced with Texas Public Radio and Public Health Watch. Gass-Pooré is also the creator of the Hazard series of podcasts, which examine pollution issues. Published February 2026.

Sharon Gilman, ’02 (M.P.A.), of Sierra Vista, Arizona, has been named county administrator for Cochise County, Arizona. She previously served as deputy county administrator for six years. Published February 2026.  

Larry Gonzales, ’14 (MPA), of Round Rock, Texas, has joined the board of directors of The TSTC Foundation, the support arm of Texas State Technical College. Gonzales owns Desk 138, LLC, a public affairs and business consulting firm. He’s a former member of the Texas House of Representatives and a Distinguished Alumnus of the TXST master of public administration program.

Vanessa Gonzalez, ’09, of Austin, was featured for her standup comedy in the recent Netflix series “Verified Stand-Up.” A theatre major at TXST, Gonzalez headlined five nights at Austin’s Cap City Comedy Club in February and will tour nationally in 2024.

Jacqui Gore, ’95, of Odessa, Texas, has been appointed University of Texas Permian Basin’s vice president of Community Engagement and Partnerships. She joined UTPB after serving at Odessa College as vice president of Advancement, Business & Governmental Relations for the last five years. 

Dr. Abel Guevara III, ’19, of Austin, has been elected vice chairman of the Board of Directors for the Board of Certification/Accreditation, a healthcare credentialing and accreditation organization. He is the vice president of durable medical equipment and pharmacy for MedicusRx, an insurance claims management company.

Katie Harvey, ’91, of San Antonio, Texas, has been named the board chair for the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. Harvey is the founder and CEO of San Antonio-based marketing firm KGBTexas Communications. 

Helen Hays, ’16 (M.S.), of Bulverde, was elected mayor of the City of Bulverde in May 2025. Hays, who majored in Dementia and Aging Studies and is certified in long-term care administration, previously worked as a nursing facility administrator and is now the owner of a construction and remodeling company. Published February 2026.

Corina Heizer, ’97, of Lewisville, has been appointed vice president of procurement for Premier, a hospitality and multi-family residential design firm. Heizer has more than 25 years of experience in the design and construction industries, including in procurement, project management, and operations.

Dr. Saul Hinojosa, ’92, of Helotes, has been appointed superintendent of South San Antonio Independent School District. Hinojosa previously spent 15 years as superintendent at Somerset ISD. The Texas Association of School Boards named him Region 20 Superintendent of the Year in 2022. 

Reba Hollingsworth, ’92, of Richmond, Virginia, is celebrating 20 years with WTVR-TV in Richmond. The winner of four Emmy Awards, Hollingsworth also contributed to the new book Lipstick and Legacies about women entrepreneurs.

Donna Jackson Stephans, ’05 (M.S.), of Philadelphia, has been appointed vice president of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Workforce Development for the Philadelphia Department of Aviation. Stephans previously worked for the City of Austin for 23 years.

Jack C. Johnson, ’89, of Franklin, Tennessee, won reelection for his fifth term in the Tennessee State Senate in 2022 and has been appointed to the committees of Commerce and Labor; Calendar; and Finance, Ways, and Means for 2023-24. In addition, he was elected to his third term as the Senate Republican Majority Leader.

Jim Johnson, ’06, of Pearland, was elected to the Pearland Independent School District Board of Trustees. The district has more than 20,000 students. Johnson is also president and CEO of the Pearland Chamber of Commerce. 

Kyra Belle Johnson, ’21, of New York, is playing the role of Belle in the North American tour of Beauty and the Beast. The show opened in Chicago in July, toured through Texas cities from November to January, and will remain on the road through the summer. Johnson’s résumé also includes playing Sophie in the 2015 national tour of Mamma Mia! and the role of Annabelle Collier in FBI on CBS. Published February 2026.  

Matthew Johnson, ’23, San Antonio, has enrolled in the Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering program at University of Texas at San Antonio. During his time at TXST, Johnson helped start the TXST Space Lab and participated in the L’SPACE workforce development program at NASA.

Victoria Johnson, ’07, a member of the Burleson City Council, was elected president of the executive board of the North Central Texas Council of Governments. As president, she leads the association of DFW-area local governments in its work to support collaboration on infrastructure, transportation, emergency preparedness, and workforce development. Published February 2026.

Rod Keller, ’81, of Austin, has been appointed CEO of Lynx Motors, an Austin-based company that focuses on the electrification of classic vehicles. Keller’s previous experience includes roles as CEO at AYRO Inc., a light-duty electric vehicle company, and as president of Segway Inc. He is a TXST Distinguished Alumnus and a trustee for the TXST Development Foundation.

Floyd Kessler, ’05, of Boerne, has been named executive vice president, chief business risk and controls officer, for Dallas-based Comerica Bank. Kessler has 18 years of risk management experience in the financial services industry, including 16 years with USAA. He served in the U.S. Navy as an Aerographers Mate 3rd Class Petty Officer.

Doug Killian, ’91, of Cypress, has been named superintendent of the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District. Killian has nearly 20 years of superintendent experience, including positions at Pflugerville ISD and Hutto ISD.

Kris Kimura, ’12,  of Austin, has opened Nica on 4th, a new jazz bar in Austin. Kimura, a singer and woodwind player, is also the owner of Parker Jazz Club, part owner of the Elephant Room jazz club, and president of the nonprofit Texas Jazz Society. Published February 2026.   

Brian Knetl, ’95 (M.A.), of Batavia, Illinois, has been named president of Waubonsee Community College, a college with four campuses and online offerings. Knetl has worked in higher education for 25 years as a faculty member and administrator.

Charles Koenig, Ph.D., ’12, of Alpine, Texas, joined the faculty of Sul Ross State University as an assistant professor of anthropology after completing his doctorate at the University of Wyoming. His research focuses on Indigenous earth oven technology, experimental archaeology, rock art, and rock shelter sites in the Big Bend and Lower Pecos regions of Texas. 

Kelly Lane, ’06, of San Antonio, Texas, an illustrator and third grade teacher, illustrated a new children’s book, A Duck in a Tree, about a mallard duck that learns about her own special skills. Written by Stacy Vaught, the book is aimed at children ages 4 to 8 who are discovering their confidence and what makes them special. 

James Larremore III, ’06, of Salado, Texas, has been named principal at South Belton Middle School. He served previously as principal, assistant principal, associate principal, and teacher across the school districts of Jarrell, Leander, and Wimberly. 

Kayln Ledford Vaughn, ’13, of Leander, was recognized for her contributions to her industry with a Delta Zeta Sorority “35 Under 35” award. A former Texas State Strutter, she heads the Cedar Park Middle School Fine Arts Department and the Cadets Drill Team.

Tiburcio Lince, ’15 (M.A), of Highland Heights, Kentucky, is entering his third year as director of Latino Student Initiative at Northern Kentucky University. Before joining NKU in June 2022, Lince was the director of the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and International Programs at Tarleton State University.

Jose Loera, ’22, of San Antonio, is working as an information security analyst for H-E-B after working part-time as an H-E-B cashier while in college. A Computer Information Systems major, Loera was previously an information security analyst at Dun & Bradstreet. 

Alyshia Lord, ’12, of San Diego, California, has joined the San Diego office of Gomez Trial Attorneys. Lord is a plaintiff’s attorney specializing in personal injury and premises liability litigation. She previously worked for a law firm representing victims of sexual abuse at a children’s residential center. 

Dr. Shannon Luis, ’18 (Ph.D.), of Valley View, has been named superintendent of Brock Independent School District. Luis has more than two decades of experience in education, including positions as a teacher, school principal, district administrator, and most recently as superintendent of Era ISD.

Blake Lyons, ’01, of San Antonio, has been named senior vice President of marketing and business development at Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union. Lyons started at RBFCU 17 years ago. During his leadership, awards for RBFCU campaigns have included “Best of Class” from the Credit Union National Association, and membership has grown from 375,000 to more than 1 million.

Alexus (Hirsh) Mamood, ’12,  of Gilbert, Arizona, has launched M&M Law Group, PLLC, with her husband, Alan Mamood. The family law firm serves clients throughout Phoenix and Arizona in legal matters involving divorce, child custody and support, domestic violence, premarital agreements, and mediation. Published February 2026. 

Angelica Raquel Martinez, ’16, of San Antonio, Texas, was featured this summer in a solo immersive borderland folklore art exhibit, “Con Todo Mi Alma,” at the Museum of the Southwest in Midland. Born and raised in Laredo, Raquel’s artwork channels familial traditions of storytelling using needle felting, tufting, and painting.

Adam Mathews, ’14 (Ph.D.), of Binghamton, New York, has joined Binghamton University, State University of New York, as an associate professor of geography. He has also published a children’s book called ABC’s of Geography.

Dannie McCallum, ’16, of Los Angeles, California, is featured in Marvel’s five-part show “Echo,” which premiered recently on Disney+. McCallum, who’s originally from the Rio Grande Valley, plays the role of Tuklo, a Choctaw tribal member of the early 19th century who joins the tribal police force to take down criminals in Oklahoma.

Debbie McCormick Gillespie, ’91, of Frisco, has assumed the immediate past president position on the Texas Association of School Boards’ (TASB) Board of Officers. Gillespie, who served 12 years on the Frisco ISD School Board, was first elected to the TASB board in 2014. She has also been appointed to the Region 10 Education Service Center Board.

Marise McDermott, ’96, of San Antonio, has stepped down as president and CEO of the Witte Museum in San Antonio after 20 years. Now president emeritus, McDermott was recently appointed to the American Alliance of Museum’s Excellence in DEAI Steering Committee.

Michael McFalls, ’82 and ’83 (M.S.), of Moab, Utah, has been appointed superintendent of the Grand County School District in Moab. With 35 years of experience in education, McFalls was previously the superintendent for the Custer County School District in Colorado and a principal in the Judson Independent School District in Texas.

Richard McHale, ’90 and ’96 (M.A.Geo.), of Austin, has been named the director of Austin Resource Recovery, the city’s waste disposal department. McHale has more than 30 years of experience with ARR and most recently served as deputy director. 

Dr. Laura McReavy Hearnsberger, ’99, of New Braunfels, has been hired as the data analyst for The Texas Tribune, leading the news organization’s data and analytics strategy. She has experience in data analysis and education, and is the founder of Reflect Plan Do, a consulting firm.

Monica Medina, ’03, of Cedar Park, Texas, has been named president of Affordable Central Texas, the nonprofit investment manager of the Austin Housing Conservancy Fund. The fund is dedicated to preserving multifamily properties for long-term affordability. Medina previously led the commercial banking team at Broadway Bank.

Daniel Z. Miller, ’19, of New York, made his Broadway debut in November in the musical Harmony, a show featuring music written by Barry Manilow. Miller is part of the ensemble cast and an understudy for three roles. 

Tricia Mirabelle, ’02, of Cedar Park, has been appointed to the Texas Municipal Retirement System Board of Trustees, which oversees a retirement plan for municipal employees. Mirabelle is a commander with the Pflugerville Police Department, and president and board member of Blue Guardian of Pflugerville, a mentorship program for at-risk youth.

Mac Morse, ’15, of Dallas, Texas, has been promoted to Market Principal at Citadel Partners, a Dallas-based real estate advisory group. Morse, a Bobcat football alum, advises clients in aligning their real estate strategies and their business goals with an emphasis on profitability and flexibility.

Travis Motal, ’02, of Round Rock, Texas, has been promoted to chief of schools for the Liberty Hill Independent School District. Motal previously served as principal of Liberty Hill Junior High School and as the district’s director of secondary education. 

Cheryl Northcott, ’89, of Charlotte, Texas, was recently honored as staff member of the month by the Charlotte Independent School District. Northcott’s teaching career spans 33 years, including the last 26 years as a first grade teacher, and she was named the Zanderson Masonic Lodge Teacher of the Year in May. 

Blaine Ochoa, ’15, of Houston, recently released “July,” her debut single as a singer-songwriter, and is preparing to release her debut album and to go on tour. Ochoa, who was named Miss Houston USA in 2019, is also the founder and owner of Blaine Beauty. Published February 2026. 

Melanie Owens Johnson, ’93, of Somerville, Texas, has joined the Blinn College Foundation as associate director. The foundation provides funding for college programs and oversees more than 300 endowed scholarships. Johnson previously served as foundation coordinator at Oregon Health and Science University’s Hillsboro Medical Center.

David Pearson, ’93 and ’02 (M.P.A), of Cedar Park, has been named chief executive officer of the Washington Association for Community Health, a trade group for health centers in Washington state. Pearson previously was a regional executive for the American Hospital Association and led the Texas Organization of Rural and Community Hospitals. 

Crystal Perkins, ’08, of Austin, Texas, has been named senior regional advisor in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs. Her previous positions have included DOE Regional Intergovernmental and External Affairs Specialist for the South and director of the Texas Democratic Party. 

Evan Pickett, ’24, of San Marcos, has published his debut book, Beyond Ordinary: Six Pillars to a Fulfilled Life. A veteran of the US Army, Pickett wrote the book as a guide to personal growth including actionable steps to improve health, relationships, career, and finances.

Juana Plata, ’23 (M.B.A.), of Monterrey, Mexico, has joined C.F. Monterrey Femenil (Las Rayadas) in Liga MX Femenil, the top tier of professional women’s soccer in Mexico. A defender, Plata is also a member of the El Salvador Women’s National Soccer Team. 

Chase Quarterman, ’17, of Clinton, Mississippi, has joined Mississippi College faculty as an assistant art professor. A graphic design specialist, Quarterman worked previously as a lecturer in the School of Journalism at the University of Texas at Austin.

Nicole Richardson, ’04, of Austin, has been appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists. Richardson is a marriage and family therapist supervisor and a licensed professional counselor supervisor in private practice.
 

Jason Rodriguez, ’16, of San Antonio, Texas, has been named head coach of Men's Wrestling at Schreiner University. Rodriguez coached the previous eight years for the club team at Texas State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science.

Brittany Rogers, ’17, of College Station, has published “Cooking Adventures for Little Foodies,” a cookbook for children who are picky eaters or have sensory-related food issues. An athletic training major at TXST, Rogers recently completed her master’s degree in public health at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and got a job as an athletic trainer/medical assistant at Central Texas Sports Medicine in Bryan. 

Haley Rohde, ’18, of Los Angeles, California, was named manager of the year at The Shay, a boutique Hyatt hotel in Culver City. An employee of Hyatt since 2019, Rohde was also named a 2023 World of Hyatt Specialist, an award that recognizes employees’ commitment to training, new member enrollments, member satisfaction, and business success.

Charles Sallee, ’00, of Santa Fe, New Mexico, has been appointed director of the Legislative Finance Committee for the New Mexico Legislature. The committee helps develop the state’s annual budget. Sallee was elevated to the post after serving as deputy director for nearly 14 years. 

John Schawe, ’98, of San Marcos, Texas, has been named a board director for the CHRISTUS Santa Rosa San Marcos Foundation, a nonprofit that supports Santa Rosa Hospital. Schawe, a native of San Marcos, is the market president for Frost Bank in San Marcos. 

Meredith Schramm, ’20 (M.Ed.), of McKinney, has been named program project coordinator for the University of North Texas College of Education’s Head Start to Healthy Lifestyles Project. Schramm was previously an elementary school teacher at Founders Classical Academies. 

Phillip Scott Mandel, ’17 (M.F.A.), of Austin, has published a new book, An MFA for your MBA, which provides guidance for improved writing by combining the creativity of fine arts with the strategic thinking of business. Mandel is the co-founder of Mandel Marketing and the managing editor of Abandon Journal, a literary magazine.

Mark Sekula, ’87, of the San Antonio area, has been named the president and CEO at Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit Union. He previously served as executive vice president and CFO since January 2019 and has worked for the credit union for 23 years.

Andrea Shurley, ’96 (M.A.), of Dallas, has been appointed president of Ursuline Academy of Dallas, a Catholic college preparatory school for young women. Shurley joined Ursuline Academy as principal in 2014 and previously worked in the technology sector.

Jillian Slaughter, ’22, of Dallas, has been hired as the Social Media and Creative Manager for the Dallas Jackals, a professional rugby team. Slaughter, who played volleyball at TXST, was previously a marketing intern at Rodeo Austin.

Dr. Melanie Stine, ’13 (Ph.D.) of Amherst, Virginia, has joined the faculty of Sweet Briar College as an assistant professor of natural science. Stine, who earned an undergraduate degree from Sweet Briar, previously taught science and math at the middle school level, and she was an assistant professor teaching environmental geography at the University of Texas at San Antonio. 

Khameyah Taylor, ’22, of San Marcos, has joined the City of San Marcos as its first public safety communications specialist. Taylor, who majored in advertising, provides the community with information related to the San Marcos Police, Fire, Emergency Management, and City Marshal departments.

Savannah Tedder, ’23, of San Antonio, Texas, a seaman with Division 189 of the U.S. Navy, graduated as the top sailor from Recruit Training Command, earning the Military Excellence Award. Tedder, a San Marcos native, is training for the Naval Nuclear Power Field.

Joshua Thomas, ’21, of Bastrop, is the new director of operations for Bastrop ISD. In the role, he oversees district facilities and manages outside vendors. Thomas is a Bastrop High School graduate, veteran of the U.S. Marines, and former employee of the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment. Published February 2026.

Lisa Thompson, ’96, of Allen, has been named senior vice president of operations for the Florida, Virginia, and Midwest markets for Experience Senior Living, a company that develops, owns, and operates senior living communities.

Stephanie Tilley, ’17 (M.Ed.), of Prairie View, has become the first Fulbright Scholar at Prairie View A&M University, where she is pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership. Her Fulbright research focuses on Ubuntu, an Indigenous knowledge system, and how it is practiced in South African higher education. 

Benjamin Tobin, ’13 (Ph.D.), of Carlsbad, New Mexico, has been named director of the National Cave and Karst Research Institute at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. Tobin previously worked for the National Park Service as a resource specialist and most recently was a research geologist at the University of Kentucky. His current research focuses on mitigating human impacts on delicate cave and karst systems.

Lizzy Tucker, ’24, of New York City, has been cast in her first Broadway show, Boop! The Musical. Tucker, who studied musical theatre at TXST, is an ensemble member and an understudy for the roles of Betty and Trisha.  

Shawn Turner, ’01, of East Lansing, Michigan, was elected to the NPR Board of Directors. A retired Marine Corps officer, Turner is the general manager of WKAR Public Media in East Lansing and a professor of strategic communication at Michigan State University.

Javier Villalobos, ’89, of McAllen, has been awarded the Courage to Lead Award by the nonprofit National Immigration Forum. Villalobos, an attorney, was elected mayor of McAllen in 2021 after serving four years on the McAllen City Commission.
 

Bill Voigtman, ’98, of Silsbee, has been reappointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to the Lower Neches Valley Authority Board of Directors. He is the general manager of Republic Services’ Golden Triangle Landfill and Hardin County Landfill.

Ray Westbrook, ’73, of Dallas, has retired from a 50-year career in secondary education and publishing. For the last 23 years, he worked at St. Mark’s School of Texas, where he taught journalism, advised student publications, and served as director of communications. In 2021, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association named Westbook the National Journalism Teacher of the Year.  

Pamela Wills-Ward, ’87, of Dallas, Texas, was a distinguished speaker at this September’s FreightFest, a nationwide gathering of trucking, transportation, and logistics providers. Wills-Ward serves as Chief People & Strategy Officer for Dallas-based MW Logistics. Redefining the Road, the magazine of the Women in Trucking Association, named her to its “2023 Top Women to Watch” list. 

Will Wright, ’22 (M.F.A.), of Galveston, has been awarded the British Empire Medal by the United Kingdom for his work to produce Dickens on The Strand, an annual holiday festival celebrating Charles Dickens. Wright is the chief creative officer for the Galveston Historical Foundation, which has put on the event each December for the past 52 years. Published February 2026. 

Cynthia Yanez, ’19, of Dallas, has opened La Unión Café, an El Salvadoran-inspired food truck, with her sister, Jessica. The sisters learned how to cook from their mother, an immigrant from El Salvador. The coffee beans are sourced from El Salvador and the menu contains Salvadoran foods including pupusas, pan de quesadilla, and pan de azucar. Cynthia, a marketing major, also works in tech sales for IBM. 

Ana Yi Puig, ’20, of Gainesville, Florida, stars in the new Disney+ Series “Goosebumps” as Isabella Chen-Lopez. Her previous television roles include HBO Max’s reboot of “Gossip Girl,” “Senior Year” on Netflix, and Disney’s 2022 Television Discovers Showcase.