Â鶹ÊÓƵ Office of Alumni Affairs announces 2024-2025 Alumni Advisory Board
The Â鶹ÊÓƵ Alumni Advisory Board has elected Emily (Everett) Allen ’98, ’04 of Sour Lake to serve as 2024-2025 president. Sharita Gardner ’12 of Beaumont will serve as past president and Christopher Graham ’90 of Kingwood will serve as president-elect. 
New members of the board are Johnny Alfred III ’05 of Sugar Land; Elise Becker ’05, ’12 of Bridge City; James Bienvenu ’11 of Beaumont; Jeffrey Darby ’88 of Nederland; Celena (Champagne) Green ’99 of Beaumont; Judy (Walker) Linsley ’67, ’77 of Beaumont; Matthew Minick ’11 of Kountze; Dennis Moncla ’89, ’94 of Beaumont, Tatiana Morales Owens ’93, ’07, ’14 of Port Arthur; and Travis Walker ’24 of Beaumont. Dr. Bert Ruiz, dean of the College of Education and Human Development, will serve as the 2024-2025 Dean’s Representative on the board.
Returning board members include Yolanda (Johnson) Avery ’86, ’91; Usha (Balaratnam) Beckman ’87; Sam Blanda ’08; Hetty (Green) Brown ’79; Meg (Baertl) Brown ’15; Thomas Davis ’15; Donta Miller ’18, ’21; John Rollins ’12; Danielle (Hudson) Sutton ’08; Caralee (McDonald) Thompson ’95; and Shawn Webb-Locke ’03, ’12 all of Beaumont.
Other returning board members include Gerard Celestine ’91, ’96 of Cheek; Jacob Wills ’22 of Houston; J.R. Richardson ’92 of Katy; Larry Acker ’10 of Marshall; Kennetha (Robinson) Alvarez ’09, ’12, Celine Do ’18, ’22, and Nathan Mistric ’13, ’21 of Nederland; Ryan Dollinger ’14 of Plano; Elohor (Okene) Jackson ’20, and Terry Savoy-Hadley ’95 of Port Arthur; and Darren Erwin ’21 of Silsbee.
Alumni Advisory Board members serve three-year terms and support Â鶹ÊÓƵ and the Office of Alumni Affairs by bringing their diverse professional expertise and passion for their alma mater as they serve as advisors, advocates, and ambassadors. They work to promote Â鶹ÊÓƵ pride in their communities, and to develop and strengthen the bonds among alumni, students, and the university community.
“I look forward to working with this group of enthusiastic and talented individuals as we focus on advancing the university, enhancing alumni experiences, honoring traditions, and strengthening alumni engagement with our student body,” Â鶹ÊÓƵ director of alumni affairs Shannon Figueroa said.
To learn more about the Office of Alumni Affairs, visit /advancement/alumni-affairs/index.html.