About Us

Office of Philanthropy and Engagement

The Office of Philanthropy and Engagement at East Texas A&M University connects alumni, donors and friends to support the university's mission of transforming lives. The office leads fundraising efforts, donor stewardship, and alumni engagement to enhance student opportunities and campus initiatives. Through giving programs and community partnerships, the office helps expand opportunities and enrich the educational experience at East Texas A&M.

East Texas A&M By the numbers

#1
Fastest-Growing Public
University in Texas in Fall 2023

$14M
Awarded Annually
in Scholarships

89%
Alumni Working Full-
Time in Six Months

23%
Top 23% in the Nation for
Social Mobility

17:1
Student-to-Faculty
Ratio

41
States
Represented

59
Countries
Represented

Foundation Board

Jessica Yowell, Chief of Staff and Operations FP&A, Southwest Airlines, 2019
Doretha Allen, School Design Administrator, Garland ISD, 2019
Tatiana Chamorro-Rivers, Chief Marketing Officer, Shaken Beverage Company; Chief Marketing Officer and Co-Founding Partner, Toucan Cocktails, 2016
Scott Ward, CFO, Fix & Feed and Retail Trade
Margaret O'Connor, Owner and Law/Legal Services, The Law Office of Margaret Lovell O’Connor PLLC, 2006
Hillery Clark, Director of Operations, L3-Harris, 2002
Tiffany Miller, Attorney, Law/Legal Services, The Law Offices of David E Rohlf, 1998
Jandy Thompson, President and Real Estate, McLaren-Hill Commercial and Management of Companies & Enterprises, 1997
Jim Chester, Attorney/Business and Technology Lawyer, Klemchuk PLLC, 1994
Cathy Janke, Senior Vice President, Fifth Third Bank, 1993
Joseph Showell, Educational Services, Principal ad Education-Administration, Grand Prairie High School, 1992
Jay Champion, President and Chief Executive Officer, Workers Credit Union, 1990
Bruce Trego, Retired President, L3 Harris, 1990
Brian Weast, Realtor, Brian Weast Real Estate Group, 1989
Michael Smith, Public Administration, Lawyer-Litigation and Attorney, Siebman, Burg, Phillips & Smith, LLP, 1986
Scott Stahl, Retired Vice President, Northeast Texas Data Corp, 1984
Mary Hendrix, Retired Vice President, East Texas A&M University, 1981
Scott Wheeler, Retired EVP and CFO, Daseke, Inc., 1980
Debra Nelson, Retired Deputy Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction, Frisco ISD, 1978
Steve Ragland, Retired Vice President, Oncor, 1977
Nancy Craig, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Real Estate, Hunt Properties Incorporated, 1977
Mark Murray, Retired Southeastern Area Financial Manager, Boise Cascade Wood Products, 1977
Kathy Thrailkill, Team Leader, Prestonwood Pregnancy Center, 1977
Bradley Beers, Lawyer and Owner, Beers Law Firm, 1976
Zenetta Drew, Executive Director, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation, 1974
Preston McAfee, Retired President, Rogers O’Brien Construction Company, 1974
Will Cureton, Partner and Co-Founder, CLB Partners, Real Estate and Rental & Leasing, 1973
Janis Stroope, Retired Educator, Hunt County Head Start; Owner, Ralph Stroope Apiary, 1973
Earl Bourland, Farming and Owner, Mitchell & Bourland, Inc., 1973
Mary Spencer, Owner, The Spencer Co, 1972

Name	Class Year	Profession
Doretha Allen	2019	School Design Administrator for Garland ISD
Jessica Yowell	2019	Chief of Staff and Operations FP&A, Southwest Airlines
Tatiana Chamorro-Rivers	2016	Chief Marketing Officer, Shaken Beverage Company; Chief Marketing Officer and Co-Founding Partner, Toucan Cocktails
Scott Ward		CFO, Fix & Feed and Retail Trade
Margaret O'Connor	2006	Owner and Law/Legal Services, The Law Office of Margaret Lovell O’Connor PLLC
Hillery Clark	2002	Director of Operations, L3-Harris
Tiffany Miller	1998	Attorney, Law/Legal Services, The Law Offices of David E Rohlf

We are Here to Help!

Our professional staff oversee major giving, planned giving, annual giving, operations, alumni relations and engagement. They look forward to helping you find the best way to support the Lion family. Please reach out to us today!