Office of Philanthropy and Engagement

Go Here, Give Here

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

East Texas A&M By the numbers

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

/

$12M
Awarded Annually
in Scholarships

/

89%
Alumni Working Full-
Time in Six Months

/

23%
Top 23% in the Nation for
Social Mobility

/

19:1
Student-to-Faculty
Ratio

/

41
States
Represented

/

59
Countries
Represented

Foundation Board

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

We are Here to Help!

The Philanthropy and Engagement Division at East Texas A&M is ready to help make your philanthropic dreams come true. 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!

Alum Amy Bassham Executive Assistant to the Vice President
Alum Brianna Butler Director of Philanthropy
Brenda Cowen Administrative Associate V
Devin Girod Vice President for Philanthropy and Engagement
Debbie Gonzalez Assistant Director of Restricted Funds
Kirstin Ivy Director of Philanthropy
Kim Jefferies Coordinator of Gift Processing
Tre Johnson Assistant Athletic Director for Development
Laura Kramer-Lucas Senior Director of Annual Giving and Special Programs
Alum Jim Lewis Senior Advancement Officer
Alum Amanda Lowe Director of Alumni Engagement
Alum Gina Lowe Associate Vice President for Philanthropy and Engagement
Alum Shannon Pruden Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations
Alum Joi Saville Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement
divisional organizational chart

Contact Us

  • P.O. Box 3425
  • Commerce, TX 75429-3425
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