Diversity & Inclusion

Currently, I’m serving on the Board of Regents of Texas A&M University (TAMU), where I have the opportunity to set policies that affect students system-wide. As a member of the Commission on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, a special initiative of the President of TAMU, I’m committed to working toward the important goal of ensuring a more welcoming climate for students of all cultures and backgrounds. I’m also pleased to have had the opportunity to reach underserved communities through service on the boards of the Dallas Legal Services Foundation, Child Care of Dallas, the Salvation Army, and several other community service agencies. Being part of a law firm that values service to the community inspires all of us to get involved and make a difference.

I have served as a mentor for many law students and undergraduate students over the years, have led fundraising campaigns for the UH Law Fund, and was on the committee to help raise money for a new law school building. I also assisted in visits to the Texas legislature to lobby for public funding for the law school. When I was President of the UH Law Alumni Association, we formed the diversity and inclusion committee. I have assisted in recruiting new students through the Board of Visitors, and was very involved in legislative advocacy for the new medical school at UH.

I have served as Chair of the J.L. Turner Legal Association Foundation two times. Many would ask, why would you do it more than once? The organization has been for many lawyers of color, an avenue to obtain valuable leadership skills while at the same time making an impact in the Dallas/Fort Worth community. Each year, we raise thousands of dollars to provide scholarships to law students who are burdened with debt in an effort to help increase the pipeline. The organization has given so much to me and to others over the past 60 years, it makes it easy to be committed to service to the organization for a lifetime.

Harlem Lacrosse is a comprehensive, in-school intervention program that uses the sport of lacrosse as the "hook" to get kids engaged so we can help support them to do their best in the classroom and in their communities. Harlem Lacrosse actively recruits special education students and students identified by school administrators as most vulnerable to academic decline and school dropout. As a result, Harlem Lacrosse serves high poverty and special education students at rates that surpass those of our school sites.

Houston House Foundation oversees the investment and distribution of assets of the endowment for the Ronald McDonald House in Houston. I am one of five trustees of the Foundation and we meet at least quarterly to receive updates and advice from our institutional investment advisors and to make decisions about investments of the Foundation’s assets and distributions to Ronald McDonald House Houston.