Dr. Sarah M. Straub is an accomplished academic and educator specializing in curriculum and instruction. As an Associate Professor at Stephen F. Austin State University, she promotes culturally responsive pedagogy and inclusive learning environments. With an EDD in Curriculum & Instruction, an MBA, an MA in Political Science, and a BA in History, Spanish, and Political Science, Dr. Straub brings a multidisciplinary approach to her work.

Her research interests include critical autoethnographies, culturally responsive pedagogy, social studies education, multicultural education, and undergraduate student research. Using qualitative methods, she explores culture, identity, and education intersections for equitable and inclusive learning. Dr. Straub has been recognized with awards such as the Perkins College of Education Teaching Excellence Award and the Patricia J. Larke Faculty Research Award.

Dr. Sarah M. Straub is committed to promoting inclusive and transformative educational practices as President-Elect at Texas NAME.

Dr. Kevin L. Jones is an Assistant Professor in the Education Studies Department Stephen F. Austin State University. He has been working to advocate for diversity, inclusion, and social justice at SFA through equity pedagogy. As a professor and teacher educator, He is well versed in applying his lived experiences and research to the classroom setting. Dr. Jones has influenced students and developed educators to be dynamic scholars who “teach all” young people and be their best in a culturally, ethnically, linguistically, and economically diverse and global society. Currently, Dr. Jones serves as an At-Large board member for TX NAME.

Dr. Lakia M. Scott, Assistant Provost for Faculty Development and Diversity, is an accomplished scholar and educator dedicated to advancing inclusive education and promoting equitable opportunities for all students. With nearly twenty years of experience in both K-12 and higher education, Dr. Scott has worked to create educational environments that support the success of all learners. Her work is centered around enhancing access to quality education and supporting the development of culturally relevant teaching practices. 

In her current role, Dr. Scott leads faculty development initiatives, focusing on promoting inclusive hiring practices and fostering a collaborative and supportive academic community. She has held leadership positions in higher education, where she contributed to curriculum development and mentorship of future educators, with an emphasis on creating inclusive learning experiences. 

Dr. Scott’s research explores how educational systems can better support the needs of all students, particularly those from underrepresented groups. She has taught courses in teacher education, language and literacy, and educational foundations at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Her scholarship includes over 54 publications, including several peer-reviewed journal articles and co-authored/co-edited books, that examine educational equity, access, and inclusion. 

Dr. Scott has secured over $1.5 million in research funding to support projects focused on educational access and innovation. She also serves as an associate editor for journals that explore important issues in educational practice and policy. 

Her professional journey has been shaped by her engagement with national and international educational communities, where she has presented at conferences and published work that aims to improve educational practices for all students. Dr. Scott remains committed to fostering inclusive educational experiences that enable all learners to thrive.

Dr. Christal Burnett Sánchez is an Associate Professor of Bilingual Education at the University of Houston-Downtown. She holds a Doctor of Education in International Education Development from Teachers College, Columbia University and a Master of Arts in Education-Learning, Languages, and Policy. Her research interests include empowering families and increasing educational equity for marginalized populations. Dr. Burnett Sánchez is the principal investigator for DAIR (Diversity Access Inclusion Representation) to Teach, a program designed to diversify the teaching field through providing an accessible, inclusive path to teaching that increases the recruitment, retention, and support of diverse teacher candidates. She serves on the board, and as treasurer for SMART Family Literacy, an organization that provides free books and literacy development activities and training to families and educators in Galveston and Galveston County. Dr. Burnett Sánchez also serves as an at-large board member of TX NAME

Tracey R. Jones, Ph.D. is a Clinical Assistant Professor, specializing in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and Bilingual Education. Her research interests include second language acquisition, bilingual and dual language education, TESOL methodology, Spanish language teaching methodology, Spanish for Heritage Speakers and meaningful community engagement. Her work explores connecting university students to their local communities, specifically in and through the Spanish language.

Dr. Jones’ teaching career spans 25 years and various contexts. In her experience as a K-12 educator, she taught ESOL, Spanish and English at the high school level in southern and northern California. In Texas, she holds certifications for elementary and secondary teaching, ESOL and bilingual education. Dr. Jones regularly serves on committees for textbook and curriculum reviews for the Texas Education Agency.

A Ph.D. graduate of New Mexico State University, Dr. Jones received the 2018 award in Teaching Excellence from the Texas Foreign Language Association (TFLA). She also holds three master’s degrees — in Education, in English Linguistics and TESOL with an international TESOL certificate, and in Spanish Literature and Linguistics. Prior to her current position, Dr. Jones was a Lecturer in Spanish in the Modern Languages and Cultures Department at Baylor. She also taught English to International Students in Baylor’s Global Gateway Program

Dr. Amy Britton specializes in adult education. A Dallas, TX native, she has over 20 years of experience advancing education and nonprofit organizations to maximize their missional impact. Dr. Britton is the Regional Director of Development for the Southwest Region at Michigan State University. She holds a Doctor of Education in Learning and Organizational Change (EdD) from Baylor University and a Master of Arts (MA) in Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education from Michigan State University. She is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and holds a teaching certificate in adult learning. The founder of Britton Development Consulting, her consulting practice blends andragogy and philanthropy to help nonprofit executives and educators lead organizational change initiatives and realize their philanthropic vision. Dr. Britton's research integrates qualitative and quantitative methods to evaluate organizational change within higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations. She leverages these talents as an at-large board member for TXNAME.

Lorena P. Cestou is pursuing her PhD in Adult Education, Social Innovation, and Entrepreneurship at the University of the Incarnate Word, where she is a graduate research assistant that coordinates service-learning endeavors.  She is a first-generation Mexican American scholar.  Lorena is the first student to hold a board member position in the Texas chapter of the National Association for Multicultural Education.  Prior to the pandemic, she was the coordinator for TAMIU's Discovery Gateway, an inter-cultural, intergenerational and biliterate learning center at the border of Laredo, Texas and Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas.  

Dr. Wandix-White is an assistant professor of multicultural education at the University of Houston – Clear Lake. Dedicated to preparing pre-service teachers for the classroom and helping veteran teachers reach their students, Dr. White excels in capacity building of teachers to maximize their success as well as transform and expand their understandings of achievement and educational outcomes for marginalized populations. 

Her research interests include teacher preparation, the effect of intercultural communication on equity pedagogy, and culturally relevant pedagogy in literacy and reading education. These interests reflect her education path which includes a Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction with emphasis in urban education, a MEd in reading education, and a BA in communication studies. 

With 29 years of education experience—teaching and administration; K-12 to university—Dr. White has a plethora of practical as well as theoretical knowledge and experience in teaching and learning.

Tonya D. Jeffery is an assistant professor at University of Houston-Downtown.  She received her EdD in curriculum and instruction, with a special emphasis in science education, from the University of Houston in 2012.  Dr. Jeffery’s research agenda focuses on STEM teacher preparation, self-efficacy and professional development; culturally responsive pedagogy; teaching science through the critical lens of social justice and racial equity; recruitment, retention and persistence of beginning science teachers; nature of science; and teacher identity, beliefs and practices. She also examines an evolving focal point on social justice issues at the intersectionality of gender, race and class as it relates to women in academia.   

Dr. Gwendolyn Carol Webb is a charter member of Texas Name. She currently holds a joint appointment as an Associate Professor in Educational Administration and Human Resource Development, and Teaching, Learning and Culture at Texas A&M University. She is Program Chair of PreK-12 Leadership and the Associate Director of the Educational Leadership Research Center.   Her current research focuses on the perceptions of young African girls who demonstrate “Talking With Attitude,” as they are overrepresented in discipline and suspension data. She champions an integrity/strength  model that shares their voice, while affirming and helping to sustain their cultural identity and promise.  

Dr. Marisela Martinez is a first generation Mexican American and the youngest of seven daughters. She is the first in her family to graduate from a university. Dr. Martinez acquired her Bachelor’s in History, Master’s in Education, and Doctorate in Education for curriculum & instruction emphasizing in social/history at the University of Houston.

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 In the 20 years of her profession, Dr. Martinez has worked in all education levels and dedicates herself to the ongoing improvements and empowerment of marginalized communities. From working as a youth counselor to trailblazing new programs and initiatives, her focus has always been rooted to her community and everything that ties to it. Her professional experiences include working for the YMCA programs in schools, teaching middle & high school levels, and as a program director at a nonprofit that serviced refugees & other immigrants in the Houston area.

Dr. Martinez is currently the director for the Inter-University Program for Latino Research (IUPLR) for the Center of Mexican American & Latino/a Studies at the University of Houston overseeing multiple projects that cultivate art, education, research, and cultural representation to the broader audience.

Dr. Taylor D. Bunn has two decades of experience in public school districts and nonprofit organizations focused on education, the arts, and community development.  She earned an EdD in Learning and Organizational Change from Baylor University, an MBA concentrated in Strategy and Entrepreneurship and an MA in Arts Management and Arts Entrepreneurship from Southern Methodist University, and a BA in Theatre Arts from the University of San Diego. She serves her community as the Executive Director of Hope 4 All, the managing editor of the Texas Journal for Multicultural Education, a commissioner with the Grapevine Historic Preservation Commission, a board member for  STEPS with Horses equine-assisted mental health organization, a community advisor for LifeLine for Families, and a leader with the DFE Cyber Lions Club. In her free time, she co-facilitates the Leading Off the Page leadership book club and creates content for her 3-2-1 with Dr. Bunn YouTube channel.