Dr. Osaro E. Airen is a seasoned higher education and mental health professional who has worked in a variety of settings, both public and private. He is also a Licensed Professional Counselor and National Certified Counselor. In addition, Dr. Airen is passionate about scholarship. He is the co-founder and editor of two academic journals, the Journal of Multicultural Affairs and the Journal of  Faith, Education, and Community. He has also published manuscripts in academic journals and presented both nationally and internationally. 

Dr. Lakia M. Scott is the Assistant Provost for Faculty Development and Diversity at Yale University. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Scott worked as a tenured Associate Professor of Curriculum and Instruction and Graduate Program Director in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Baylor University. During her tenure at Baylor, she also served as the founder and executive director of the Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools Program at Baylor University. 

Dr. Scott has amassed over 17 years of combined experiences at the elementary, middle/secondary, undergraduate and graduate teaching levels. Under the research trajectory of providing educational access, equity, and opportunity for traditionally minoritized student populations, Dr. Scott has taught teacher education, language and literacy, and sociocultural foundations courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Her experiences span the range of K-12 and higher education where she has been recognized for her excellence in teaching. Dr. Scott has over 54 publications including 25+ refereed journal articles in academic journals for the fields for urban, multicultural, diversity, and reading, language, and teacher education. She has received over $1.5 million in internal and external research funds, to date. Dr. Scott has authored/coauthored/co-edited five books. She also serves as Associate Editor for the Journal of Multicultural Affairs and the Journal for Faith, Education and Community. 

Dr. Scott has been connected to TXNAME since her time as a masters student in 2009, and then encouraged to learn more about the National Association in 2012 as a doctoral student. In fact, her first conference presentation was during the 2009 TXNAME conference, and her first lead-authored publication was with a TXNAME affiliated journal. In this way, she cherishes the ways in which TXNAME and NAME have been a pivotal part of her educational journey and professional life.

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.

Ha’Wanna St.Cyr has a combined experience across 12 years in the elementary, secondary, and adult education fields.  Currently, Ha’Wanna is a Manager of Instructional Coaching and Professional Development with Teaching Excellence and loves building transformative relationships with adult learners that positively reflect student classroom culture, learning, and achievement.  She is also a doctoral candidate at Baylor University in the School of Education with a focus on Leadership and Organizational Change.

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. Donna M. Druery is a committed community activist and educator who works tirelessly in assisting students in finding their pathways to colleges and universities. Her research interests include Sociology of Education; Educational Policy, Politics, and School Choice; Urban Education and Equity; Culturally Relevant Pedagogy; and Family-School Partnerships. Dr. Druery was a recipient of the 2023 Brazos Valley Educator’s Legacy Award. 

Dr. Druery is a two-time graduate of Texas A&M University, with a Ph.D. in Educational Administration and a BA in English, and double minors in Business Administration and Speech Communication. She also holds a Masters of Education in Administration from Sam Houston State University. She is currently serving as Program Coordinator for the TAMU School Counseling Graduate Program. 

Dr. Druery is a passionate and dedicated scholar who has been involved with TXNAME, serving in various capacities for well over ten years. 

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.   

Diana Linn is an associate professor of special education who has worked at Texas A&M International University in Laredo, Texas for over twenty years.  However, Linn has worked in education for over 40 years.  Previous to TAMIU, she was a teacher in general education and special education classrooms in Mexico and South Texas.  She has published articles concerning the disproportionality of English language learners in special education and the use of cultural autobiographies in pre-service teacher education programs. Linn has received numerous awards during her time at TAMIU including Scholar of the Year, Global Scholar Award, and University International Faculty Award. In Spring 2023, she received the TXNAME Lifetime Award for more than 20 years of contributions to the Texas Chapter.

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. Vicki G. Mokuria is a lifelong learner who has devoted her life to education–working as a parent educator, high school teacher, and now, as a college-level instructor to both undergraduate and graduate students at Stephen F. Austin State University. Dr. Mokuria co-authored Relational Realms: Helping Educators Navigate Healthy Schoolhouse Relationships, along with numerous scholarly articles linked to her research interests: critical family history, teacher education, anti-racism education, and Soka education. As a high school teacher in Dallas and during her time at Texas A&M, where she earned her doctoral degree in Curriculum & Instruction, Dr. Mokuria received numerous teaching awards. 

Her scholarship, volunteer work in her community and as an at-large board member align with her commitment to embody the values linked to core principles of multicultural education

​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.

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

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. 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. 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 27 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.

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