Terry Scholars Fund Board

From Kaufman, Texas, Meyling “Mey” Ly Ortiz is a 1999 Texas A&M University Terry Scholar. She earned her B.A. in Speech Communications from A&M in 2003 and her J.D. from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in 2006. She has previously served as an Alumni Advisory Board Member for the Terry Foundation and began her service as a Board Member to the Terry Scholars Fund in 2022.

Currently, she is Managing Counsel of Employment and Labor for Toyota Motor North America, Inc. Prior to her employment with Toyota, Mey practiced in the Dallas office of the international law firm, Littler Mendelson.

Mey and her husband, Jason live in The Colony, Texas with their three children, Olivia, Orion and Owynn. In addition to her service to the Terry Scholars Fund and Terry Foundation, Mey serves on the Emerging Leaders Board of SMU Law, Community Advisory Board of the Junior League of Dallas, and President of the Podium. In her spare time, you can find her mentoring law students and young lawyers or writing for Above the Law, Attorney at Work, or her personal blog: TheMeybe.com.

Harrison Pierce is a 2008 UTSA Traditional Terry Scholar. He graduated from UTSA in 2011 with a B.S. in Construction Science & Management and in 2013 with a M.S in Architecture.

Harrison currently serves as the QA/QC & Commissioning Manager at Linbeck in Dallas/Fort Worth. He has helped manage multiple projects at TCU, UTD, University of Miami and Cook Children’s Medical Centers over the past eight years, which has led to numerous regional and national building awards.

Harrison is also an active professional in his community. Since 2014, he has served as the UTSA College Champion for Linbeck, attending college fairs and holding interviews for potential full- and part-time positions. In 2019 he was recognized as a UTSA CACP Rising Star Distinguished Alumni.

As a UTSA Terry Scholar he was an active member and officer in Student Government, UTSA Ambassadors, Honors Alliance, Alpha Tau Omega as well as the Terry Scholar Student Organization. He won Most Outstanding Undergraduate & Graduate student for the College of Architecture as well as multiple Jane Findling awards and the Golden Feather Award.

As a Terry Alumnus, Harrison has continued to give back in serving on interview panels, was an officer of the DFW Alumni Chapter for 6 years and was a Terry Foundation Alumni Advisory Board Member from 2015-2018. He has also been a featured Terry Banquet Speaker.

Leigh Darilek is a 1996 UT Terry Scholar from Gonzales, Texas. She has over 20 years of experience in communications, events and marketing across various industries. Leigh holds a Bachelor of Journalism (UT, 2000), a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology (UT, 2007), and Master’s in Sport & Exercise Psychology (UNCG, 2009).

She has served as interview panelist, attended spring picnics and fall dinners, has been an officer of the San Antonio Alumni Chapter, and served as an Alumni Advisory Board Member for the Terry Foundation. She began her service as a Board Member to the Terry Scholars Fund in 2024.

Leigh’s passions include photography and wine. She has numerous international photography honors and holds a WSET Level 2 in Wine. She has been able to volunteer her time and wine experience as a judge in the San Antonio Rodeo Wine Competition and with Vibrant Works Dining in the Dark event.

Yvonne Rode Moody was named as the Foundation’s first Executive Director in August of 2012. She was named Foundation President in 2015. Originally, she was selected as one of the first 17 Terry Scholars as part of the inaugural class in 1987. She joined the Foundation Board of Directors in 2000, one of the first Alumni Scholars to be named to the Board.

A native of Fredericksburg, Yvonne received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M in 1991. Her professional experience includes working for Chevron as a Retail Construction Project Manager. Her volunteer interests include a variety of church, school and civic organizations, but her passion has always remained with the Terry Foundation and its growing number of Terry Scholars and Alumni.

Yvonne was married for 23 years to her late husband Ted Moody. Their two daughters both attended Texas A&M in College Station. She lives in Houston and is an active member of Faith Lutheran Church in Bellaire. She also currently serves on the Board of Directors for the National Scholarship Providers Association.

Brian Garrett Yarbrough is a member of the 1988 class of Terry Scholars and joined the Terry Foundation Board in 2012 and the Terry Scholars Fund Board in 2024. Brian is a principal with the law firm Erben & Yarbrough in Austin, where he is engaged in legislative and regulatory advocacy before Texas government and state administrative agencies.

Brian is a 1997 graduate of the University of Texas School of Law, a 1992 graduate of The University of Texas at Austin (PLAN II Honors Program) and a 1988 graduate of Canyon High School in New Braunfels.

He is married to Wendy Wagner Yarbrough, from San Antonio. They have three children, Garrett, Wyatt and Lily. They are active members of Covenant Presbyterian Church, Rodeo Austin, and other local civic and charitable activities.