Welcome New Advisory Board Members!

The Foundation is proud to welcome the newest members to the Terry Scholar Alumni Advisory Board (TSAAB).

These new members were chosen through an application process hosted by the Advisory Board Selection Committee and began their three-year term at the beginning of February 2024.

The Terry Scholar Alumni Advisory Board is comprised of Alumni who have distinguished themselves in their service to the Foundation and to their fellow Terry Scholars. These individuals represent the Foundation at Terry functions, such as banquets and picnics, and participate in discussions about strengthening and supporting the Terry Community.

Advisory Board

Nicole Barrios (TXST 2011)

Nicole graduated from Texas State University in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism. She worked as a journalist at the Austin American-Statesman newspaper before going back to Texas State to earn her Master of Education – Student Affairs in Higher Education in 2019. She works as the Senior Academic Advisor in the UTeach Educator Preparation Program in the College of Natural Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin. She advises students and coordinates scholarships and teaching certificates. Nicole lives in Austin, spending much of her free time practicing yoga and exploring new corners of the city with friends and family.

“As a new Advisory Board member, I am excited to get a deeper look into the workings of the Foundation and contribute to the continued growth and support of our community of leaders into perpetuity!”

LeeAnn Cardwell (TXST 2014)

LeeAnn graduated from Texas State University in 2018 with a B.A. in International Relations and currently works as an Assistant Operations Manager for a Trust and Safety team in tech. LeeAnn lives in Austin, TX and in her spare time she loves camping, hiking, reading, and spending time with her recently adopted cat Goose.

“I look forward to being a part of representing and strengthening the sense of community we all share and learning more about the behind the scenes operations of the Terry Foundation.”

David Dominguez (UTSA 2018)

David G. Dominguez was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. He was a 2018 Transfer Terry Scholar and graduated in 2021 from UTSA. While at UTSA, he immediately began giving back to Terry by serving as the Director of Operations and Executive Director of the Terry Scholar Student Organization. He proudly served the TSSO for 2 years and enjoyed every moment with his Terry family. Upon graduation, he decided to stay at UTSA, working professionally under the UTSA Welcome Center and the UTSA Alumni Association. He will soon head back to the UTSA Welcome Center as the Associate Director. In his spare time, he gives back through his Rotary Club in San Antonio, teaches leadership at a camp called RYLA, and is training for a marathon in December 2024.

“I look forward to being a part of the Terry Foundations Advisory Board and assisting in Alumni Engagement, and helping develop the Scholar Fund while still in it’s infancy. I’m excited about this new journey and am always happy to serve the Terry Foundation in any capacity that I’m allowed.”

Edgar Felix (UTEP 2018)

Edgar Felix is a 2018 UTEP Terry Transfer Scholar. Edgar is a Cloud Consultant at Oracle, joining in July 2021 after graduating. He holds a degree in Business Management, with a minor in Marketing and a certification in Enterprise Resource Planning. In August 2023, Edgar started a Master of Public Affairs program at the University of Texas at Austin’s LBJ School of Public Affairs.

During his undergrad, Edgar served for 3 years as an officer of the UTEP Terry Scholars’ Student Organization where, amongst other positions, he served as President for a year. Upon graduation, Edgar helped found the Southwest Chapter of the Terry Scholars’ Alumni Association where he served as Vice President one year and President the next. Edgar is excited to be UTEP’s first representative in the Terry Foundation’s Advisory Board where he looks forward to sharing more about the UTEP experience.

“I am excited to be representing UTEP on the Advisory Board, to be bringing more Transfer alumni perspectives to the board and to the Foundation, and to help drive positive change for scholars and alumni alike!”

Maria Garnett (TAMU 2006)

Maria Garnett studied Political Science at Texas A&M, spent a year teaching second grade in San Jose, California, and then returned to College Station to earn her Master of Public Service and Administration degree on the public policy analysis track at the Bush School. Her post-graduate career has spanned nonpartisan public policy roles focused on state government, with particular emphasis on economic and fiscal policy (through roles at the Texas comptroller’s office and with the State Fiscal Policy Project at The Pew Charitable Trusts) and effective, equitable administration of government programs (through roles in legislative program evaluation for the Virginia General Assembly and in the director’s office of a Virginia state agency).

She has felt fortunate to give back to the Terry Foundation in numerous ways since 2010, such as regular service on interview panels, reading and responding to Scholars’ self-evaluation letters, and membership on the Advisory Board, for which she completed her first three-year term in 2018. Maria and her husband Rusty live in Richmond, Virginia with a small menagerie of rescue pets. When she isn’t working or volunteering, she’s almost always reading or scheming to visit one of the many independent bookstores on her to-visit list.

“I’m most excited about working with fellow Advisory Board members and Foundation staff to continue ensuring the Terry community is as inclusive and supportive as possible for both current students and alums.”

Edriena Gee (UH 2016)

Edriena Gee is a 2016 Terry Transfer Scholar. In 2018, she graduated from The University of Houston’s Bauer C.T. College of Business with a BBA in Accounting. Upon graduation, she began her career as an Associate at a Big 4 accounting firm and is currently a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Small Business Coach. Her love and passion for entrepreneurship propelled her to start her Blog, “Tax Tips With A CPA.” Through her Blog, she has been able to give back to small businesses by providing them with resources that allow them to effectively manage their business by leveraging the Tax Code.

“I am excited to learn more about the operational aspects of the foundation. Additionally, I am excited to serve on a committee that advocates for financial literacy for students and professionals.”

Justin Johnson (UT-Austin 2009)

Justin Johnson (formerly of MoonPay, Meta, Google, Goldman Sachs and UT alumnus) now serves as the Head of Market Development at Acorns. Justin is also a boomerang Terry Advisory Board member, first serving from 2015-2018. Justin’s expertise extends beyond the workplace, as he has lectured on Creator Economy, Online Branding, Social Media, web3, Marketing, and Communication at prestigious universities such as UT-Austin, USC, UCLA, New York Film Academy, Northwestern University, Emerson College and many more. His insights have also been featured in Forbes, Digital Marketer, HuffPost, Business Insider, and other notable publications.

Currently, Justin lives in San Antonio with his wife, daughter and dog– He is actively involved with the local community and invests a lot of time and resources into the youth.

“I look forward to giving back and making a positive contribution with my time and unique experiences I have gained throughout my career.”

Miriam Magdaleno (TAMU 2002)

Miriam Magdaleno lives in San Antonio and serves as Project Director for the Alamo Colleges Educational Opportunity Centers Program. As a first-generation student herself, Miriam’s goal is to help as many students as possible achieve their educational goals. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Spanish from Texas A&M University in College Station and a Masters in Public Service and Administration from the Bush School of Government and Public Service (Texas A&M). She loves movies, trying new restaurants and meeting new people.

“I look forward to learning more about the Foundation, connecting with fellow Terry Scholars, and sharing information about this amazing opportunity with as many prospective scholars as possible. Overall I look forward to honoring my pledge to give back.”

Derrik Robinson (UT-Austin 2014)

Derrik graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a BBA in Supply Chain Management and later graduated from the University of Michigan at Dearborn with an MBA in Supply Chain Management. He currently works for Stellantis as a Senior Buyer for Seats. In his free time, Derrik enjoys going to Car meetups and cheering on Texas at football, basketball, and volleyball games.

“As an Advisory Board member, I look forward to further connecting students and alumni. I look forward to advising the foundation on programs and events that can help students transitioning into their professional careers.”

Catherine Seitz (UH 2009)

A 2009 University of Houston Terry Scholar, Catherine Seitz graduated from the Bauer College of Business with a Degree in Marketing. She currently serves as Manager of Growth Initiatives at Mountaintop Consulting, a company focused on professional development and culture-building for leaders and teams. Before joining Mountaintop, Catherine worked as a marketing manager for a group of related financial and accounting companies and spent time with digital marketing agencies.

Catherine loves fiction, a good cup of coffee, and all dogs. She credits the Terry Foundation with gifting her not only an education, but her best friends for life.

“I’m thrilled to be a part of the advisory board. I look forward to learning more about Foundation operations, delving into existing and planned Terry scholar and alumni efforts, and to contributing my skills to further the mission and vision of the Foundation.”

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