Advisory Council

The Division of Campus and Community Engagement’s Advisory Council was established in 2008 to assist the vice president, faculty and staff of the Division in leading the university’s strategy around diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and becoming a national model for DEI efforts in higher education.

Advisory Council group photo, October 2022

Advisory Council members advance the mission of the DCCE. Members are called upon to:

  • Provide strategic guidance and recommendations to the Vice President for Diversity and Community Engagement on issues surrounding diversity and inclusion at The University of Texas at Austin.
  • Invest financially in support of the DCCE’s initiatives and programmatic efforts.
  • Participate in and champion fundraising campaigns on behalf of the DCCE.
  • Serve as ambassadors to alumni, friends, UT constituents and the public regarding the DCCE’s mission, programs and services.

Advisory Council members can log in to the AC Resource Site for AC documents.

Members

Gordon Appleman

Gordon Appleman is senior counsel for Thompson & Knight LLP in Fort Worth. He focuses his practice on all aspects of taxation. Gordon is active on numerous university advisory councils including the College of Liberal Arts and the Harry Ransom Center. He is a former President of the Ex-Student’s Association and the Board of Directors of The University of Texas Foundation, Inc. He is Secretary and Treasurer of the Texas Coalition for Excellence in Higher Education. He received a prestigious Ex-Students’ Association Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2001. Gordon holds a B.A. in Economics from The University of Texas at Austin, and a LL.B. from Harvard Law School.

Olga Campos Benz

Olga Campos Benz spent more than 30 years covering the biggest television news stories in Texas. Following her retirement as a broadcast journalist, Olga enjoyed a seamless transition into the nonprofit arena thanks to her lifelong role as a community activist. Her passion has always been focused on efforts to help improve the lives of children, which began on a personal level when she and her husband became legal guardians of Olga’s young nephew after he was removed from his home because of abuse and neglect. She is now directing her personal passion into her professional purpose as the Community Engagement Specialist for Foster Community, a program of Partnerships for Children. Olga has long been an advocate for at-risk teens and recently received the Robin Shivers award for her support of American Youth Works, which provides job-training and educational opportunities for troubled youth. Olga also serves on several non-profit boards including The Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM), the Austin Film Festival, and the Advisory Council of the Division of Campus and Community Engagement at The University of Texas at Austin. In 2013, the Austin Business Journal named her a “Profile in Power: Woman of Influence.” Olga is a 2014 inductee into the City of Austin Commission for Women Hall of Fame, the 2015 Distinguished Alum of the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Hispanic Austin Leadership Program, and among the 2017 Texas Association of Mexican-American Chambers of Commerce’s Women of Distinction. Olga is also a member of the Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas and is active in the Girl Scouts of Central Texas. In April 2017, she published her first novel, It’s News to Me, which takes readers behind the scenes of the often unbelievable world of television news. Olga was a featured author at the 2017 Texas Book Festival. She and her husband, Kevin Benz, are proud parents of 27-year old twin daughters, Corazon and Allegra.

Cole Brodman

Cole Brodman

Cole Brodman is a 30-year veteran and executive in the telecommunications industry. Over his career, his leadership impact has included CEO and C-level positions in technology, network, product and innovation, and general business management in the wireless sector. Cole’s career includes over 17 years in leadership roles at T-Mobile USA, helping it grow from pre-commercial service launch to over 30M customers. Currently, in addition to his advisory role with the UT DCCE, he serves on the boards of Opanga Networks, Globys, and the 5G Open Innovation Lab. Cole is passionate about how digital access can drive positive change and opportunity in modern society and hopes the DCCE can be a platform to amplify that. Cole is a 1988 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a BSEE, and he also has an MBA from Southern Methodist University. He lives in Seattle with his wife Kara and they have two adult children that live in the Pacific Northwest.

Christina Corona

Christina Corona 

Christina Corona has 28+ years of engineering experience at NXP/Freescale/Motorola ranges from New Product Introduction, Reliability, Quality, Assembly & Test of semiconductors and Hardware/Board solutions. While a young student she was told girls were not supposed to be good in math. Minority focused STEM programs, great teachers and a supportive family fueled her to be a first-generation college graduate obtaining a B.S. in Mathematics from St. Edward's University and an MBA from UT Austin's McCombs School of Business. Upon completion of her MBA from McCombs, her focus has been on leading global engineering organizations and improving business processes supporting R&D and New Technology/Product Introductions. As a native Austinite with multi-generational ties to the community and someone who travels the globe, she is passionate about improving the quality of life for all. In addition to being an advocate for STEM education, she currently serves as a board trustee for Breakthrough Central Texas and has also served on boards for Hospice Austin and MexicArte Museum. She is also an alum of Hispanic Austin Leadership and is actively involved with Austin Community Foundation's Hispanic Impact Fund along with several other organizations serving the community. Her personal mission is to explore new places and experiences and build a bridge for anyone who wants to follow.

Headshot of Charlie A. Gonzalez

The Honorable Charles A. Gonzalez

The Honorable Charles A. Gonzalez was licensed to practice in 1972 and was in private practice until 1982. He was elected Judge of County Court No. 2 in 1982 and served until 1987. He created separate civil docket system and established a domestic violence docket leading to greater specialization and efficiency. Mr. Gonzalez was elected Judge of the 57th State Judicial District Court in 1988 and served until 1997. He initiated and established a district-wide alternative dispute resolution system. He also was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1998 and served until 2013. Mr. Gonzalez was assigned to the following committees: Financial Services, Energy and Commerce, Judiciary, Small Business, House Administration and Homeland Security. He chaired the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute.

Dr. Lawrence Huang

Dr. Lawrence Huang graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a B.S. and M.A. in Electrical and Computer Engineering. He then went on to received his Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. For more than 20 years, Larry has served as President of Carnegie Design Systems, Inc., a manufacturing company that produces semiconductor devices.

Muna Hussaini

Muna Hussaini

Muna Hussaini has worked in tech for almost 20 years and is passionate about getting things done, doing things right, and having fun in the process. The majority of her career spans working at large tech organizations supporting enterprise efforts, and Muna's core competencies are program management, operational excellence, agile, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. She has depth across technology in hardware, software, mobile, infrastructure, and core IT in support of internal customers, consumers, merchants, and various sized external clients. Muna has a track record of delivering results and driving change with a contagious, positive attitude.

Ali Khataw

Ali Khataw, strategic community leader, has an extended record of his commitment to advocacy, education, and the intersection of the two. His clear and unwavering vision proves instrumental in creating a universally recognized firm whose philosophy reflects the importance of community support, social equity and civil justice. His contribution builds these public services for numerous programs to advance missions for regional affiliates and global partnerships.

Alice J. Kuhn

Alice J. Kuhn and her husband Michael formed the Michael and Alice Kuhn Foundation in 1996.  The Foundation’s mission is to promote social justice projects for the benefit of constituencies who have historically been denied access to social influence, economic power and resources, with strong emphasis on encouraging synagogues to participate in social justice programs, through the Foundation’s support of Bend the Arc, Just Congregations, and other community organizing groups and educational organizations.

Dr. Leland Lockhart

Dr. Leland Lockhart

Dr. Leland Lockhart leads the Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Practice at Vista Consulting Group, the dedicated consulting organization to Vista Equity Partners. In his current role, Leland advises Vista companies and Vista Equity Partners on data strategy, artificial intelligence use-cases, machine learning technology, and artificial intelligence-driven product innovation. His work includes both planning and implementation guidance to drive value via operational enhancements, new product development, pre-acquisition diligence, and post-acquisition integration. Prior to his role at Vista, Leland held multiple leadership positions where he created and implemented data and artificial intelligence strategies for financial technology organizations. Leland holds a BS in Psychology, an MA in Program Evaluation, and a PhD in Quantitative Methods all from the University of Texas at Austin.

Charles Lu

Dr. Charles Lu

Dr. Charles Lu currently serves as the Associate Dean of Diversity & Inclusion at the Johns Hopkins University. Prior to arriving at Johns Hopkins, he was Director of the Office of Academic Support and Instructional Services (OASIS) at the University of California, San Diego and the Director of the Gateway Scholars Program at The University of Texas at Austin, where he led cross-functional efforts in student success, strategic initiatives, organizational change, and justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Over the years, Dr. Lu has served as an educational researcher, consultant, school director, academic coach, middle school science teacher, and was the recipient of the Toyota International Teacher of the Year award, where he created a virtual curriculum on environmental sustainability in the Galápagos Islands. He is a proud alumnus of several notable programs, including Education Pioneers, the U.S. State Department’s Fulbright Program, and the Asian Pacific American Institute of Congressional Studies National Leadership Academy. Dr. Lu received his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration and B.S. in Psychology from The University of Texas at Austin, and his M.A. in Secondary Science Education from Loyola Marymount University.

Dr. Marcus Martin

Dr. Marcus Martin is the founder and CEO of 2M Research Services, LLC. With offices in Dallas/Fort Worth, Atlanta, and Washington, DC, 2M Research Services, LLC is a minority-owned contract research organization that provides governmental organizations, pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms, healthcare organizations, non-profit organizations, and individual investigators with a full-range of first-class clinical and public health research, program evaluation, and statistical consulting services. He is a former full-time faculty member at the University of Oklahoma, and currently serves as an adjunct faculty member in the School of Public Health at the University of North Texas Health Science Center. Dr. Martin received a PhD degree from Howard University, an MPH degree from the University of North Texas Health Science Center, and an MA degree from the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

 

Alice Maxie

Alice Maxie is a University of Texas ex-student. Married to Keith Maxie—another DCCE Advisory Council member—Alice traveled extensively raising two daughters in a demanding military environment. While managing a household and working outside the home, Alice was a dedicated community volunteer.  She was a trusted advisor to junior officers’ spouses who were engaged in navigating the demands of managing households and jobs, often during lengthy absences of the officer. Alice’s career includes extensive experience in personnel administration and local area network management. During more than a decade of employment in the Personnel Division of the Fairfax County (VA) School District, she gained a working knowledge of hiring, payroll, promotion, and retention policies of the school district. Alice is the consummate community volunteer. She has volunteered at six different elementary and high schools during the last ten years. She currently volunteers at three elementary schools as a mentor, reading buddy, science tutor, and 1st grade story editor. She also mentors and supports girls and young adults through two local non-profit organizations.

Keith Maxie

Keith Maxie is a 1967 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. Upon graduation, Keith was commissioned in the US Army. Early in his 22-year military career, the Army chose him to attend graduate school at Texas Tech where he was awarded a Master of Business Administration degree in Information Technology Management. In the Army, Keith held numerous command and staff positions in artillery, logistics management, and information technology. Following retirement from the Army, Keith completed a second career in the private sector. His supervisory and management assignments culminated in promotion to a corporate executive position in the information technology industry. He retired from his second career in 2007. Keith currently serves on the UT Development Board and the DCCE Advisory Council. He has served on the board of the Arc of the Capital Area and other non-profit organizations. He is a mentor in the College of Natural Sciences and volunteers as a mentor and classroom assistant at three elementary schools in Austin –including the University of Texas Elementary School.

Arthur Mills IV headshot

Arthur Mills IV

Arthur Mills IV is currently Interim CEO and Chief Operating Officer for New Teacher Center, a $30MM education-based nonprofit based in Santa Cruz, CA. His career spans over twenty in finance, marketing, and strategy leadership roles with GE Capital, BNSF Railway, Dell, and General Mills. Over a decade ago, Mills shifted his work toward mission-driven roles that accelerate diversity, education, and community economic development. Mills, a Life Texas Ex, is a chair emeritus of the McCombs MBA Advisory Board. He also serves on several other national and local non-profit boards focused on increasing equitable opportunities for young people, including 100 Black Men of Atlanta, National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), JumpStart for Kids, NextGen Men & Women Atlanta, and is Friends of Scouting chair for the Atlanta Area Council’s Soapstone Ridge District. Mills earned his BBA and MBA from the University of Texas at Austin and an M.Ed from the Broad Center for the Management of School Systems, now based at the Yale School of Management in New Haven, Connecticut. He and his wife, Carla, live in Atlanta, GA.

Howard D. Nirken 

Howard D. Nirken is an Attorney and Partner with DuBois, Bryant & Campbell, LLP, a law firm in Austin, TX. He concentrates his practice in corporation and securities law for clients throughout Texas. Howard served as Student Body President from 1992 to 1993. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate, Howard is a member of the Friar Society, a College of Liberal Arts Dean’s Distinguished Graduate, and Presidential Leadership Award recipient. Howard remains active as a member of the RecSports Leadership Team, the Women’s Athletics Hall of Honor Committee and the NCAA Equity Subcommittee. As a former President of the Silver Spurs Alumni Association, Howard was instrumental in establishing the Bevo Center, located on the East side of Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, and the Bevo Endowment, with proceeds going to  support the University’s Neighborhood Longhorns program and for the care and maintenance of Bevo. Howard holds a B.A. and a J.D. from The University of Texas at Austin.

Bonnie Prosser-Elder

Bonnie Prosser-Elder 

Bonnie Prosser-Elder is responsible for the oversight and coordination of legal services for VIA. She is also responsible for the risk management and claims section of the organization. She has been involved in the public sector and transportation issues for over 25 years, and she has extensive experience in law, public administration, and open government matters for public agencies as well as broad experience in intergovernmental relations, legislative matters, contract development, and ethical considerations for public and private matters. Prosser Elder received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Texas School of Law.

Fancine Prosser-Johnson

Francine Prosser-Johnson

Francine Prosser-Johnson has spent over 25 years in the telecommunications industry with Southwestern Bell and AT&T & Sprint in sales, marketing, and public relations. She implemented area marketing programs in Texas/and Oklahoma supporting marketing teams in the execution of local market initiatives, and supplier relationships. Francine is a native San Antonian and 1980 graduate of The University of Texas at Austin where she received her BA in Government. She is a lifetime member of the Texas Ex Student’s Association former University of Texas at Austin Library Advisory Council member and currently serving on The University of Texas at Austin Division of Campus and Community Engagement Advisory Council. In her second career, Francine is the Chief Operating Officer of South Texas Center for Pediatric Care, a pediatric practice with 5 locations in the City of San Antonio and Cibolo Tx. She may often be seen and heard behind the mic as a commentator, mistress of ceremony, or keynote speaker at various churches as well as other community and civic events. Francine and her sister Bonnie Prosser Elder (DCCE member) have been committed and engaged for years as ambassadors in the recruitment efforts of students for the University of Texas at Austin!

Betty Salanic

Betty Salanic

Betty Salanic is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Accelerate Investors and the host of the CIO Conversations Podcast. She interviews leading chief investment officers on their backgrounds, investment portfolios, and global outlook on the podcast. In her roles, Betty enjoys partnering with pension funds, endowments, foundations, asset managers, and other investment industry stakeholders who are disrupting the status quo. Formerly, Betty conducted research and due diligence on multi-million dollar private equity and venture capital investments for Rice University's $6.5 billion endowment. Previously, she was at an impact investment fund, Root Capital, in investor relations - raising capital from foundations, government agencies, and socially responsible investors. Betty began her career as an analyst at J.P. Morgan Asset Management in New York. Betty graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a BBA in Finance and a BS in Corporate Communication. Betty serves on the NYC Comptroller's Advisory Council on Economic Growth through Diversity and Inclusion and on the Financial Advisory Committee for the New York Junior League, one of the oldest non-profit organizations in New York City. She also served on The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business BBA Advisory Board for six years and founded Women of McCombs. Betty is fluent in Spanish, enjoys swimming and hiking, and has traveled to 45 countries.

Robert E. Shook III 

Robert E. Shook III leads marketing, communications, and digital credentials for IBM Training & Skills. Since 1993, Rob has been actively involved in a corporation-wide diversity task force, addressing issues important to IBM’s LGBT employees. Rob joined IBM in 1987 and has worked in various sales, marketing, diversity, and executive roles, living in the US, Europe, and Australia. He leads strategic planning workshops at colleges and universities around the country, speaks to campus audiences on the importance of managing credit histories, credit scores, and securing one’s on-line presence, and has raised eight puppies for the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind. Rob holds a B.A. from Wabash College (and currently serves as president of the alumni association there), and pursued graduate work at Miami University of Ohio and The University of Texas at Austin.

Rhonda Summerbell

Rhonda Summerbell

Rhonda Summerbell is the senior manager of community impact at University Federal Credit Union. In this role, she maintains responsibility for developing and maintaining strategic partnerships and the development of programs in the areas of college and career readiness. Rhonda has served on many boards and committees for non-profit and educational agencies in the Austin area. She is the Chair of the Neighborhood Longhorn Program and has been actively involved with many DCCE programs including UT Elementary School, LCAE, Gateway Scholars, UT Project, and others. Rhonda is an advocate for community engagement and programs that facilitate and encourage all to reach their full educational and career potential. She was named the 2018 Austin Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year for Education.

Calvin J. Turner

Calvin J. Turner is a retired, disabled military officer with 11 years of distinguished active duty service. Calvin’s interest and passion for those who wear the uniforms of our nation’s armed services is both personal and professional. He went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Texas at Austin in 1995 with highest honors. Calvin has provided professional counseling to veterans and active duty military members since 1994.

 

Joyce O. Turner

Joyce O. Turner serves on the DCCE Advisory Council with her husband, Calvin. Joyce graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a B.A. in Government and went on to earn a Master’s degree in Management Science from Central Texas. She currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer for Capitol City Rehabilitation Group.

Marlen D. Whitley

Marlen D. Whitley's practice focuses on corporate and securities transactions. He represents and advises clients in corporate finance, acquisitions, mergers, and large global infrastructure projects. He also prepares public offerings and private placements of securities and negotiates private equity financings.

Dr. Tamla Wilson headshot

Dr. Tamla Wilson

Dr. Tamla Wilson is an ordained minister and a clergy team member at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church where she founded The Waiting Room Infertility Ministry. She completed her Doctor of Ministry (DMin) at Fuller Theological Seminary. Her studies covered transformational African American leadership in the Church, as well as, what it means to be Black in America for women and men. The focus of her dissertation is making space for holistic self-care for Black women ministers. Consequently, she has founded Capes Off to highlight the need for holistic self-care amongst clergy. Along with her work in ministry, Dr. Wilson has over 20 years of experience in the financial and insurance industries and is a Director of Institutional Relations at Bridgeway Capital Management. A leader in relational investing, Bridgeway is a money management firm committed to making a positive impact within the community at large. This includes donating 50% of its investment advisory earnings to non-profit organizations. Dr. Wilson received her BA in English from the University of Texas at Austin and was a Texas Honor Achievement Award Recipient. She obtained a Master of Arts in Theology and Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary prior to completing her doctoral work there. Dr. Wilson is very active in the community and assists in the volunteer and fundraising efforts of several organizations. She is an excited board member of Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston, and a member of the board and proud lifetime member of Off the Field Players’ Wives Association. She has been a board member for the Wheeler Avenue Christian Academy and the Opened Bible Academy. Additionally, she is a member of The Twelve Days of Christmas, Inc. Dr. Wilson is honored to be a part of The University of Texas’ Division of Campus and Community Engagement Advisory Council. One of her most gratifying accomplishments is the founding of The Waiting Room Infertility Ministry created to help those challenged with infertility. Dr. Wilson is the proud mother of two boys, Holland and Hudson, her little miracles which came in God’s time.

Darrell Windham

Darrell Windham is the Co-Managing Shareholder for the Austin office of Greenberg Traurig, LLP, an international law firm, and Chair of its Texas Corporate & Securities Practice. He has more than 30 years of experience assisting clients with business, corporate finance and securities matters. Darrell is a leader in the Texas community, particularly with The University of Texas at Austin, having served as President of the Ex-Student’s Association, and on its Commission of 125, the Executive Committee of the Chancellor’s Council of The University of Texas System, and as a member of the Men’s Athletic Council. He also serves on the boards of the Texas TriCities Chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors, the Austin Chamber of Commerce – Economic Development Corporation, The Austin Museum of Art, the Nature Conservancy’s Central Texas Chapter, and the Texas Business Hall of Fame. Darrell holds a B.B.A. in Accounting from The University of Texas at Austin, and a J.D. from the UT School of Law.