TxGAP Board Elections

2026 Nominees

President Nominee

Dr. Shaunte’ Alvarez-Minor
UT Dallas

I am honored to be nominated for the role of President of TxGAP and excited about the opportunity to serve and lead this dynamic community of graduate enrollment professionals. My interest in this role stems from a deep commitment to advancing access, equity, and innovation in graduate education across Texas.

Throughout my career, I have focused on creating pathways for student success while building strong collaborative partnerships across institutions. I believe TxGAP plays a critical role in fostering professional development, sharing best practices, and strengthening our collective impact.

As President, I hope to contribute by expanding opportunities for member engagement, enhancing professional learning experiences, and elevating the visibility of TxGAP across the state and nationally. I am particularly passionate about supporting emerging professionals, strengthening mentorship pipelines, and creating inclusive spaces where all voices are valued.

I also aim to build on the strong foundation of this organization by promoting strategic partnerships, encouraging innovative programming, and ensuring that TxGAP continues to be a leading voice in graduate enrollment management.

It would be a privilege to serve this organization and work alongside each of you to continue moving TxGAP forward.

Professional Development & Strategic Initiatives Chair Nominees

Donnella Dillon
University of Houston-Sugarland

Over the past four plus years, I have been the Chair of this committee as I stepped into this role at a time when Dr. John E. Smith stepped down as President of TxGap and Victor Lopez was the Chair, therefore I was recommended to be the Chair of this committee.

Being the Chair of this committee, I have had various speakers come to our monthly PD sessions to speak on topics such as enrollment, admission, self-awareness, career fairs, career services, health and mental awareness and other topics just to name a few. It brings me much joy to serve our TxGap members as the Chair, knowing that I have selected topics and speakers to help us grow professionally, mentally, and physically.

A new contribution I would like to present, would be to go beyond the virtual sessions and have a “happy hour” meet and greet with current members of TxGap. This “happy hour” will allow the Chair and members to gather as a social gathering to talk about assorted topics and share their expertise, to network, added resources as well as to do a wellness check to see how our members are doing on their current job. This would also assist the membership committee with recruiting new members if current members would bring a friend to the “happy hour” event. Though I am in Houston, I would also like to travel to areas where the majority of our TxGap members reside, calling it a “happy hour” tour with the Chair of Professional

Development & Strategic Committee. In addition to this new contribution and idea, I will continue to focus on the topics needed that will enhance the professional growth of our members of TxGap.

I would be grateful for the opportunity to continue not only as the Chair, but to continue this work, to expand, and build on the progress we have made together for and with TxGap. I plan to continue to serve with dedication and purpose with what we’ve already accomplished.

Thank you in advance for the nomination to continue to serve as Chair of the Professional Development & Strategic Committee.

Victoria Tian Qin
Trinity University

I am honored to run for the Professional Development & Strategic Initiatives Committee Chair position with Texas Association for Graduate Admission Professionals. Throughout my career in graduate enrollment management, international recruitment, and academic advising, I have been passionate about building meaningful professional connections and creating opportunities for growth within higher education.

Currently serving as Director of Recruitment and Residencies at Trinity University, I lead strategic recruitment initiatives, mentor graduate students, and collaborate with campus and industry partners to strengthen student and professional development pathways. My previous experiences at institutions including Texas Tech University, New York University, and University of British Columbia have allowed me to work across recruitment, advising, leadership development, and international education settings.

In addition, my involvement with organizations such as NAGAP, NAFSA: Association of International Educators, and STAR Scholars Network has strengthened my commitment to collaborative learning and member engagement. My current role as the Publication Committee Member at NAGAP allows me to share resources and strengthen the connections between our local chapter and the national umbrella for professional development initiatives.

If elected, I hope to contribute by helping create intentional networking opportunities, expanding professional development programming, and supporting mentorship initiatives that cultivate emerging leaders within TxGAP. I am especially committed to fostering inclusive engagement and creating pathways that encourage collaboration, innovation, and long-term professional growth among our members. Texas is a critical region for graduate enrollment management, I believe that trends we observe here should inform the broader national discussions.

Jasmine Payton
UTHealth Houston

I, Jasmine Payton, would like to formally accept the nomination for the Professional Development and Strategic Initiatives Committee Chair, my focus will be on delivering tangible value to TxGAP members through strong connections, practical learning opportunities, and intentional leadership development. I will work collaboratively with the Membership Committee and TxGAP partners to expand function-specific networking that leads to shared resources, collaboration, and professional growth across institutions and NAGAP chapters.

My goal is to increase access to high-quality educational programming that helps members meet professional goals while earning TxGAP Professional Development Certificates. I will also support the Conference Committee in developing timely, relevant Summer Institute sessions aligned with member needs. Finally, I am committed to strengthening mentorship pathways that cultivate emerging GEM leaders, deepen engagement, and advance diversity within TxGAP, ensuring our chapter continues to grow, lead, and innovate together.

Ana Hernandez
UT San Antonio

As the Associate Director of Graduate Recruitment at The University of Texas at San Antonio, I have had the opportunity to lead strategic recruitment initiatives, support enrollment growth, and collaborate with colleagues across academic programs to enhance the graduate student experience. My professional background also includes serving as a Recruitment Coordinator for the McCoy College of Business Graduate Programs at Texas State University where I learned the importance of networking, collaboration, mentorship, and professional development within our field.

In addition to my institutional experience, I previously served as a TxGAP Membership Committee member, where I assisted the Membership Committee Chair in organizing and hosting networking opportunities for TxGAP members. Through this experience, I gained a deeper appreciation for the meaningful connections and shared learning opportunities that organizations like TxGAP provide to professionals across Texas.

I am interested in serving as the TxGAP Professional Development & Strategic Initiatives Committee Chair because I am passionate about creating intentional opportunities for graduate enrollment professionals to connect, grow, and develop as leaders. As someone who has grown professionally through mentorship, collaboration, and involvement in organizations like TxGAP, I hope to continue the great work of creating opportunities for our members to enhance their skills and knowledge as they cultivate a path as future leaders in the graduate enrollment management space. I would be excited to create initiatives that strengthen member engagement, support mentorship, and foster inclusive and impactful professional development opportunities for our community.

Election Timeframe:

  • April 1: Call for Nominations

  • May 15: Deadline for Submissions

  • May 15-June 1: Campaigns

  • June 3-June 5: Voting will open the week of the annual GEM conference

  • July 1: Elected board members begin their term. Departing board members' term ends.

  • GEM Conference Week: Voting