Advisory Board
The Advisory Board members advise, contribute ideas and knowledge, and provide feedback on initiatives supported by the Education Institute. They are also advocates and promoters of the mission of the institute to reach a broader audience.
Mary Helen Martinez, Ed.D.
Mary Helen Martinez currently serves as Director of College & Career Readiness at Alamo Colleges District. She works with faculty and staff across five community colleges facilitating developmental education; corequisite coursework; adult education; and student placement-Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA) with Multiple Measures. She works collaboratively with high school, workforce, and adult education programs. Prior to joining Alamo Colleges, her work included extensive grant experience in developmental and adult education. Her teaching experience includes teaching courses at Texas State University and Austin Community College. Dr. Martinez holds a master’s degree in Developmental and Adult Education, and a doctorate degree in Developmental Education.
Douglas Mudd
Doug Mudd is the Executive Director for Community Action, Inc. of Central Texas. He has been the Director since 2016. In 2004, he began working at Community action as a GED math teacher and taught ESL. He also served as an area coordinator and as a supervisor for the IDA program. Doug’s main focus has been to develop a substantial IET(Individual Education Training) program, including multiple career pathways for individuals in the community. Doug received his B.A. in Speech Communication and his M.A. in Communication Studies from Texas State University.
Jan Adversario, Ph.D.
Jan Adversario completed his doctoral degree in Adult, Professional, and Community Education from Texas State University. At present, he is a quality improvement project manager for a managed healthcare company in Austin, Texas. He is also an adult education instructor at Austin Community College where he teaches English as a Second Language (ESL) to adult learners. He also volunteers to teach English virtually for a group of indigenous people in the Philippines. Jan has taught in higher education and adult education for more than a decade. His research interests include adult education, second language acquisition, multicultural learning, and experiential learning.
Mauricio Izquierdo, Ed.D.
Mauricio Izquierdo is an International Higher Education Consultant, leading and implementing education projects between organizations/institutions from Latin America, Canada, the United States, Europe, and Africa. He is member and founder of The International Research Center for the Development of Education http://umd.uniminuto.edu/web/ciide. Mr. Izquierdo has a master’s degree in International Relations from Universidad Javeriana in Colombia. He is active member of Inter-American Organization for Higher Education (IOHE) and Internationalization network coordinator for Corporación Universitaria Minuto de Dios. He holds a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis.
Norma Mercado
Norma Mercado is a full-time lecturer in the School of Social Work and is currently a doctoral student in the Adult, Professional, and Community Education Program, both at Texas State University. With over 20 years of experience working in the educational setting, Norma Mercado completed her Masters In Social Work at Texas State University and has a passion for advocating for at-risk children and youth. Norma's personal experience with homelesness, teen pregnancy, and poverty fuels her passion to help others overcome barriers. Norma's tireless efforts have been instrumental in the coordination of wraparound services now being offered at the BISD Family Resource Center, which includes a health clinic, clothes closet, Adult ESL/GED classes, mental health services, utility assistance, and social services.
Alejandro Araiza
Alejandro Araiza currently works as a Senior Advisor at the Alamo College District in San Antonio. He has been an academic advisor for 7 years and overseeing competence training for all student success support staff. He strives to empower diverse student populations to explore and navigate their academic and career goals. He is a doctoral candidate in the Adult, Professional, and Community Education Ph.D. Program at Texas State University. His research focuses on professional development and training for community college academic advisors.
Angi Mudd
Angi Mudd is an Adult Education Coordinator, ESL instructor and Instructional Coach for Community Action, Inc. of Central Texas. She has worked with Community Action since 2004. She teaches ESL, ABE and Citizenship classes as well as provides instructional coaching for adult education instructors in her organization. She received a BA in Speech Communication and a MA in Communication Studies from Texas State University(then known as Southwest Texas). Angi taught at TCC, TLU and Texas State before finding her passion in community education. She is a state trainer for Content Standards and completed the Texas Leadership Excellence Academy.
Anson Green
Anson Green is a workforce development trailblazer leading economic opportunity efforts at Tyson Foods and developing career pathways for Tyson’s 121,000 front-line team members. Prior to Tyson, Anson was Adult Education State Director in Texas. In 2020 he was the Coalition on Adult Basic Education Outstanding Administrator of the Year.
Patricia Hernandez
Patricia Hernandez currently serves as the Director of Adult Education at Alamo College District (ACD). She has a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, Masters of Developmental and Adult Education, and working on Doctorate in Developmental Education dissertation. Also serves on the TALAE and CASP Boards.
She has worked at Austin Community College (ACC) in Adult Education for 21 years. While at ACC she managed enrollment for the GED and ESL programs, coordinated the College Preparation programs, College and Career for a Day and National Adult Education Honor Society events. Also taught EDUC 1300 Student Development credit courses.
Deborah Carter
Deborah Carter currently serves the San Marcos Public Library as a workforce librarian. She views public libraries as resource-rich spaces for self-directed learning and life-changing experiences. She is inspired to generate innovative, inclusive community partnerships, and has created programming and unique educational spaces for diverse community members across five public libraries from San Antonio to San Marcos, TX. Carter has earned a Master's of Library and Information Science, and a Master’s of Adult Education.
Donald J. Tracy
Donald Tracy serves as the Director of Corporate & Community Education for the Continuing Education Division at Austin Community College. Don is passionate about the transformative role that education plays in the lives of individuals and the communities in which they live, and has worked in Central Texas for over 20 years leading collaborative, community-wide and state-wide skills development initiatives focused on preparing individuals to enter the workforce, grow in their current jobs or transition to new careers. Don holds a BA in Political Science from Texas A&M University, an MA in Russian Studies from Georgetown University, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Adult, Professional, and Community Education from Texas State University.
Perla Delgado, Ph.D.
Perla Delgado currently serves as the CEO/Executive Director of the I Have A Dream Foundation of Boulder County. She formerly served as the Director of the College Assistance Migrant Program at St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas. As a first-generation college student and an immigrant, she has committed her personal and professional life to work with other first-generation students, as well as their families, in paving a path to achieving their post-secondary goals. She holds a Ph.D. from Texas State University in Adult, Professional, and Community Education.
HeeJae Chung, Ph.D.
Heejae Chung is the Assistant Director for Education and Engagement Center for an Informed Public. She is a scholar-practitioner with an interdisciplinary background in design and education. Her expertise includes adult learning, experiential learning design, intercultural communication training, and community engagement. She is currently the Assistant Director for Education and Engagement at the University of Washington’s Center for an Informed Public, bridging research and practice.