Our Board

Jeff Jackson has a Master’s degree in nonprofit management and leadership from Texas State University. He has 30 years of experience using experiential education as a teaching method with at-risk teens. His passion is working with and promoting Texas underground music and art.

Linda Ho Peché holds a doctorate in cultural anthropology from The University of Texas at Austin. She has over 20 years of community outreach experience involving traditional arts, culture, and heritage. She lives in Houston and is the director for a digital humanities project called the Vietnamese in the Diaspora Digital Archive.

Sean Hale is a 2005 graduate of Texas A&M University with a BBA in Finance. He is currently a Finance Manager for an Austin-based company providing colocation services primarily in the Central Texas area. Additionally, Sean is a 7th generation Texan and an avid supporter of the native music and culture of the state.

Courtney DeBower brings extensive experience in both the policy and nonprofit worlds to Texas Folklife. She began her career in Washington D.C., working for then Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison before being appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as Media Coordinator at the Treasury Department. She has worked in the Texas legislature as both a staff member and a government relations professional.

Pat Bywaters is a seasoned professional with over 30 years of experience leading organizational transformation, performance management, and strategic initiatives across diverse industries. His unique blend of management consulting and technical expertise has allowed him to successfully develop and execute projects that drive operational improvement.

Douglas May, a 4th generation Texan, is an Associate Professor at the University of North Texas College of Visual Arts and Design. His academic research utilizes communication design and its value for building social capital for non-profit communities. Educated at the University of North Texas and Art Center College of Design, he began his career in New York.

Brittany Marshall hails from Conroe, Texas and now lives in Austin. She received her BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Oregon State University and now is attending the University of Texas as an MBA candidate. She brings over a decade of experience from both the US Navy and project management in engineering. She loves live music and the natural beauty of Texas.

Greer Kann received her B.A. in English Literature and worked in human resources for six years supporting technology teams in the media streaming industry. She returned to school to get her MBA at the University of Texas to pursue a career in sustainability. In her free time she enjoys reading, exploring the art scene in Austin, and going to the many concerts the city has to offer.

Lisa Marie Avendano is a non-profit executive with 20 years of experience. She earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of Texas at Austin, and a master’s in cross-cultural studies at the University of Houston-Clear Lake. Lisa Marie is a cultural arts enthusiast and an amateur accordion player. She currently resides in Houston, Texas.

Tom Ellis has been involved in music as a music critic, performer, promoter, biographer, and teacher since the late 1960s. He currently resides in Dallas, Texas.