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Renda Mathew

Texas Women’s Foundation (TXWF) has announced that Renda Mathew has been named Chair-Elect. Mathew will serve a two-year term beginning July 1, 2027 through June 30, 2029. She will succeed Cris Zertuche Wong who continues as Board Chair through June 30, 2027.

As Chair-Elect, Mathew will serve on the Foundation’s Executive Committee alongside Cris Zertuche Wong, President & CEO Karen Hughes White and the following Board Directors:   

*Jana Etheridge – Board Secretary | Senior Vice President, Chief of Staff, Capital One

*Lisette Mendez – Finance Committee Chair | Vice President Finance & Latin America Controller, AT&T

*Aracely Muñoz – Governance Committee Chair | Director, Corporate Partnerships, Children’s Health

*Hattie Hill – Board Director | CEO, Hattie Hill Enterprises

* Holly Tucker – Board Director | Partner, Deloitte Risk & Financial Advisory

TXWF also welcomes three new Board Directors:

  • Laura Baldwin: Executive Vice President, WBR Partners
  • Ashleigh Everett: Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Hunt Oil Company
  • Julie Knecht, CPA, MBA: Chief Financial Officer, Texas Instruments

For a complete list of the 2026-27 Board Directors, visit here.

Mathew said, “I’m honored to serve as Board Chair-Elect during such a pivotal time for Texas women, their families, and their futures, and I look forward to working alongside the Foundation’s incredible Board and staff to build #StrongWomenBetterTexas and a strong and vibrant Texas for all.”  

Hughes White added, “We are grateful for the leadership, passion, and support our Board Directors bring to our mission. With their guidance, Texas Women's Foundation has embarked on a new, three-year strategic plan that centers our research as a core competency that informs our grantmaking and advocacy work, as well as our investments in education, leadership training, and workforce development. The plan also calls for increased collaboration with grantees and funders to drive measurable, systemic change and scalable impact." 

About Texas Women’s Foundation:  Texas Women’s Foundation (TXWF) raises funds from a broad base of donors, including individuals, foundations and corporations. These resources support nearly $5 million in investments each year to help eliminate the barriers to women’s economic security, stability and success through targeted research and advocacy, intentional grantmaking and leadership programs. Since its inception in 1985, TXWF has invested nearly $90 million in grantmaking in support of Texas women, their families and their futures, and another $25 million in research, advocacy and educational programs for a total impact of $115 million over the last 40 years. As TXWF prepares for its next 40 years, the organization’s vision for a strong and vibrant Texas for all will remain at the forefront of its work. 

TXWF’s targeted research into the issues impacting the economic security of Texas women and families will continue to guide its work. The biannual report on the economic issues that face Texas women and their families provides corporate and community leaders, and state and local lawmakers with critical data to inform policies, practices and programs across the state. In addition, Texas Women’s Foundation is an acknowledged leader and advocate in the mission-aligned investing movement, deploying 100 percent of its invested assets – endowments, operating investments and donor-advised funds – in a values-based portfolio that yields strong financial returns and social benefits that align with its mission. For more information, visit www.txwf.org, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram or donate now.

 

 

Kathy Beazley
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Photo courtesy of Southwest Festivals

Before beer was brewed and before wine became the drink of kings, there was mead.


Crafted by fermenting honey with water and yeast, mead is considered the world's oldest alcoholic beverage, enjoyed for thousands of years by ancient civilizations, celebrated during medieval feasts and forever linked with Renaissance history and folklore. Today, mead is one of the fastest-growing craft beverage categories, as adventurous drinkers, food lovers and experience seekers rediscover its rich history, remarkable versatility and distinctly modern appeal.


That growing interest comes to North Texas for the first time from 1 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, as the Texas Mead & Music Festival, an event that has become a beloved tradition in Central Texas, makes its North Texas debut at Scarborough Faire in Waxahachie. Tickets are on sale now. A portion of proceeds benefits the Texas Mead Association, supporting education, collaboration and the continued growth of mead making across the state.


Produced by Southwest Festivals, creators of the nationally recognized Scarborough Renaissance Festival and Scarborough's Hollow Fall Fantasy Festival, the one-day celebration invites guests to sip, learn and explore while enjoying award-winning Texas meads, five stages of live music, artisan shopping, educational presentations and several of Scarborough’s Hollow's signature attractions.


"There is no better place to celebrate mead than Scarborough Faire," said Veronica Castelo, general manager of Southwest Festivals. "For decades, guests have associated our Renaissance Festival with mead, history and craftsmanship. The Texas Mead & Music Festival builds on that tradition while introducing visitors to today's incredible Texas mead makers."


A FESTIVAL WORTH THE DRIVE
Located just 30 miles south of Dallas, the Texas Mead & Music Festival is more than a tasting event. This full-day experience features handcrafted meads from 13 award-winning Texas meaderies, live music on five stages, artisan vendors, and opportunities to learn directly from meadmakers and beekeepers.


Festival highlights include:

  • Sample handcrafted meads from 13 award-winning Texas meaderies
  • Meet the meadmakers behind one of Texas' fastest-growing craft beverage industries
  • Enjoy live performances on five stages featuring Texas Country and Red Dirt artists
  • Learn directly from experienced meadmakers and beekeepers during educational presentations
  • Shop artisan vendors offering handcrafted goods, specialty foods and unique gifts
  • Experience several of the upcoming Scarboroughs’ Hollow 's most popular attractions, including the eerie Blackthorn Haunted Castle, the whimsical Trickster's 3D Fun House and the interactive Secrets of Rottingwood Cemetery Scavenger Hunt.

WHAT EXACTLY IS MEAD?
Made by fermenting honey with water and yeast, mead predates both beer and grape wine by thousands of years. While often referred to as "honey wine," it stands in a category all its own. Depending on the honey used and the addition of fruits, herbs, spices or botanicals, meads can range from crisp and dry to rich and sweet, still or sparkling, creating flavor profiles that appeal to wine drinkers, craft beer enthusiasts, bourbon aficionados and adventurous food lovers alike.


Behind every glass is another uniquely Texas story. From Hill Country wildflowers and East Texas forests to mesquite blooms across the plains, locally sourced honey gives Texas meads remarkable diversity and character. Much like grapes influence the flavor of wine, the floral source of honey shapes the aroma and taste of every mead.


MEET THE MAKERS BEHIND TEXAS MEAD
Among the featured meaderies are Dancing Bee Winery, built on nearly a century of Texas beekeeping heritage through Walker Honey Farm; Rohan Meadery at Blissful Folly Farm, Texas' oldest commercial meadery and a pioneer in regenerative agriculture; Breaking Brew Meadery, one of North Texas' first dedicated meaderies and home to award-winning session meads; Fox & Raven Mead, whose literary-inspired creations prove every great mead has a story to tell; and veteran-owned Texas Longhouse Meadery and Valkyrie's Kiss Mead, both recognized for award-winning meads crafted from Texas honey.
Festival guests will also discover the educational mission of Bee Immortal Mead, the creative Texas-inspired flavors of Curmudgeons Mead, the Viking-inspired craftsmanship of Bee & Brew, the collaborative expertise behind RenMead, the Norse traditions celebrated by Vinland Meads and Thorin's Mead, along with emerging producer Lonestar Meadery, each contributing to the remarkable diversity of Texas' growing mead movement.


"People are often surprised by mead," said Carlos Herrera, president of the Texas Mead Association and owner and meadmaker at Texas Longhouse Meadery in Wylie. "It's incredibly diverse, and there's truly something for every palate. The Texas Mead & Music Festival lets people explore meads from across the state, meet the makers and experience firsthand why this ancient beverage is enjoying such a remarkable revival."

LEARN FROM THE EXPERTS
Festival admission includes Mead Education presentations throughout the day in the Harvest Garden, where experienced meadmakers and beekeepers share the fascinating stories behind every glass.
Guests can discover how honey becomes mead, learn about the important role honey bees play in agriculture, trace mead's journey from ancient civilizations to today's thriving craft mead movement and, for VIP guests, learn the fundamentals of home mead making. These engaging presentations offer rare opportunities to interact directly with the experts shaping Texas' growing mead community.

FIVE STAGES OF TEXAS MUSIC
Great mead deserves a great soundtrack.


Live performances will fill five stages throughout the historic Scarborough Faire grounds, showcasing some of the best talent from the Texas Country and Red Dirt music scenes. The lineup includes fan favorite Kin Faux, acclaimed country artist Don Louis, West Texas Americana powerhouse Ronnie and The Redwoods, rising singer-songwriter Henry Merchant and veteran Texas troubadour Matt Hillyer and many others.

TICKETS
Tickets for the Texas Mead & Music Festival are available at TXMeadFest.com.


Adult General Admission (21+) | $38.50 plus tax includes one-day festival admission, six mead samples, a commemorative tasting cup, general admission parking and access to live music, Mead Education presentations, artisan vendors and festival activities.


General Admission (Ages 5-20) | $11 plus tax includes one-day festival admission. Children ages 4 and younger are admitted free.

Guests looking for an enhanced experience can purchase Adult VIP Admission (21+) | $55 plus tax, which includes one-hour early admission beginning at noon, a dedicated entrance, 12 mead samples, a commemorative tasting cup and access to Blackthorn Haunted Castle, Trickster's 3D Fun House and the Secrets of Rottingwood Cemetery Scavenger Hunt.


VIP Admission (Ages 5-20) | $22 plus tax includes early admission and access to the premium attractions. Children ages 4 and younger are admitted free.


Optional experiences include:

  • Blackthorn Haunted Castle | $11 plus tax
  • Trickster's 3D Fun House | $11plus tax
  • Secrets of Rottingwood Cemetery Scavenger Hunt | $7.70 plus tax
  • Reserved Premium Parking | $16.50 plus tax

Complete ticket information, schedules and festival details are available at TXMeadFest.com.

ABOUT THE TEXAS MEAD ASSOCIATION
The Texas Mead Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting, promoting and advancing the craft mead industry across Texas through education, collaboration and advocacy. Representing commercial meaderies, beekeepers, industry partners and enthusiasts, the association works to increase awareness of mead while encouraging responsible growth of one of the state's fastest-growing craft beverage categories.

ABOUT SOUTHWEST FESTIVALS
Southwest Festivals produces immersive events celebrating history, creativity and community, including the nationally recognized Scarborough Renaissance Festival, Scarborough's Hollow Fall Fantasy Festival and the Texas Mead & Music Festival. Hosted at Scarborough Faire in Waxahachie, Southwest Festivals' events feature live entertainment, artisan marketplaces, interactive experiences, themed attractions, and exceptional food and beverage experiences.


Scarborough Renaissance Festival and Scarborough's Hollow Fall Fantasy Festival were recognized in the 21st Annual Renaissance Festival Awards, earning fan-voted honors as Favorite Renaissance Festival (Southeast) and Favorite Faery/Fantasy Festival, respectively.

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Dream Center Dallas

As Dream Center Dallas prepares to host its annual Back-to-School event this Saturday, the organization's mission continues from a historic South Dallas campus thoughtfully restored to serve the community.

Dallas-based Merriman Anderson Architects (MAA) provided architectural and interior design services for the restoration of the Historic Gospel Lighthouse Church, originally built in 1948, preserving the landmark in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. The building is part of Dream Center Dallas' redevelopment initiative, which transformed the historic campus into a hub for education, outreach and community programs.

Today, the campus features classrooms, a commercial kitchen, offices, a media studio, a food pantry and more than 15,000 square feet of gathering space, supporting Dream Center Dallas' year-round efforts to serve local families.

That mission continues on Saturday, Aug. 1, beginning at 10 a.m., when Dream Center Dallas hosts its annual Back-to-School event at 1900 S. Ewing Ave., Dallas, TX 75216. Children will receive free backpacks, school supplies and brand-new shoes on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. The event will also include games, food and family-friendly activities.

Community members interested in supporting the event can still volunteer or make a donation.

Volunteer: https://www.dreamcenterdallas.com/events

Donate: https://dreamcenterdallas-bloom.kindful.com/

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Summer weekends are better by the pool, and Sheraton Dallas is turning up the fun every Saturday through August.

Join us from 2 to 5 p.m. for live DJ sets, refreshing poolside cocktails, and a relaxing atmosphere in the heart of downtown Dallas. Whether you're planning a staycation, visiting the city, or simply looking for a new way to enjoy your weekend, our rooftop pool is the perfect place to unwind.

Stretch out on a lounge chair, sip your favorite summer drink, soak up the sunshine, and enjoy the music with friends or family. It's an easy way to make the most of the season without leaving downtown.

We hope to see you poolside this Saturday.

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The Links on PGA Parkway

Frisco continues to be one of North Texas' most sought-after places to live thanks to its growing job market, convenient location, and welcoming community. If you're searching for an apartment, having a plan can make the process much easier.

Here are five tips to help you find the right fit:

  • Know your budget. Factor in rent, utilities, deposits, and any additional monthly fees before you start touring.
  • Identify your must-haves. Whether it's in-home laundry, covered parking, or a pet-friendly community, knowing your priorities will help narrow your search.
  • Consider the location. Think about your daily commute, nearby shopping and dining, and access to major roads like the Dallas North Tollway and Highway 121.
  • Take notes during tours. Pay attention to details like storage, natural light, and the overall feel of each community.
  • Review the lease carefully. Make sure you understand lease terms, renewal options, and community policies before signing.

Apartment hunting is about more than finding a place to live. It's about finding a community that fits your lifestyle.

For those exploring Frisco, The Links on PGA Parkway offers modern apartment homes, thoughtfully designed amenities, and convenient access to many of the dining, shopping, and recreation options that make the city such a great place to call home. Schedule a tour to see why so many residents are choosing to call The Links home.

Kathy Beazley
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Photo credit: Peterson Management Group Blue Goose Cantina's 24th Annual Hatch Chile Fest returns with 11 limited-time menu items featuring authentic Hatch chile peppers from New Mexico.

The arrival of Hatch chile season is one of the Southwest's most anticipated culinary traditions, and Blue Goose Cantina is celebrating the annual harvest with the return of its 24th Annual Hatch Chile Fest.

For more than two decades, the festival has been one of Blue Goose Cantina's signature seasonal traditions, drawing guests each year eager to enjoy the distinctive flavor of authentic Hatch chile peppers. Grown exclusively in New Mexico's Hatch Valley, Hatch chiles are prized for their earthy, smoky flavor and varying levels of heat, making them one of the country's most anticipated seasonal ingredients.

Available for a limited time only, this year's Hatch Chile Fest features 11 seasonal food and beverage offerings at all eight Blue Goose Cantina locations in Frisco, Plano, Highland Village, McKinney, Grapevine, Fort Worth, North Richland Hills and Grand Prairie. The seasonal menu is available from early August through September, depending on the annual Hatch chile harvest. Once the harvest ends, so does the menu until next year.

From shareable appetizers and entrées to handcrafted cocktails and weekend brunch, Hatch Chile Fest offers something for every Hatch chile fan.

APPETIZERS

Hatch Trick — $15
Three ways to enjoy Hatch Chile Season! Creamy Hatch queso, roasted green Hatch salsa and our signature Hatch guacamole.

Hatched Eggs — $12 (New!)
Hatch chiles mixed with our slow-braised brisket and Jack cheese, hand-breaded and fried to crispy perfection. Served with Hatch guacamole and Hatch pico de gallo.

ENTRÉES

Hatch Pulled Chicken Enchiladas — $15
Two enchiladas topped with your choice of spicy Hatch salsa or Hatch queso. Served with Spanish rice and charro beans.

Hatch Dirty Bob — $18
A crispy, golden-fried flour tortilla filled with slow-braised birria, Hatch salsa, refried beans and Jack cheese, topped with our signature Hatch queso. Served with Spanish rice, refried beans, Hatch guacamole and fresh Hatch pico de gallo.

Hatch Street Tacos — $14
Four corn tortilla street tacos topped with fajita chicken (2), fajita beef (2), spicy Hatch pineapple pico and queso fresco. Served with Hatch salsa.

Hatch Tamales — $15 (New!)
House-made tamales stuffed with slow-braised birria, roasted Hatch peppers, roasted sweet corn and fresh green beans. Served with creamy Hatch queso, house-made Hatch salsa, poblano lime rice and black beans.

Hatch Power Bowl — $17 (New!)
Mesquite-grilled chicken served over a bed of lime rice with roasted sweet corn, fresh green beans, cucumbers, tomatoes, avocado and crumbled goat cheese. Dressed with Hatch chimichurri.

COCKTAILS

Our Famous Hatch Margarita — $12
Spicy Hatch chile pepper-infused tequila shaken with fresh lime juice and agave nectar.

Hatch Island Margarita — $14 (New!)
A margarita made with Hatch chile-infused tequila, cucumber, pineapple, coconut cream, lime juice and agave.

Prickly Punch — $14 (New!)
A low-calorie mocktail made with Seedlip non-alcoholic spirit, prickly pear juice, agave, lime, cream of coconut and pineapple juice.

BRUNCH (Open Saturdays and Sundays | 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.)

Huevos Divorciados — $11 (New!)
Two poached eggs on crispy corn tortillas with house refried beans, featuring the best of both worlds: one egg topped with green Hatch salsa and the other with red Hatch salsa. Served with brunch potatoes.

The seasonal menu is available while supplies last at all eight Blue Goose Cantina locations in Frisco, Plano, Highland Village, McKinney, Grapevine, Fort Worth, North Richland Hills and Grand Prairie.

Established in 1984, Blue Goose Cantina brings together fantastic made-from-scratch Mexican food, legendary cocktails, top-notch service, a fun atmosphere and a kick-ass attitude. A division of Peterson Management Group, a family-owned and operated restaurant management company, Blue Goose Cantina has become a North Texas favorite for authentic Tex-Mex cuisine and signature margaritas.

For more information, including menu and locations, visit BlueGooseCantina.com. 

ABOUT PETERSON MANAGEMENT GROUP

Peterson Management Group is a family-owned and operated restaurant management company with 13 restaurants located across North Texas. Founded by Bob Peterson and Scott Holyfield, two guys with larger-than-life personalities, it all started in 1983 with eclectic seafood shack restaurants, Aw Shucks and Big Shucks Oyster Bar. They are the best places in North Texas to get raw oysters, shrimp, catfish, crab legs, po'boy boy sandwiches, a nice cold beer, and tasty crawfish when in season. In addition to Aw Shucks and Big Shucks, Peterson Management Group opened Blue Goose Cantina in 1984, where fantastic made-from-scratch Mexican food, legendary cocktails, top-notch service, a fun atmosphere and a kick-ass attitude come together. The restaurant chain has repeatedly been voted the best in North Texas for its winning combination of food, fun, and signature margaritas. Today, Nick Peterson, son of Bob, leads the family business, serving as its CEO. For more information, visit PetersonManagementGroup.net.

 

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Fifty years ago, “Smokey” John Reaves was smoking turkeys and hams in his backyard as thank-you gifts for his roofing and construction clients, stacking the extras in his mother-in-law’s bathtub because there was nowhere else to put them. That hobby became Smokey John’s Bar-B-Que and Home Cooking, a Dallas institution now led by his sons, Brent and Juan Reaves. On Saturday, Aug. 29, the family will open its parking lot and dining room at 1820 W. Mockingbird Lane for a free block party marking 50 years in business.

The milestone celebration begins with Smokey John’s annual Customer Appreciation Week, Aug. 24–29, and builds to the block party from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the 29th. Ten percent of that day’s sales will be donated to Helping Hands Open Hearts and RockTeen Youth Foundation, continuing a tradition of community giving the Reaves family traces directly back to its founder.

“My dad built this business on giving, relationships and connecting with the community” said Brent Reaves, co-owner of Smokey John’s. “Fifty years later, that’s still who we are. This block party is us celebrating all of the people who have been a part of us reaching this milestone.”

John Reaves opened his first restaurant, originally called Big John’s, at the corner of Lemmon Avenue and Mockingbird Lane in 1976 with his wife, Gloria, and cousin Douglas “Rent” Spraglin. The name changed after smoke from a pit fire filled the building and a customer joked they should call it Smokey John’s instead. In the late 1970s, Dallas Cowboys stars Drew Pearson and Harvey Martin invested in the restaurant, helping expand the concept across Texas and giving it a national spotlight when Martin plugged “the best barbecue in town” during ABC’s Superteams broadcast weeks after Super Bowl XII.

The business weathered real setbacks along the way, including a bankruptcy in the 1980s and a 2017 kitchen fire that shut the restaurant down for 16 months. Each time, the family rebuilt around what mattered most: faith, family and feeding people well. Brent and Juan Reaves took full ownership in 2013 and have since grown Smokey John’s into a restaurant, a major catering operation and one of the longest-standing black-owned vendors at the State Fair of Texas, where its six booths serve tens of thousands of turkey legs, brisket, ribs and tamales each fall. The family’s 50-year-old rub recipe is now also sold at H-E-B stores across Texas.

“Over the years we’ve learned that hospitality transcends cultures. Dad has always sold good food, but we’ve  learned he was really in the people business.”said Juan Reaves, co-owner of Smokey John’s. “Fifty years in, we’re not just serving barbecue — we’re carrying our father’s legacy forward  solidifying our mission to nourish the community through the joy of food, the strength of faith and the spirit of family.  Food, Faith, Family that’s what we’re all about.”

 

50th Anniversary Block Party Details

The Aug. 29 celebration will run from 11am to 4 pm and feature a performance by the Bishop Dunne Band, opening remarks from Brent and Juan Reaves, photo opportunities with local celebrities, vendor giveaways and activations, a DJ, face painting and a live musical performance. The day’s centerpiece is the unveiling of a newly commissioned portrait honoring the “Pillars of Smokey John’s” — founder John Reaves, his late wife Gloria Reaves, Douglas “Rent” Spraglin and Ruth Hauntz — followed by a sweet tea toast to the restaurant’s next 50 years.

The block party is presented by Frost Bank with support from the Mark Cuban Heroes Center and the Dallas Stars Foundation, alongside local vendors including Cookie Society, Mama Moore’s Popcorn, Mr. Sugar Rush, Jewels Kombucha and Tish’s Treasures. A portion of proceeds from the day will go to benefit Helping Hands Open Hearts to support seniors with food and everyday necessities, and to the RockTeen Youth Foundation which promotes positive life choices, leadership, and education.

Smokey John's Bar-B-Que is located at 1820 W. Mockingbird Ln, Dallas, TX. 75235. The event is free and open to the public; the restaurant remains open for regular service until 7 p.m.

 

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Financial Management Veteran Says He’s Excited to Join ‘Rock Stars of Medical Device Distribution.’

Leap Distributors has named Dave Ascani chief financial officer (CFO). As CFO, Ascani will manage the company’s finances and serve as an integral part of the executive management team.

“Dave Ascani is a seasoned financial executive with a long and distinguished career of helping companies to achieve their financial goals and enable continued, strategic growth,” said Leap Distributors CEO Allen Mason. “We look forward to having him join us during this stage in our development.”

Headquartered in Dallas, Leap Distributors is a national medical device distribution partner that provides sales coverage, contracting and GPO strategy, and end-to-end logistics for manufacturers and healthcare facilities. It supports more than 10,000 surgeries annually, partnering with more than 750 surgeons and 350 facilities, GPOs, and IDNs across the country.

“These guys are the ‘rock stars’ of medical device distribution,” said Ascani. “I’m excited to join them as we work together to take Leap Distributors to the next level.”

Ascani is a seasoned financial executive with more than 40 years of leadership expertise across a wide variety of industries, including distribution, manufacturing, telecommunications, software and logistics. A proven financial thought leader, Ascani specializes in driving the change that grows revenue, reduces costs and improves margins.

Previously, Ascani served as CFO of Network Wireless Solutions LLC, a wholesale distributor of cellular and fiber equipment, where he helped grow the company from $105 million to more than $260 million in annual revenue. Prior to that, he was CFO of the SaaS software company SecureNet Technologies, where he led the company’s integration with an overseas hardware manufacturer, as well as the company’s due diligence on a sale-exit transaction.

In previous roles, he served as CFO and CIO of Merit Distribution Group LLC, vice president of finance and accounting for ArrMaz Chemical Products, and CFO of the Wesgarde Components Group.

Before transitioning to the private sector, Ascani served in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel after 20 years of distinguished service. During his military career, Ascani was responsible for several key financial management programs and received federal recognition as one of the Air Force’s top financial planning and analysis professionals.

He also served as the legislative liaison representing the Air Force on Capitol Hill. As such, Ascani is credited with being the principal force behind the approval of the strategic resources that still support U.S. forces in Southwest Asia today.

Ascani earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. He earned his MBA from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., with a focus on finance and investments.

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Drs. Britni Duffie and Dawn Miller McElroy (Steven Crow/Texas A&M University College of Dentistry)

Drs. Britni Duffie of Dallas, program aide in student affairs at Texas A&M University College of Dentistry in Dallas, and Dawn Miller McElroy of Garland, formerly a program aide, smile when someone mentions they’re new Class of 2026 dentists. They worked hard to earn dental degrees, and both have gold stars in perseverance.

Duffie said she attended nearly every predental program A&M Dentistry offers, while Miller McElroy called her path “the scenic route” to dentistry when describing her decade-plus academic climb. That’s why they led this year’s Summer Pre-Dental Enrichment Programs, designed to provide high school and undergraduate students with opportunities to attend at no charge, with stipends, to learn about the dental profession and increase their chances of getting into both college and dental school.

“I remember the long days and nights studying, the pressure to do well, the desire to know all you can to increase your chances of success in dental school admissions, and the nerves about applying to dental school, which many are in the process of doing at this moment,” Duffie said. “It’s a critical and exciting time in their academic journeys and our understanding of that helped us to anticipate what questions they would have, how they’re feeling, and to offer resources and advice that helped us.”

Part of the college’s Bridge to Dentistry academic enrichment programs for prekindergarten through college, SPEP and other initiatives are supported by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers of Excellence grants. High schoolers, college students and others have been on campus from late spring through the summer learning the basics of dentistry, conducting research and preparing for the admissions process.

A goal of Bridge to Dentistry is to grow health professionals who will address the needs of populations and communities that are underserved in dentistry, said Dr. Rosemarie Zartman, clinical associate professor of comprehensive dentistry and interim director of student development.

“We encourage all of them to succeed in the programs and eventually ‘give back’ in service,” she said. “These two doctors are now coming full circle and represent the success stories that we are able to be connected to every year.”

More than 70 students enrolled in SPEP this year. Collegiate I and II for those with some college led the schedule and ran in May and June. The final session, SPEP 10 and 11 for rising high school sophomores and juniors, ran July 13-17.

Duffie entered SPEP as a rising junior in 2015 while also studying dental assisting in a Dallas Independent School District program at High School for Health Professions at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center. At Townview, she was mentored by Dr. Ernestine Lacy, professor and associate dean for student affairs, who oversaw the program before retiring in May.

Duffie later attended Texas Woman’s University in Denton, where she earned a bachelor’s in biology in 2021. She also attended A&M Dentistry’s Collegiate programs in the summers.

Still, Duffie knew neither her grades nor her Dental Admission Test scores were high enough to impress dental school admissions officers. Enrollment in A&M Dentistry’s dental class is capped at 106 students each year.

Duffie was rejected, but A&M Dentistry offered her a spot in the Post-Baccalaureate Program, which allows select applicants to take additional coursework at The University of Texas at Dallas for one year while also attending special courses at A&M Dentistry in two summers. Duffie welcomed that extra year and continues to appreciate the connections it provided her to others on similar tracks; Duffie met Miller McElroy in PBP.

Those who successfully complete the rigorous program are granted admission to A&M Dentistry.

“By working with Dr. Miller McElroy and me, and hearing about our journeys, the students in this year’s SPEP can look at us and know that they will succeed and make it into dental school,” Duffie said. “I also hope they know there is no pressure to fit into anyone else’s timeline, and our journeys toward dental school also serve as proof of that.”

Miller McElroy’s ties to SPEP began her senior year at Garland High School in 2012-13, after she chose prehealthcare electives and took a field trip to A&M Dentistry’s campus on Gaston Avenue. On a whim and attracted by stipends offered to students, Miller McElroy entered SPEP 12 – the four-week program in June for rising high school seniors. Students learn about the dental profession, prepare for the SAT, visit colleges and work to improve their chances of admission into competitive institutions.

“We learned how to wax a tooth and make lab models,” she said.

Miller McElroy entered before attending The University of Texas at Dallas to earn a bachelor’s in healthcare studies. She was encouraged by Dr. Jonathan Clemetson, clinical faculty in comprehensive dentistry and a 2002 A&M Dentistry dental graduate, who continues to support SPEP students.

“He talked about work-life balance,” she said. “If you’re a dentist, you can still have time for family, you can have hobbies and you can enjoy your life while still being part of healthcare…Going into college, I knew I wanted to go into dentistry.”

Miller McElroy also attended Collegiate I and Collegiate II. Each student takes two non-science courses at no charge at Dallas College’s Mountain View Campus, then attends a preclinical course and a lab at A&M Dentistry and another course to prepare for the DAT. They also shadow dentists and dental students.

“It’s a commitment, and we want students to understand that,” she said.

Miller McElroy struggled at UTD, in Collegiate II and on the DAT, despite doing well academically in high school. To improve her chances of acceptance to a dental college, she worked as an orthodontic assistant at a practice in Plano and took an extra year of classes at Southern Methodist University. Miller McElroy also worked at an Apple Store and took a brief career detour with a year-long ministry apprenticeship.

After earning her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from A&M Dentistry in May and teaching the SPEP participants, Miller McElroy headed to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to begin a one-year general dentistry residency at Philadelphia VA Healthcare System/Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. She plans to enter private practice in the Dallas area when the residency ends.

Her drive resonated with Fredor “Fred” Bihizi, a student in Collegiate II, who took the class to prepare for the DAT and immerse himself in dentistry. Originally from Burundi, he earned a bachelor’s in nursing from the University of Maine but developed an interest in dentistry after a recent opportunity to shadow a dentist in Tarrant County.

Bihizi found the program while researching online. SPEP showed him what first-year dental students encounter and allowed him to gain insights from Miller McElroy and Duffie and to meet A&M Dentistry faculty, including Clemetson and Dr. Shaun Logan, instructional associate professor in biomedical sciences.

He works at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth and plans to take the DAT for the first time before the end of the year.

“I’m well prepared, and I feel like this is going to help me beyond the application...,” Bihizi said. “I’m looking at how I can be successful in dental school, not only just getting in, but also being the best student I can be at the school and performing well.”

A&M Dentistry is his first choice.

The application deadline for the Class of 2031 is Oct. 1. Nearly 1,500 applied to A&M Dentistry through Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service last year.

Duffie plans to go into general dentistry and wants meaningful work.

“I got to experience what a joy it is to give back to the students the way others gave and poured into me,” Duffie said. “I truly enjoyed working with the summer programs, and I hope that any work I do in the future will be more driven by the desire to do work that is personally fulfilling than by external metrics of success.”

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As families across North Texas prepare for the first day of school, Dream Center Dallas is inviting the community to a morning focused on helping local children start the year with confidence.

On Saturday, August 1, beginning at 10 a.m., Dream Center Dallas will host its annual Back-to-School event at 1900 S. Ewing Ave., Dallas, TX 75216, providing free backpacks, school supplies and shoes for children while supplies last.

With the cost of school essentials continuing to rise, the event helps ease the financial burden for local families while creating a fun day for the community. Children must be present to receive supplies, which will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

In addition to receiving school essentials, families can enjoy games, food and activities throughout the morning, making it a celebration as students prepare for a new school year.

"Every child deserves to begin the school year feeling confident, prepared and supported," said Kacie Kintz, Director of Dream Center Dallas. "Our annual Back-to-School event is about more than providing backpacks and school supplies. It's about showing families that their community is behind them and investing in the success of every student."

Community members who would like to support the event can still get involved by volunteering or making a donation.

Event Details

  • Date: Saturday, August 1, 2026

  • Time: 10 a.m.

  • Location: Dream Center Dallas, 1900 S. Ewing Ave., Dallas, TX 75216

Volunteer: https://www.dreamcenterdallas.com/events

Donate: https://dreamcenterdallas-bloom.kindful.com/

For more information about Dream Center Dallas and its year-round work serving North Texas families through education, hunger relief, homelessness outreach, addiction recovery, abuse prevention and human trafficking awareness, visit www.dreamcenterdallas.com.