Fueling Innovation & Economic Vitality in Fort Worth

Currently in her third term, Mayor Mattie Parker was first elected to lead the nation’s now 11th largest city in 2021. Mayor Parker is focused on building a safer and stronger Fort Worth, nurturing thriving families and fostering the highest quality of life in every ZIP code. Her next-generation leadership includes key efforts and community partnerships to bolster Fort Worth’s development to compete in a global economy, improve public safety, expand access to education and workforce opportunities, and preserve the city’s rich heritage with a pioneering spirit and determination to leave things better than she found them.    

Mayor Parker is a licensed attorney, with more than 18 years of experience in national, state, and local public affairs, including her service as the chief of staff for Mayor and the Fort Worth City Council. She was the founding CEO of Fort Worth Cradle to Career and the Tarrant To & Through (T3) Partnership. She and her husband David are the proud parents of one daughter and two sons.

Daniel W. Pullin, an accomplished educator, leader and innovator, became Texas Christian University’s 11th Chancellor on June 1, 2025. With an entrepreneurial spirit and unwavering commitment to student success, Pullin is dedicated to advancing TCU’s mission. His early foundation in world-renowned business organizations and 20 years of higher education experience uniquely position him to lead TCU into a future of continued excellence.  

Before becoming Chancellor, Pullin served as TCU President. Infusing operational expertise and innovation into TCU’s leadership team, Pullin led the charge to develop a new strategic plan. Approved by the Board in November 2024, TCU’s new strategic plan, LEAD ON: Values in Action, is a bold, innovative plan that builds on TCU’s momentum to lead TCU to greater levels of student success and impact.  

Pullin is an energetic leader committed to serving TCU’s broad array of students, faculty, staff, alumni and supporters. Through his executive team, TCU has significantly increased student success outcomes, research and creative activity expenditures, athletic success and engagement with the community. Pullin continues to serve as a professor of entrepreneurship and innovation. 

Pullin is committed to civic and higher education leadership, serving on the Fort Worth Economic Development Partnership Executive Council, Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Dallas Regional Chamber Board of Advisors and is a member of Valliance Bank Board. He actively engages with industry leadership groups, including Big 12 Conference presidents, Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas (ICUT), the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB), the Education Advisory Board (EAB) University Presidents Roundtable and the CCI University Presidents Roundtable.  

Pullin earned undergraduate degrees from the University of Oklahoma and an MBA from Harvard Business School before returning to OU to earn a Juris Doctor. Pullin and his wife, Ann Bluntzer Pullin, Ph.D., enjoy attending TCU fine arts and athletic events with their children. 

Dr. Calhoun is the eighth President of UNT Health Fort Worth, appointed full-time in July 2025 after serving as Interim President. He earned his BS in Biology from the University of Illinois at Chicago and his MD from the University of Kansas. Dr. Calhoun’s extensive leadership includes roles at the University of Missouri Kansas City, UT Medical Branch at Galveston, Parkland Hospital, UT Southwestern, and President of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler. There he orchestrated the consolidation of UT Tyler and the creation of its School of Medicine, launching the inaugural class in 2023.  Honored by induction into the Doctor Luke Society and as a T.B. Butler Citizen of the Year, he also chairs national medical organizations, serves on several boards, and is a Professor of Medicine at UT Tyler. Dr. Calhoun sits on the boards of Southside Bancshares, Inc. and the W Fair Foundation. 

Chancellor Elva LeBlanc embraces the Texas spirit of resilience and determination to lead Tarrant County College with unwavering dedication and a clear vision for the future.

She oversaw the development of Trailblazing Together: 2030, TCC’s five-year strategic plan, and has focused the College on aligning resources with community needs. She prioritizes student success with clearly defined pathways to high-demand career fields and credentials of value. The strategic plan emphasizes investment in people, TCC’s most valuable asset, and promises a positive impact for students, the region and the economy.

Dr. LeBlanc backs this plan with decades of higher education work. Her TCC experience began as a student and progressed to professor, dean, campus president, and executive vice chancellor and provost. In these roles she partnered with local school districts to enhance college access and coordinated with business leaders to craft industry-focused job-ready programs. Her accomplishments include establishing Tarrant County’s first Early College High School and opening the Center of Excellence for Aviation, Transportation and Logistics at Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport, a collaboration with North Texas industries to enhance workforce skills.

Dr. LeBlanc’s tenure as Galveston College president cemented her reputation for forward thinking. She transformed the institution into a “Learning College” by spotlighting student learning outcomes and institutional assessment. Faced with limited local and state funding, she secured external dollars to support the school’s goals. 

As executive vice president for instructional affairs at Austin Community College, Dr. LeBlanc developed an academic master plan and advanced ACC’s approach to unified institutional success.

She holds bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of North Texas and completed her postdoctoral work at Texas A&M University.

In partnership with her husband, she established a scholarship in their name through the TCC Foundation. The Drs. Adrian and Elva LeBlanc Scholarship honors the legacy of leadership that she began as a TCC student and continues to exemplify.

Her commitment to both Tarrant County College and its community is steadfast. She is a TCC Trailblazer.

Jennifer Cowley serves as The University of Texas at Arlington’s 10th president, the first woman to hold this position. An Arlington native, Dr. Cowley brings a profound commitment to public service, academic excellence, and community engagement to the role.

Under Cowley’s leadership, UTA continues to thrive as both a Carnegie R1 research institution and a Carnegie Opportunity University recognized for expanding access to higher education while achieving successful postgraduate outcomes. She is spearheading efforts to open the new UTA West campus in Parker County and west Fort Worth in 2028 and has introduced a strategic plan—UTA 2030: Shared Dreams, Bright Future—that’s rooted in academic and research excellence, a persistent focus on student success, and strong partnerships across Texas.

She is a national leader in enhancing academic programming to improve postgraduate outcomes, chairs the Coalition of Urban Serving Universities board, and serves on the boards of both Campus Compact and Presidents Forum.

Cowley is a fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners and the National Academy of Public Administrators. She holds a faculty appointment as professor of public affairs and planning in UTA’s College of Architecture, Planning, and Public Affairs.

Before her appointment to UTA in 2022, Cowley served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at the University of North Texas and spent 16 years at The Ohio State University in various capacities, including vice provost for capital planning and regional campuses.

Cowley earned a Ph.D. in urban and regional science, a master’s degree in urban planning, and a bachelor’s degree in political science, all from Texas A&M University. Additionally, she holds master’s degrees in public administration and interdisciplinary studies from the University of North Texas. Cowley and her husband, Jon, live in Arlington and are proud parents to their son, Nathan.

Glenn Hegar began his tenure as the 15th Chancellor of the Texas A&M University System in July. In that short time he has already worked to streamline and modernize system operations while highlighting the critical work of the system’s 12 universities, 8 state agencies, health science center and Texas A&M-RELLIS and Fort Worth Campuses.  

Prior to becoming Chancellor, Hegar served in the Texas Legislature as a state representative and a state senator. He later became the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, where he developed a reputation for delivering results, prudently managing billions in taxpayer funds and leading with principle. 
  
Known for his hands-on leadership and deep commitment to public service, Hegar is now focused on one primary mission: unlocking the full potential of the A&M System to build the next generation of Texas leaders. 

The A&M System serves more than 170,000 students and reaches millions more through service, research and outreach programs each year. With nearly $1.6 billion in annual research expenditures, the A&M System fuels innovation, supports communities and drives Texas’ economy forward.

Dr. James Hurley began his tenure as Tarleton State University’s 16th President in fall 2019 with the vision to create a premier comprehensive national public university. Since his arrival, Tarleton State has elevated to new heights of academic excellence, research, retention rates, graduation rates, fundraising and athletics. 

Under his leadership, Tarleton State attained the prestigious designation of High Research Spending and Doctorate Production by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, met the highest fundraising goal in its history — eclipsing $125 million — and joined NCAA Division I as a member of the Western Athletic Conference. The campus infrastructure has also evolved rapidly, with the university receiving over $750 million in new construction and infrastructure enhancements. His signature initiatives include the Distinguished High School and two-year Distinguished College Partners programs, the President’s Excellence in Research Scholars (PERS), the Tarleton Promise scholarship and Tarleton Today, a dual-enrollment program. 

Dr. Emily Messer is the 21st President of Texas Wesleyan University, and the first woman to serve in this role. As a first-generation college student herself, Dr. Messer’s commitment to student success and enriching experiences is a driving force of her leadership. Her background, combined with her comprehensive expertise, underscores her dedication to fostering an environment where students thrive academically and personally.  

Dr. Messer’s leadership centers on enhancing the student experience, placing a strong emphasis on providing access, guidance and connectivity. Her profound dedication to inclusivity and education’s transformative power is a cornerstone of her tenure. Under her guidance, Texas Wesleyan University enters an era defined by boundless possibilities and meaningful growth — propelling students toward a promising future.  

Dr. Messer received her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Jacksonville State University and her Doctor of Education in higher education administration from the University of Alabama. She finds joy in spending time with her family and friends, traveling, reading, and outdoor activities. She shares these experiences with her husband, Chris, and their two daughters, Madelyn (14), and Camille (10).  

Reagan Stephens is a senior political science major on the pre-law track at Texas Christian University, originally from Reno-Tahoe, Nevada. She currently serves as TCU’s student body president, where she’s focused on advocating for 11,000 undergraduate students. From supporting for greater tuition transparency to helping bring back TCU’s iconic Homecoming parade, Reagan’s work centers on building trust and community on campus. She has also played a role in helping launch TCU’s new Pre-Law Center, something she’s especially passionate about as she prepares for law school.

Before leading on campus, Reagan gained hands-on experience in state government, working in the Nevada governor’s office across two legislative sessions. There, she analyzed more than 50 pieces of legislation, developed policy reports, and drafted recommendations that guided executive decision-making. That experience deepened her interest in how policy connects to people’s everyday lives, and how students, in particular, can shape those policies.

At TCU, Reagan is involved across campus life. She’s a proud member of Kappa Alpha Theta, where she has built a strong sense of sisterhood and community. She also competed on TCU’s Moot Court Team, qualifying for the AMCA national tournament. Outside of those roles, she has served on university committees, partnered with administrators to enhance student life, and mentored emerging student leaders.