Strong Storytellers
Women’s History Month Profiles: Office of Institutional Advancement
Since 1987, our nation has celebrated Women's History Month every March to recognize and honor the vital role women have played throughout history in shaping our society and culture. For this year's theme, the National Women’s History Alliance has chosen “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories,” highlighting the importance of women's voices in shaping our understanding of history and society. This theme recognizes the impact of women storytellers and their ability to inspire and empower others, while also acknowledging the need to elevate and amplify diverse voices, especially those of women from underrepresented communities.
Storytelling allows the Office of Institutional Advancement to support and advance the mission of the university by bonding with alumni, donors and community partners. By telling stories of the women who have contributed to TTUHSC El Paso, or have benefitted from its services, Institutional Advancement aims to inspire the community to support and contribute to the university's mission.
The women of Institutional Advancement are honored to share their stories of empowerment with the rest of the TTUHSC El Paso community.
Cassara Cravens
Development Assistant
While Cassara may be one of the newest members of the Institutional Advancement team, she has already seen her duties come to fruition at the various celebrations the development team has planned. She’s in charge of assisting with the preparation of events and keeping an open channel of communication with champions of TTUHSC El Paso.
What empowerment means to me
“I’ve held other positions in the past, and I can say my leaders at TTUHSC El Paso are very understanding that women wear multiple hats in life. I don’t stop being a mom at work. I feel proud when I’m driving around town with my daughters and they see our university logo; they know their mom works there. That’s very meaningful.”
Bonnie Elliott
Project Manager
Bonnie is in charge of managing creative requests for the university, Institutional Advancement, Texas Tech Physicians of El Paso and the Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic. She assigns projects to the creative team, prioritizing, setting and monitoring their deadlines. She also is responsible for facilitating the purchasing of promotional items, giveaways, and all printed material for Institutional Advancement, special events and other departments throughout the university.
What empowerment means to me
“To me, empowerment is being in control of your life. It seems simple enough, but during some of my most challenging times, I've had to remind myself that I am not powerless, that I am empowered ... almost giving myself permission to believe, to trust, to take things head on and make things happen in my life.”
Paola Flores
Executive Associate
Paola is a key member of the IA’s team, working closely with the vice president of Institutional Advancement to ensure the smooth functioning of financial procedures and human resources processes. Paola's expertise and attention to detail are critical in ensuring the efficient operation of the department, and her contributions have been instrumental in driving the success of the organization.
What empowerment means to me
“Empowerment is being unique and trusting in our talents to achieve our goals and be happy at what we do and the way we live.”
Daphne Griffin
Senior Director of Marketing & Creative Services
Daphne considers herself the university’s leading brand champion. Ensuring that TTUHSC El Paso is easily recognized by its brand, and more importantly, recognized as responsible for improving lives and empowering generations in our region, is what she strives for every day. Daphne believes that what we do here, and the health care leaders we graduate as a result, is something we should celebrate every day.
What empowerment means to me
“To me, empowerment is working alongside like-minded friends and colleagues … those people who celebrate success through the eyes of the people they serve. It’s really about the bigger picture: planting trees under whose shade you don’t expect to sit.”
Brianna Huffman
Senior Program Director of Special Events
Brianna is a talented event planner and leader of university events that honor and celebrate the generosity of TTUHSC El Paso's supporters and community partners. With her exceptional organizational skills and keen eye for detail, Brianna designs and executes unforgettable events that showcase the contributions of the institution's partners and donors. Her ability to bring people together and create a welcoming atmosphere, and her dedication to recognizing the importance of philanthropy in the success of the institution all play a part in sharing TTUHSC El Paso's mission with our community.
What empowerment means to me
“Empowerment is having a seat at the metaphorical table, the agency to make your voice heard and the compassion to listen to the other voices at the table.”
Veronique Masterson
Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Communications
Veronique is a highly skilled marketing director, communication wizard and visionary creative talent who has made a significant impact at TTUHSC El Paso through innovative campaigns and leadership. Veronique is responsible for directing the institution's marketing efforts for both academic and clinical programs, using her creative talents to promote the university's mission and values. As the director of the university's social media presence, she has increased the institution's online visibility and engagement. Veronique's most notable achievement is launching the institution's first alumni magazine, for which she now serves as editor-in-chief.
What empowerment means to me
“To me empowerment is providing a way for another individual to be successful. It’s offering them a seat at the table, giving them the tools to follow their passion and encouraging them to use their voice to make a difference. The hope is those you’ve empowered do the same for others.”
Desma Montellano
Director of Donor Relations & Annual Giving
Desma builds a culture of gratitude and philanthropy at TTUHSC El Paso by connecting donors with their passion. She sees to it that the impact of donors’ generosity is appropriately recognized, and provides meaningful stewardship that fosters long-term engagement and investment.
What empowerment means to me
“Empowerment for me is equal opportunity and access.”
Tommie Morelos
Section Manager
A talented photographer, Tommie has dedicated her skills and expertise to capturing the essence of TTUHSC El Paso through her lens. In her role, Tommie is responsible for photographing donor announcements, commercial work and academic events for the institution, showcasing the institution's accomplishments and telling the story of its schools and physicians. With her creative vision, Tommie brings the university's marketing campaigns to life, and her work is instrumental in communicating the institution's values and achievements to the wider community.
What empowerment means to me
“Empowerment to me is about living confidently, knowing that I will be heard and respected, and not in fear of losing my rights. Having freedom to live, work and share/build in community the way that is best for me.”
Lori Navarrete
Senior Writer, Development
Lori researches and writes about funding opportunities for the university, for individual faculty members conducting research, and for faculty implementing programs benefiting the El Paso community and West Texas. As a senior writer, Lori helps tell the story of the university through her writing by emphasizing the strengths and challenges of the El Paso community as it relates to health care services and disparities.
What empowerment means to me
“When I think of empowerment, I think of people like Angela Davis, Rigoberta Menchú Tum, Frida Kahlo, Malala Yousafzai and so many other fierce activists. Whether it was just what they wanted to do or a matter of the time they lived in, or even a matter of basic circumstances, they probably all did so without consciously knowing at the time. So, perhaps empowerment is having the ability to define who you are, and not let anyone else do it for you, in whatever context you are in throughout your life.”
Mary Orrell
Development Assistant
Caring about people is one of Mary’s superpowers. As an administrative assistant, her duties impact the role that donors have in bringing opportunities to both the students and our Borderplex community at large. She sees first-hand through the letters of TTUHSC El Paso students the impact of connecting with people who want to make a difference with the university.
What empowerment means to me
“I find contentment and joy in watching the community build itself into a better one by helping people have more opportunities for better health care and practices that have been unavailable to them.”
Marty Otero
Media Relations Specialist, Regional and National Media
Marty creates a positive and professional rapport with regional and national media. Her job involves securing media coverage that generates awareness of all the good, positive things that staff, faculty, students, and researchers at TTUHSC El Paso are doing in the community, across the state, nationally and even internationally.
What empowerment means to me
“Overall, I’ve learned that we as strong, educated, professional women must work to empower ourselves and other women, especially young women who are coming up through the ranks, to become our future leaders. We must all network and surround ourselves with the energy that gives us the determination and motivation to be the best we can be in whatever field we work in: communications, science, research, education, and more.”
Meriah Rivera
Program Coordinator
An exceptional program coordinator, Meriah is known for her ability to make things happen. As a key member of the development team at TTUHSC El Paso, Meriah oversees the entire event planning process, from start to finish. Her expertise in logistics and attention to detail are critical in ensuring that every event runs smoothly and exceeds expectations. Meriah is a master at communicating with vendors, managing budgets and coordinating all aspects of the event, no matter how complex.
What empowerment means to me
“My confidence empowers me every day. I have my father to thank for my confidence. He instilled in me from a very young age that I could be a leader regardless of my gender by being my authentic self and working hard.”
Sandra Salas
Lead Producer
Sandra is an accomplished graphic designer who has dedicated her talents to creating stunning visual designs for TTUHSC El Paso. In her role, she is responsible for producing creative and compelling designs that communicate the institution's message and values. Her ability to transform complex ideas into creative visual representations is instrumental in elevating the institution's brand and reputation.
What empowerment means to me
“Empowerment is having a voice and standing for what is right even when going against the crowd, and the ability to take ownership of my work and contribute to meaningful decision-making.”
Rosa Talamantes
Business Manager
Rosa is responsible for the accounting and purchasing operations of the Office of Institutional Advancement. When she is not crunching numbers at her desk, she conferring with others in the office, keeping them up to date on procedures, taking inventory and sharing day greetings with the rest of the staff.
What empowerment means to me
“I give my best and work diligently to represent my culture and hard-working women with dignity. I feel empowered by inspiring other women to overcome economic inequality, race, and gender barriers. ¡Si se puede!”
Andrea Tawney
Vice President
Overseeing the Office of Institutional Advancement, Andrea leads the development and execution of strategies to secure philanthropic support for the institution’s programs and initiatives, including fundraising, donor relations and alumni engagement. She also serves as a key member of the university’s senior leadership team, working to advance the university’s mission and vision.
What empowerment means to me
“Empowerment is being intentional about growing others around me. It’s about encouraging others in their personal and professional lives to harness their own superpowers and show up every day with a sense of purpose. I’m proud that I’ve supported several female leaders on our campus to take some risks. And when they have a good idea, to execute and be trailblazers of inaugural initiatives.”
Idaly Tiscareno
Social Media Specialist
Idaly manages the main social media platforms for TTUHSC El Paso and Texas Tech Physicians of El Paso. Her duties go well beyond the metrics of a social media post and are the vessel of communication between what happens at TTUHSC El Paso and the bridge that connects to the Borderplex community and beyond.
What empowerment means to me
“Empowerment for me means having the liberty to make decisions on her own, and acknowledging that it has not always been possible for women. From deciding what to buy, eat, say, read, cook, or wear - even the smallest decision is empowering to me. And I believe it feels that way because I’m aware of the injustice other women in different circumstances than my own are forced to endure.”
Danielle Urbina
Director of Communications
Danielle develops communications strategy and methods of sharing the university’s story with local, regional and national audiences. She manages two teams: editorial and media relations. Together, they work with the campus community to highlight the important work TTUHSC El Paso, Texas Tech Physicians of El Paso and the Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic does for our Borderplex community.
What empowerment means to me
“To me, empowerment takes on two meanings. One is understanding that we all have something different to offer, and knowing that, it’s then bringing your contributions to the table with courage. Most importantly to me, it’s providing women and girls with opportunities to develop their skills, talents and voices to be change-makers in our community.”
Katherine Vandertulip
Multimedia Content Writer
Katherine is an accomplished social media and marketing specialist who has dedicated her skills and expertise to promoting the Texas Tech Dental Oral Health Clinic. In her role, Katherine is responsible for managing the clinic's social media presence, using her creative talents to engage with the community and promote the importance of oral health. She is also a marketing guru, developing and implementing innovative strategies to increase the clinic's visibility and attract new patients.
What empowerment means to me
“Being empowered is about having the confidence and capacity to voice your own thoughts and accomplish goals with authenticity.”
Janine Young
Senior Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations
Janine’s role is to identify corporate and foundation partners from which to obtain grants and donations for TTUHSC El Paso. An important part of her role is to build relationships with these donors and identify the needs of our campus that align with their giving interests.
What empowerment means to me
“To me, there are two types of empowerment. There is the empowerment we try to give to others, whether that is our team members at work, our friends, or our family. This kind of empowerment is giving others the support, friendship and love they need to be successful and achieve their goals. The other type of empowerment is self-empowerment. This is more difficult because it requires that we give ourselves space to try new things and permission to make mistakes. But the payoff is great because self-empowerment helps us to follow our passions and reach for our dreams.”