The Texas Hispanic Policy Foundation has reconstituted its board of directors and adopted a new strategic framework focused on expanding its research, strengthening its independence and establishing a permanent academic home for its work.

The changes were approved during a September 3 meeting in Dallas, where the foundation seated a nine-member governing board representing different regions, political affiliations and genders.

Founded in 2019, the Texas Hispanic Policy Foundation is a nonpartisan, nonprofit research organization focused on the political, economic and civic life of Hispanic Texans. The foundation works in partnership with Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy on statewide research and polling. 

The organization has also formalized a separation between its board and executive leadership. Regina Montoya will serve as chair of the board, while founder Jason Villalba will continue as president and chief executive officer. Dr. Mark P. Jones, a fellow at Rice University’s Baker Institute, will continue to lead the foundation’s research.

Four New Board Members

The reconstituted board includes four new directors:

• Justice Eva Guzman, former justice of the Supreme Court of Texas.
• Massey Villarreal, a Houston business leader and former national chair of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
• Dr. Juliet Villarreal García, founding president of the University of Texas at Brownsville and an architect of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
• The Hon. Pete Gallego, former U.S. congressman and longtime Texas legislator from West Texas.

They join five continuing directors: Montoya; former Texas Secretary of State Hope Andrade; former Texas State Senator Leticia Van de Putte; Robert A. Estrada, a leader in Texas public finance and civic affairs; and Villalba.

The foundation also recognized departing directors Elizabeth Lorenz and Trey Newton. Along with David Cabrales and Victor Leal, they will continue supporting the organization as members of its Board of Advisors.

Foundation Plans Expansion

The foundation's new strategic framework centers on four priorities: maintaining a reconstituted bipartisan board, developing a professional fundraising operation, expanding its research partnership with the Baker Institute and pursuing an endowed, named institute at a private Texas university over the next three to five years.

The organization says the goals are intended to broaden the reach of its nonpartisan research and establish a long-term institutional foundation for its work.

The Texas Hispanic Policy Foundation currently conducts original polling, research and analysis on the political, economic and civic life of Hispanic Texans. Its research is intended for policymakers, journalists, researchers and civic leaders throughout the state. 

The foundation's research has included statewide polling on Texas voters and Hispanic Texans, as well as studies examining economic, social and public policy issues affecting the state's Hispanic population.

The foundation is based in Dallas and operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. More information about its research and programs is available at Texas Hispanic Policy Foundation.