Governor Greg Abbott appointed Jesus “Roberto” Rodriguez, Ph.D., and reappointed Bill Avera, Edwin Flores, Ph.D., and Rania Mankarious to the Texas School Safety Center Board for terms set to expire on February 1, 2028. The board reports to the Governor, the legislature, the State Board of Education, and the Texas Education Agency regarding school safety and security and advises the center on its function, budget, and strategic planning initiatives.
Jesus “Roberto” Rodriguez, Ph.D., of Rancho Viejo is the president of Texas Southmost College. He previously served as a dean at Houston City College and the Lone Star College System. He is a member of the Texas Association of Community Colleges and the American Association of Community Colleges. Rodriguez received a Bachelor of Business Administration in management from Sam Houston State University (SHSU), a Master of Business Administration in international trade from Texas A&M International University, and a Doctor of Philosophy in higher education administration from The University of Texas (UT) at Austin.
Bill Avera of Jacksonville is the chief of police and emergency manager with the Jacksonville Independent School District (ISD). He is executive director of the Texas School District Police Chiefs’ Association and a member of the Texas Police Chiefs Association and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. He is board chair of Providence Place in San Antonio, a member and past chair of the Cherokee County Child and Family Service Board, executive secretary of the Jacksonville Rotary Club, and a former member of the Jacksonville ISD Education Foundation. Avera received a Bachelor of Science in law enforcement and police science from SHSU and a Master of Science in management from East Texas A&M University. He completed the Basic Police Officers Course at the East Texas Police Academy in Kilgore.
Edwin Flores, Ph.D., of Dallas is a managing partner at Chalker Flores, LLP. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas and the Patent Bar and is a board member of Medical City Hospital Dallas. Flores received a Bachelor of Science in microbiology from UT Austin, a Doctor of Philosophy in immunology from Washington University in St. Louis, and a Juris Doctor from UT School of Law.
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Office of the Texas Governor
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