JNIWL Advisory Council

Myra Crownover, Chair

Myra is an accomplished businesswoman with diverse interests in banking, real estate, and energy sectors, holding a BA from SMU and MA in professional education from Texas A&M University. During her distinguished 16-year tenure in the Texas House of Representatives (2000-2016), she chaired the Committee on Public Health, served as Vice Chair on the Energy Resources Committee, and played a pivotal role as a member of the Conference Committee.

Trea Yip, Ph.D., Vice Chair

Dr. Yip is the CEO of TY Commercial Group, bringing over three decades of leadership to the commercial real estate industry. Her commitment to advancing women in business and philanthropy is evidenced by her distinguished service as former chair of the Texas Women’s Foundation and her contributions to several organizations including Baylor Health Care Systems.

Carine M. Feyten, Ph.D.

Dr. Feyten has served as chancellor of the Texas Woman’s University System and president of Texas Woman’s University since 2014, where she has spearheaded over $460 million in infrastructure projects and tripled foundation assets. A native of Belgium fluent in five languages, she emphasizes a campus culture of care and excellence that supports whole-person development while serving on numerous boards including as chair of the Community Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

Shannon Mantaro

Shannon serves as Executive Director and Chief Officer of the Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership at Texas Woman’s University where she leads three specialized centers dedicated to preparing women for successful careers. Drawing on her expertise in economic development and women's entrepreneurship, she has expanded opportunities for Texas women through innovative grant programs, business advisement services, and strategic partnerships.

Lisa Rampy

Lisa is an experienced higher education advancement professional who leads efforts to strengthen philanthropic support and institutional partnerships as Vice President at Texas Woman’s University. Before joining TWU, she served in development roles at Texas Tech University and worked in executive education at Southern Methodist University.

Deborah Cantrell, M.D.

Dr. Cantrell serves as a board-certified neurologist specializing in epilepsy who currently leads multiple medical practices and epilepsy centers in North Texas, with particular expertise in women’s issues and pregnancy. She previously held numerous academic and clinical appointments at University of Texas institutions, serving as a team neurologist for educational institutions and as a speaker for pharmaceutical companies.

Maurine Dickey

Maurine served as a Dallas County Commissioner for two terms (2005-2013), where she championed transportation initiatives, high-speed rail development, and established the Prostitute Diversion Initiative. She and her husband Roland are SMU graduates and part of the Dickey family that owns Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, the nation’s largest barbecue chain founded in 1941.

Angela Farley

Angela serves as Owner of AI Farley Consulting, LLC, focusing on AI workforce adaptation and employer-education connectivity, and was selected by Governor Abbott to represent Texas at The White House Summit on State-Federal STEM Education. She previously served as COO and CFO at the Dallas Regional Chamber where she led strategic initiatives in economic development, education, and workforce, bringing extensive background in finance and accounting to her leadership roles.

Morgan LaMantia

Morgan serves as Community Relations & Government Affairs manager at L & F Distributors, bringing legal background with a Juris Doctor from St. Mary’s University and Business degree from UT Austin. She previously transitioned from private practice to in-house counsel roles and served as Texas State Senator for District 27 from 2023–2025, while maintaining leadership positions in several South Texas civic organizations.

Tracey Long

Tracey serves as a banker at Worthington Bank and community leader in Denton, maintaining active participation on multiple boards including the Denton Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Denton Foundation. She currently serves on the City’s Community Services Advisory Commission and contributes time to the United Way of Denton County, focusing on local business development and community engagement initiatives.

Cristal Retana Lule

Cristal serves as Vice President of Community Relations at Children’s Health while maintaining an extensive background in Texas public service as a first-generation Texan who has received multiple leadership awards. She previously held positions as Mayor Pro Tem of Farmers Branch and various legislative roles, actively serving on several community boards throughout the Dallas area to advance health and community initiatives.

Maria Mendez

Maria serves as Government and Education growth leader for Cigna across Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana markets, leveraging a 27-year health industry career spanning account management, strategy development, and community engagement. She holds a BBA from Northwood University and maintains active board participation with organizations including Visit Dallas and Texas Women’s Foundation, bringing valuable healthcare industry expertise to her leadership roles.

Sara Madsen Miller

Sara is COO and co-owner of 1820 Productions and a strategic advisor who has spent over two decades helping business leaders amplify their market presence through sophisticated digital marketing and targeted media campaigns. She has served on the boards of several prestigious organizations, including the Cotton Bowl Classic Association, Dallas Regional Chamber, Texas Women’s Foundation, The Family Place, and the Dallas Assembly.

Neena Newberry

Neena brings over 25 years of executive coaching expertise to Fortune 500 leaders, following a distinguished 14-year career at Deloitte where she led performance management for 34,000 employees. Since founding her company in 2008, she has taught at SMU Cox School of Business and the George W. Bush Presidential Center’s Women’s Initiative Fellowship Program while serving on boards including the Dallas Children’s Theater and Akola Project.

Nancy Paup

Nancy is a Texas businesswoman who manages and directs business, real estate, and ranching interests while previously serving on the Board of Regents of Texas Woman’s University. Her extensive educational background includes master’s and bachelor’s degrees from TWU and post-graduate studies at Dartmouth, Harvard, and Wharton, complemented by her dedicated service on multiple boards including Humanities Texas and The Philosophical Society of Texas.

Caryn Riggs

Caryn serves as City of Bedford Assistant Manager and TWU alumna, bringing extensive municipal finance experience through her previous positions as chief financial officer at the City of Grand Prairie and director of financial services for the Town of Flower Mound. She maintains active community involvement as a member of Denton Benefit League and contributes her financial acumen to municipal governance and public service initiatives throughout the region.

Annette Underwood

Annette serves as Human Resources Vice President overseeing Workforce Development and Inclusion at Vistra, participating on multiple advisory boards and managing programs supporting workforce needs through college partnerships and internships. She contributes to energy industry initiatives as part of the Long Duration Energy Storage National Consortium while focusing on diversity and inclusion strategies that strengthen the energy sector’s workforce development goals.

Olivia Zepeda

Olivia serves as manager of corporate relations and aide to the chairman’s office for El Paso-based Hunt Companies, holding degrees in marketing and international business from the University of Texas at El Paso. She previously held the position of chief of staff to former El Paso Mayor Dee Margo from 2017 to January 2021, maintaining active involvement in local community initiatives that promote economic and civic development in the El Paso region.