Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Darryl Heath and Colt McCoy, and reappointed Ashlie Thomas to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Their terms will run until August 31, 2031. The board is responsible for providing leadership and coordination for higher education in Texas.
Darryl Heath, from Colleyville, is retired after more than three decades at Accenture. He currently serves as executive director of the Fort Worth – Tarrant County Innovation Partnership and is a member of the Texas Higher Education Foundation Board of Trustees. He was previously chairman of the Texas A&M College of Engineering Advisory Board. Heath holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Texas A&M University.
Colt McCoy, from Aledo, works as Fort Worth partner for Tenant Advisory at HPI Real Estate and Investments. He sits on advisory boards for the Fort Worth Real Estate Center, University of Texas Real Estate Center, and UT School of Civic Leadership. He also serves on the For Others Advisory Board. McCoy earned a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management from UT Austin.
Ashlie Thomas, from Victoria, is vice president at C.L. Thomas Inc. She is involved with several organizations including Citizens Medical Center Board of Managers, Victoria College Foundation Impact Team, St. Joseph High School, Golden Crescent Habitat for Humanity, and the Victoria Economic Development Corporation. Thomas received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and an MBA from Lynn University as well as a Master of Science in Sports Management from Texas A&M University.
The Office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott leads statewide efforts in economic development and education enhancement while supporting community initiatives such as border security and job growth (https://gov.texas.gov/). The office operates out of Austin at the State Insurance Building (https://gov.texas.gov/) and forms part of the executive branch that delivers services across Texas (https://gov.texas.gov/).
Abbott has served as governor since his election in 2014 (https://gov.texas.gov/), focusing on issues such as job creation, educational opportunities, individual liberties protection, parental empowerment in schooling decisions, and southern border security (https://gov.texas.gov/). Under his leadership, Texas has seen notable achievements including national recognition for jobs growth and employment levels (https://gov.texas.gov/). In 2024, TIME listed Abbott among its 100 Most Influential People (https://gov.texas.gov/).
