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Humanities Texas welcomes our new board members, Andrea Holman and Orenthia Mason! The Humanities Texas Board of Directors formulates policy, approves programs and projects, reviews grant applications, participates in fundraising, and promotes organizational activities. Directors are selected for knowledge of or involvement in the humanities and represent a balance between the academic and public spheres.

The Humanities Texas Board of Directors meets in the Julius and Suzan Glickman Room at the Byrne-Reed House in April 2019.
Andrea Holman

Dr. Andrea Holman is associate professor of psychology at Huston-Tillotson University, where she primarily teaches undergraduate courses and conducts research on the complexities of racial identity and cultural mistrust and their impact on interracial interactions. She earned her MEd and PhD in educational psychology from The University of Texas at Austin under Dr. Kevin Cokley.

In addition to her research and academic work, she also serves as a mentor for undergraduate students at Huston-Tillotson, burgeoning practitioners of color at a local community mental health center, and foster/adoptive parents pursuing transracial adoption through the local foster agency through which she and her husband are currently licensed foster parents.

Regarding her new appointment, Dr. Holman commented, “I enjoyed serving Humanities Texas through various events this year, and I look forward to continuing to serve this valuable organization in this capacity in the years to come.”

Andrea Holman.

Orenthia Mason

Rev. Orenthia Mason is a Tyler educator and civic leader. She is director of alumni affairs at Texas College and serves as pastor of the St. James Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and chair of the Central Texas Region Joint Board of Finance.

She spent twenty-seven years in the Tyler Independent School District working as a teacher, elementary school consultant, Title I coordinator, principal, and board member. Her honors include Outstanding Community Service, Outstanding Woman in Tyler, Outstanding Commitment to Black History, and Leadership Tyler's Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient.

"I am honored to serve on the Humanities Texas board with such a distinguished group of citizens," said Rev. Mason. "The board's mission is educational excellence, which has been my life and mantra for over forty-five years."

Orenthia Mason.