Governor Abbott Appoints Three To Texas State Library And Archives Commission
Governor Greg Abbott today appointed Martha Wong of Houston, Romanita Matta-Barrera of San Antonio and re-appointed Larry Holt of College Station to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission for terms to expire on September 28, 2021. The Commission safeguards significant resources, provides information services that inspire and support research, education and reading and enhances the capacity for achievement of current and future generations.
Martha Wong is a community volunteer, former state representative and Houston city council member. Before her state and community service, she was Director of Community Resource and Development at Southwest College. Wong also served as an associate professor at Baylor University. She began her career with the Houston Independent School District serving in a variety of roles as associate superintendent, elementary school principal, special education teacher and first-grade teacher. Wong became the first Asian American woman elected to the Houston city council when she served from 1994 – 2000. She also became the first Asian-American woman to be elected to the Texas House of Representatives which she served from 2003 – 2007. Wong is a member of the Houston Association of Retired Teachers, Asian Pacific American Heritage Association, Greater Houston Pachyderm Club, Chinese American Citizens Alliance and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. She has previously served as a board member for the American Red Cross, Neuhaus Education Center, Houston Olympic 2012 Foundation, Alley Theater, Lions Eye Bank Foundation and University of Houston Alumni Organization. Wong was inducted into the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame in 1994. She has been recognized as a Distinguished University of Houston Alumni by the UH Alumni Association and the College of Education. Wong graduated with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Texas at Austin. She earned her master’s and doctorate degree in Educational Administration from the University of Houston.
Romanita Matta-Barrera is CEO of Fluent Strategy Group, LLC. Prior to that, she served in a variety of roles as Director of Hispanic Outreach and Communications for the U.S. Department of Education, Deputy Director for the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans and Texas Media Director for U.S. Senator John Cornyn. Early in her career, she worked with employers and led community relations as part of workforce development for SER Jobs for Progress in San Antonio. Matta-Barrera is an active member of Leadership San Antonio, San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, University of Texas at San Antonio Center for Educational Leadership, Policy and Professional Development advisory council, Family Service Association of San Antonio and most recently, Leadership SAISD. She has previously served as a gubernatorial appointee to the OneStar National Service Commission. Matta-Barrera earned her bachelor’s degree in both government and Latin American studies from The University of Texas at Austin. She completed an international studies program at El Colegio de Mexico in Mexico City, Mexico.
Larry Holt is an attorney. He is a member of the Texas Bar Foundation and Brazos County Bar Association. Holt previously served in leadership positions as chairman of the Brazos Valley Estate Planning Council, founding director of Community Foundation Brazos Valley and chairman of trustees for the Mary Rodes Gibson Hemostasis-Thrombosis Foundation. He and his wife have also been involved and supportive of Habitat for Humanity, Twin City Mission, Brazos County Youth Livestock and Voices for Children CASA. Holt earned his law degree from Baylor University and his master of law degree from Southern Methodist University.