Governor Abbott Appoints Three To Humanities Texas
Governor Greg Abbott today appointed Laurie Morian, Ellen K. Ramsey and Stephanie Tucker to Humanities Texas for terms to expire on December 31, 2017. As the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, they conduct and support public programs in history, literature, philosophy, and the other humanities disciplines. These programs strengthen Texas communities by cultivating the knowledge and judgment that representative democracy demands of its citizens. Humanities Texas is one of fifty-six nonprofit state and jurisdictional humanities councils in the United States. They are a nonprofit educational organization founded in 1973 and are supported by appropriations from the U.S. Congress and the state of Texas and by gifts and grants from foundations, corporations, and individuals.
Laurie Morian of Houston is a former private wealth advisor. She has worked at Avalon Advisors, Northern Trust, Chemical Bank New York and Texas Commerce Bank. She was also the corporate secretary and co-manager of the 2005 Canada World Fair Exposition. Morian is active within her community as a board member and curator’s circle member of the Houston Museum of Natural Science, board member of the Museum Fine Arts Houston, member of the Junior League of Houston, supporter of the Inner City Nutcracker, and advisor for YES Prep. She has previously served as a board member or advisor for several organizations including the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, Houston Zoological Society, Hermann Park Conservancy, Zoo Friends, Girls Inc., and Memorial Park Conservancy. As chairman of the Houston Museum of Natural Science, she traveled with a team to Ethiopia to help negotiate bringing the “Lucy” fossil to the museum. She also traveled with a team to England to work with the Hereford Cathedral to bring an original edition of the Magna Carta from 1217 along with the King’s Writ document dated 1215 to the museum in Houston. Morian earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with concentrations in accounting and finance from Texas A&M University.
Ellen K. Ramsey of Midland is a partner at Ramsey Petroleum, LP. Ramsey is an education committee member for the Midland Chamber of Commerce, board member and treasurer for the Midland County Public Library Foundation, board member for the I-20 Wildlife Preserve & Jenna Welch Nature Study Center and committee member for the City of Midland Hotel/Motel Tax Advisory Council. She was previously a board member for the George W. Bush Childhood Home, Inc. Ramsey earned a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin.
Stephanie Tucker of Houston is a community volunteer. Tucker is an active member of The Brookwood Community Volunteers and the United Way Women’s Initiative. She is a former member of the Junior League of Houston and the Zoo Friends of Houston. Tucker earned a Bachelor of Science in speech communications from the University of Texas at Austin.