Round Rock, Texas – Trellis Foundation, a public charitable organization focused on improving college attainment for low- to moderate-income students, today announced the appointment of three new members to its Board of Directors. Josh Hunt, Executive Vice President and Board Member for Hunt Companies, Inc., Dr. Mark Milliron, co-founder and Chief Learning Officer of Civitas Learning, and Suzanne Walsh, former Deputy Director for postsecondary success with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are now members of the six-person Board.
“I’m delighted to welcome Josh, Mark, and Suzanne to the Trellis Foundation Board,” said Dr. Richard Rhodes, chair of the Trellis Foundation Board and President of Austin Community College. “Each of these new members brings tremendous assets and experience that will help us set the strategic direction for the Trellis Foundation. Their combined experience in leading philanthropic organizations and working in higher education align with our mission and will inform our future. I’m grateful for their participation.”
Josh Hunt
Josh Hunt brings a wealth of business, finance, and investment experience to Trellis Foundation. Mr. Hunt is Executive Vice President and Member of the Board of Directors for Hunt Companies, Inc. and also President of the Hunt Family Foundation.
In addition to his duties at Hunt Companies, Mr. Hunt is a board member of the Borderplex Alliance, member of the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) President’s Athletic Advisory Council, chairman of The Hospitals of Providence Governing Board, a founding board member and current chairman of the new El Paso Children’s Museum, chairman of the Medical Center of the Americas Foundation Board, and a member of the Texas Tech Foundation Board. Mr. Hunt is a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) El Paso/Juarez and Aspen Chapters, Urban Land Institute, and International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC).
Mr. Hunt graduated from The Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University with a bachelor’s degree in Real Estate/Finance and also earned a master’s degree, with honors, in Real Estate and Construction Management from the Daniels School of Business at the University of Denver.
Dr. Mark Milliron
Dr. Mark Milliron adds significant experience in higher education, research analytics, and technology to the Trellis Foundation Board. Dr. Milliron is co-founder and Chief Learning Officer of Civitas Learning, which brings together emerging technology, data science, and design thinking to help students learn well and finish strong.
In previous roles, Dr. Milliron served as the deputy director for Postsecondary Improvement with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; founding chancellor of WGU Texas; Endowed Fellow and director of the National Institute of Staff and Organizational Development at The University of Texas at Austin; vice president for education and medical practice with SAS; and president and CEO of the League for Innovation in the Community College. He is a member of numerous boards and advisory groups.
Dr. Milliron received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in organizational communication from Arizona State University and his doctorate in education administration from The University of Texas at Austin.
Suzanne Walsh
Having experienced all levels of postsecondary education and having worked with some of the largest foundations in the philanthropic community, Suzanne Walsh adds a unique perspective to the Trellis Foundation. Ms. Walsh most recently served as the deputy director for postsecondary success with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In her role, Ms. Walsh leads the foundation’s efforts in institutional redesign strategies.
Ms. Walsh’s prior work includes service at two other prominent foundations: The Lumina Foundation for Education in Indianapolis where she managed the Making Opportunity Affordable initiative, which was aimed at increasing college productivity by bringing about fundamental change in the way higher education does business; and, The Heinz Endowments in Pittsburgh where her diverse portfolio included community colleges, universities, workforce development, tech commercialization and transfer, city/county consolidation, immigration and regional economic development. Ms. Walsh got her start in community college work as the Coordinator of Special Projects at Cuyahoga Community College. She is currently a member of the Grantmakers for Effective Organizations board and on the advisory boards for Roadtrip Nation, as well as education start-ups Uncollege and Sokanu.
Suzanne has her juris doctorate and master’s in social work from Case Western Reserve University, a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, and an associate’s degree in applied science from Hudson Valley Community College.
The three new board members join three founding board members, Dr. Richard Rhodes, Dora Ann Verde of San Antonio, and Welcome Wilson, Jr., of Houston.
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About Trellis Foundation
Founded by Trellis Company (formerly TG), Trellis Foundation is a newly established grantmaking public charity focused on helping low- and moderate-income students increase their ability to access, afford, and complete a postsecondary education. More information is available at www.trellisfoundation.org.