Deep in the Heart of Dallas Special Guests
Meet our Deep in the Heart of Dallas featured alumni!
We’re excited to host them and share their knowledge, experiences, and interesting life paths with you at our centennial celebration, Deep in the Heart of Dallas, on April 12, 2026 at Happiest Hour!
Chris Del Conte
Vice President and Lois and Richard Folger Athletics Director at the University of Texas at Austin
Chris Del Conte is a proven, well-regarded and nationally recognized athletics administrator who has a long history of leading highly-successful athletic departments. In his eighth year at UT and 20th year as an athletics director overall, Del Conte has strong ties to the Lone Star State, having spent a dozen years at TCU and Rice before taking over leadership of Texas Athletics on December 9, 2017.
Del Conte’s vision has helped keep Texas on the cutting edge of modern trends in terms of facility upgrades and unique gameday experiences, but he has also sought to showcase the rich tradition the University’s athletics programs boast.
In July 2021, Del Conte worked closely with campus and UT System leadership while playing a critical role in Texas requesting and then accepting future membership in the Southeastern Conference. One of the most monumental moves in UT history, the Longhorns will be joining the SEC in 2024.
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Vince Young
2005 Maxwell, Davey O’Brien
2005 Manning Award Winner
2006 Rose Bowl National Championship
Youth and Community Studies, College of Education (2013)
2019 College Football Hall of Fame
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Vince Young is one of NCAA history’s most prolific dual-threat quarterbacks. A consensus All-American, he won the Maxwell, Davey O’Brien, and Manning Awards in 2005 as the Heisman runner-up. Young’s 30-2 record as a starter is the highest winning percentage in UT history (93.8%).
Statistical Milestones:
Total Offense: 9,167 yards and 81 touchdowns (both UT records).
Historic Rose Bowl: The only NCAA player to pass for 230+ yards and rush for 250+ in one game (2006 vs. USC).
Ground Game: UT record-holder for QB rushing yards (3,127) and rushing TDs (37).
Efficiency: Led Texas to scores on over 50% of his career drives.
Beyond his athleticism, Young earned AFCA Good Works Team honors for community service. After leading Texas to the 2005 National Championship, he was selected third overall in the 2006 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans.
Robert Jones
CEO @ Texas Exes
BBA Business, McCombs, 1987
On May 1, 2025, The Texas Exes welcomed Robert W. Jones, BBA ’87, Life Member, as its new leader and CEO. With more than three decades of strategic leadership in corporate affairs and nonprofit organizations, Jones arrives at the organization with proven expertise in shaping public policy and driving impactful change.
Jones’ accomplished career includes nearly 20 years at Pfizer, where he directed external engagement strategies, provided crisis management during the COVID-19 pandemic, and rose to the role of senior vice president. Most recently, Jones served as the managing director at Mercury Public Affairs in Washington, D.C.
Jones holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance from UT Austin and a law degree from the University of Houston School of Law.
Monica Li
Director of Operations and Marketing @ Viscosity Technology
BS Textiles and Apparel: Apparel Design, 2010
President, Dallas Texas Exes 2026
After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin, Monica interned in design and production for Proenza Schouler in New York City. She was later one of three featured designers in the premiere of Austin’s Top Model. Her first big girl job was designing for Vintage Couture, creating multiple lines including one for Trista Sutter of ABC’s The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. In 2012, Monica launched an online accessories boutique, managing it alongside a new role at IT consulting firm, Viscosity.
Built for the hustle, Monica joined the startup to expand its operational backend, allowing the owners to focus on technical management. She established foundations for accounting, finance, and human resources. Once settled, she pivoted to expanding the brand through marketing initiatives and supporting sales via partner alliances and content creation.
Monica has grown with Viscosity since 2013, playing a vital role in strengthening partnerships with Oracle and representing the brand at national conferences. Additionally, she has served on the Dallas Texas Exes Board of Directors since 2019, including a term as VP of PR and Marketing from 2021 to 2025
Bobby Burton
Founder @ OnTexasFootball
BBA Business, McCombs, 1992
Bobby Burton is a pioneer in the college sports media industry and a leading authority on Texas Longhorns football. A 1992 graduate of the University of Texas, Burton began his career as a student assistant under Coach David McWilliams, where he specialized in film breakdown for recruits. He later became a foundational figure in the digital recruiting era as a founding partner of both Rivals.com and 247Sports, serving as the long-time publisher of Horns247 and once being ranked among the most powerful people in sports by Sporting News.
In 2022, Burton launched On Texas Football (OTF), a premier multimedia platform providing deep-dive analysis and insider news on the Longhorn program. As the site’s founder and lead host, he has built one of the largest Texas-focused media brands in the world, amassing over 50,000 subscribers on YouTube. Today, he remains a staple of the Austin sports scene, combining his decades of executive experience with a specialized focus on roster construction and high-level recruiting strategy.
Bonnie-Jill Laflin
Sports Broadcaster, TV Host, Author, Philanthropist
Broadcast Journalism, 2000
Bonnie-Jill Laflin is a trailblazing sports broadcaster, TV host, author, and philanthropist. A University of Texas alumna, she made history as the first and only female NBA scout with the Los Angeles Lakers, later becoming the first female Assistant General Manager in the NBA G League. She has achieved numerous “firsts,” including being the first woman to dance professionally for three teams across two major leagues…the NBA’s Golden State Warriors and the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys — and the first woman to earn six championship rings across two sports (one Super Bowl ring and five NBA championship rings).
In broadcasting, Bonnie-Jill has worked with major networks including ESPN, FOX Sports, NBC Sports, and CBS, and has served as a longtime host and ambassador for Michael Jordan’s Jordan Brand. She is the bestselling author of In a League of Her Own, celebrating female pioneers in sports.
She is also the founder of the nonprofit Hounds & Heroes, dedicated to pairing rescue animals with wounded veterans and first responders to support healing and recovery. Bonnie-Jill currently serves as a TV and radio host and reporter covering the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, Dallas Mavericks, and Texas Longhorns, while also working nationally across MMA, boxing, rodeo, and horse racing. She is the host of Beyond the Game on ReachTV and hosts shows on American Country Network, including Lady Legends of Country Music and Smoke Show.
Author : In a League of Her Own: Celebrating Female Firsts in Sports
@BJLaflin | Facebook | Instagram | Personal Website | Hounds and Heroes | In A League of Her Own Book
10 AM Pre-Festival Information Session: UT Admissions and Scholarships
Carl Tippen
College Counselor @ Westlake Academy
Sociology, Natural Sciences, 1995
Carl Tippen, a native of Corpus Christi, TX, has spent over twenty-five years working in the fields of higher education and human resources for various organizations throughout his career. Carl worked in the undergraduate office of admissions for the University of Texas at Austin and Arlington. Carl then became a faculty member at St. Mark’s School of Texas, as a college counselor, teacher, coach and an advisor.
Carl is currently in his 11th year at Westlake Academy Charter School as the Diploma Programme College Counselor and in his 2nd year as an Adjunct Faculty Member at Southern New Hampshire University.
Carl is involved with a number of organizations such as the Texas Association for College Admissions Counseling, Texas Exes Black Alumni Network, the Dallas Texas Exes, and is a charter member of the Frisco Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Currently, Carl resides in Plano, Texas and has three children – Julia, Stafford, and Griffin.
Carl Tippen served as the Dallas Texas Exes president in 2023, and previously served as the VP of Scholarships.
Dr. Ramon Blakley
Assistant Vice Provost of Admissions, UT Admissions Center in Dallas
Dr. Ramon Blakley (RAYMUHN BLAYKLEE) has over two decades of experience at public and private universities, he has made significant contributions to the admissions profession through various avenues, including service on the Board of Directors for the National Association for College Admission Counseling and leadership of the Texas Association for College Admission Counseling. Dr. Blakley holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications, a master’s degree in School Counseling, and a Doctorate in Higher Education Leadership. Ramon embodies the university’s core purpose of “transforming lives for the benefit of society” through his leadership in the admissions profession.
Dr. Vitia Martinez
Director of Recruitment, UT Admissions Center in Dallas
Dr. Vitia Martinez serves as Director of Recruitment at The University of Texas at Austin and brings over 18 years of experience in higher education, including 8 years at UT Austin. She leads strategic recruitment and outreach efforts focused on student success, meaningful engagement, and building strong relationships with schools and communities. She is passionate about helping students and families navigate the college journey and discover what is possible at UT Austin.
12:30 PM Distinguished Alumni Panel
MC and Moderator: Doug Rice
Founder, Walk Your Talk
Broadcast Journalism, 1988
Dallas Texas Exes Board Member
Doug has built a career in health, fitness, and human performance, helping individuals and organizations improve their physical energy, mental clarity, and overall resilience. He is a professional emcee, keynote speaker, and the creator of Walk Your Talk™, an immersive leadership experience that blends guided walking, cinematic audio storytelling, and reflective leadership prompts to help participants take meaningful action in their personal and professional lives.
During his time on the Forty Acres, Doug contributed to The Cactus and energized Longhorn fans as a member of the UT Cheerleading squad. In 2022, Doug founded the now-signature Beat OU Pep Rally, which has grown into one of the Dallas Chapter’s most spirited and well-attended annual traditions. He also serves as the official “UT Hype Man” for the Game Watching Committee, where his high-energy presence helps create a game-day atmosphere at every Longhorn Icehouse watch party.
In addition, Doug is widely known for his parody character, Fake McConaughey, an entertaining and unmistakably biased Longhorn superfan who has delighted fans through personalized videos and live appearances.
Derek Eagleton
Senior Vice President of Media and Programming @ Dallas Cowboys
Management Information Systems, McCombs, 1997
Derek’s career began with Andersen Consulting (later named Accenture) where he built software applications and websites. He joined the Dallas Cowboys in 1999 to help build their website strategy.
Throughout his tenure with the Cowboys, he has earned opportunities to grow his responsibilities leading other parts of their media business. In his current role, Derek manages all content produced for web, television, radio, mobile apps, social media and publications.
Derek is originally from Crosby, Texas, and currently resides in Plano, Texas. He met his wife, Suneese, while attending the University of Texas, and they recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. They have two children, Kennedy (21) and DJ (18).
Derek is a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. In his downtime, he enjoys playing drums and training for half marathons.
Amy Lewis Hofland
Director @ Crow Museum of Asian Art of The University of Texas at Dallas
Visual Arts, College of Fine Arts, 1994
Director Amy Lewis Hofland leads the Crow Museum of Asian Art in Dallas, Texas, the preeminent museum dedicated to the arts and cultures of Asia in the southern United States. On staff since the museum’s inception in 1998, Hofland’s footprint can be found throughout the museum, including her recruitment and hire of leading Asian art scholars; launching the Crow Museum as the first “wellness museum” in the United States; and molding the museum’s award-winning education programs to emphasize collaboration and collective learning; helping to draw over 100,000 museum visitors a year.
Amy is pursuing a doctorate at Southwestern College in Visionary Practice and Regenerative Leadership exploring the relationship between art and compassion. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Arts degree in art education from the University of North Texas, where she was part of the distinguished Marcus Fellow program. In addition to her work at the Crow Museum, Hofland is a noted author, speaker and community leader serving on various board leadership positions in the Dallas-Fort Worth community. She is also working to create Dallas as a City of Compassion and recently formed and co-chairs The Compassion Council for the Dallas Arts District.
Dr. Binh-Minh “Jade” Le
Infectious Diseases Service Line Chief @ Access Physicians
Biology, Natural Sciences, 1996
Dr. Le is the Infectious Diseases Service Line Chief for Access Physicians, and was part of the Clinical Faculty in Infectious Diseases at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW) in Dallas, Texas. While at UTSW, she provided clinical consultations as a Transplant Infectious Diseases Faculty and provided clinical expertise for the Transplant Services Center at UTSW. She was involved in UTSW’s Special Pathogens Team during the 2014 Ebola outbreak and provided weekly COVID-19 updates to thousands of physicians worldwide in 2020. She has received numerous teaching awards and has received D Magazine’s “Best Doctors” Award for Infectious Diseases for seven straight years.
Dr. Le is board-certified in infectious diseases, and is a former Peace Corps volunteer who participated in Ebola containment efforts and vaccination drives in Gabon (1996-1998). She completed residency and chief residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas and a fellowship in infectious diseases at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
Dr. Jade Le leads Access TeleCare’s growing infectious disease service line and runs a busy house of four kids, two dogs, and a host of backyard chickens. She also delivers life-saving care to patients with complex infections all over the country. Watch her discuss how telemedicine gave her back work-life balance and allows her to fulfill her role as a parent and physician leader.
2:30 PM Outstanding Young Alumni Panel
Moderator: Manolo Alvarez
Associate @ Goldman Sachs
BBA McCombs, 2016
MBA McCombs, 2022
Secretary, Dallas Texes 2026
Dallas-born but Austin-native Manolo Alvarez, BBA ’16, MBA ’22, Life Member, is an Associate with the Private Family Office within Private Wealth Management at Goldman Sachs and is responsible for the planning and execution of advisor led strategies for ultra-high net worth families.
Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, Manolo had various careers in hospitality, sales, operations, and financial analysis across different organizations such as Oracle, Google, USAA, Ericsson, and PepsiCo.
Outside of the firm, Manolo has served as a Lecturer of Leadership Communications and Ethics at The University of Texas at Dallas, Naveen Jindal School of Management. He now serves as a Board Member and Guest Lecturer for the MBA Finance Fellowship program, still with The University of Texas at Dallas, Naveen Jindal School of Management. Manolo is also an active board member of the Dallas Texas Exes, and in his spare time, restores and maintains old 80s, 90s, & 00s era vehicles. Manolo grew up half-and-half in the Garland area of DFW and Mexico City, but calls Austin, and specifically The Forty Acres, home.
Alejandro Johns
Vice President @ JPMorganChase
MBA, McCombs, 2022
Alejandro Johns is a Vice President at JPMorganChase in their Auto business, where he leads loyalty programs for a portfolio of premium and luxury automotive brands — Aston Martin, Jaguar Land Rover, Maserati, McLaren, Rivian, and Subaru. He serves as the data and insights engine for his team, combining internal portfolio data with external sources to translate market intelligence into strategies that help brands retain customers and outperform competitors.
A McCombs MBA graduate (Class of 2022), Alejandro came to Austin after several years at MIT’s Sloan School of Management in Cambridge, MA, and before that, coordinating international sports events across Europe. Originally from Mexico and fluent in Spanish, English, and German, he brings a wide-ranging background to his work in financial services. In his free time, he enjoys cheering for the Celtics and Red Sox, training for half marathons, and listening to podcasts.
Brittany Johnson
Director of Social Media @ Dallas Cowboys
Canfield Business Honors Program and Marketing, McCombs, 2012
Brittany Johnson oversees the social media strategy and execution across the organization’s expansive digital ecosystem, including @DallasCowboys, @DCCheerleaders, @ATTStadium, @TheStarinFrisco, @CowboysintheCommunity, and more.
Brittany began her career with an internship at ESPN in New York, followed by roles at world‑renowned advertising agencies Publicis and Grey New York, where she produced digital content for high‑profile clients, including P&G and the National Football League. Her work led to a multi‑year tenure at the NFL, where she ultimately served as Executive Content Producer, managing national fan campaigns tied to the league’s 100th season. Brittany has also held leadership roles at AT&T and LEARFIELD, overseeing integrated social and digital content for major brands and collegiate partners.
Jenny Li
Finance Director @ Texas Instruments
BBA Supply Chain Management, McCombs, 2015
MBA, McCombs, 2025
Jenny Li is Finance Director for the Embedded Processing Division at Texas Instruments. She has served in a variety of finance and operations roles across TI and other companies.
As someone who has built a career in STEM and believes in the power of representation, Jenny also serves on the Board of High Tech High Heels North Texas, whose mission is to advance STEM education for girls. She is a Dallas native and earned both her BBA in Supply Chain Management (’15) and MBA (’25) from UT Austin.
