Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Kerry Reyna and reappointed Amanda Nobles and April Graham to Humanities Texas for terms set to expire on December 31, 2026. As the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, Humanities Texas conducts and supports public programs in history, literature, philosophy, and the other humanities disciplines which strengthen Texas communities by cultivating the knowledge and judgment that representative democracy demands of its citizens. Humanities Texas is one of 56 nonprofit state and jurisdictional humanities councils in the United States.
April Graham of Bryan is a retired high school teacher. She is a lifetime member of the Spring Branch Parent Teacher Association and a former extraordinary minister and continuing Christian education teacher at St. Cecilia Catholic Church. Graham received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Texas Tech University and a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from the University of Houston.
Amanda Nobles of Longview is retired after 30 years as the executive director of Kilgore Economic Development Corporation. She is a member of the Texas Economic Development Council, Industrial Asset Management Council, and International Economic Development Council and a fellow of the Industrial Asset Management Council. She is a former member of the Kilgore Historical Preservation Foundation Board, Gregg County Historical Commission, Kilgore College Foundation Board, and Kilgore College Shakespeare Festival Guild. She is an active volunteer for the Texas Shakespeare Festival Foundation, REEL East Texas Festival, and Crossroads United Methodist Church. Nobles received a Bachelor of Arts in History and a minor in French from The University of Texas at Austin and graduated from the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma. She received certified economic developer status from the International Economic Development Council and a certification of economic development finance from the National Development Council.
Lt. Col. Kerry Reyna of San Antonio is retired from the United States Army Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. She earned an honorable discharge from the United States Army after 27 years of service. Reyna received a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Sam Houston State University, Master of Education from the University of Houston, and a Master of Arts in Administration from University of the Incarnate Word.