Advisory Council

Texas State's University Libraries and The Wittliff are fortunate to have an Advisory Council comprising dedicated enthusiasts of the humanities, education, and lifelong learning. Members of the council serve as our chief ambassadors to the world, championing the mission of the University Libraries and The Wittliff Collections and promoting our priority projects among diverse audiences.

The Advisory Council helps raise awareness via their personal and professional networks as well as through social media platforms. Council members also serve as influencers for fundraising projects – reaching out to potential supporters, opening doors, providing leads, and voicing support for key funding initiatives.

Council members serve a two-year term. The group meets once in the fall and once in the spring.

Sam Pfiester, Chair

Location: Georgetown

Sam Pfiester was born and raised in Fort Stockton, Texas. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Plan II. In 1968 he joined the U.S. Navy, serving two tours in the Vietnam War. During the second tour he was senior advisor to a river patrol group operating in the Ca Mau Peninsula along the Cambodian border, and was awarded a Bronze Star for his service. He was hired as a petroleum land man for independent oil operator Clayton W. Williams, Jr. in 1971. He worked for Williams for 10 years, eventually becoming exploration manager. Since 1982 he has operated his own exploration company, Pfiester Oil and Gas. Sam is the author of three books: The Perfect War, about his experiences in Vietnam; The Golden Lane: Faja de Oro; and Solomon’s Temple: Musjid-i-Suleiman & the Quest for Oil in the Middle East. He and his wife, Rebecca, have three children and seven grandchildren.

Bill Broyles

Location: Santa Fe, NM

An Oscar-nominated screenwriter whose films include Cast Away and Apollo 13, fifth-generation Texan William Broyles has always blazed his own trail. Raised in Baytown, he studied writing under Larry McMurtry at Rice University in the 1960s. After earning a Masters from Oxford University, Broyles was drafted and served as a Marine Lieutenant in Viet Nam. In 1972, at age twenty-seven, Broyles became the founding editor of Texas Monthly. Under his guidance, the upstart publication won a National Magazine Award for General Excellence in its first year. Later Broyles became the first combat veteran to return to the battlefields of Viet Nam, a journey that inspired his classic account of reconciliation, Brothers in Arms: A Journey from War to Peace. Broyles has donated his complete archive to The Wittliff, which contains over five hundred boxes.

Mary Lockwood Crouch

Location: Austin

Mary Lockwood Crouch is a native Texan from Port Arthur. She has been a classroom teacher and a meeting planner for a trade association. Her love of The Wittliff stems from her degree in art history and her own experimentation with and love of photography. Mary actively supports Mobile Loaves and Fishes and Communities in Schools. Traveling at home and abroad is among her favorite pastimes. She has three children and three grandchildren.

J. Philip Ferguson

Location: Houston

J. Philip “Phil” Ferguson spent his early years in Fort Worth, graduated from TCU with a degree in Business, and followed that up with a JD from the University of Texas School of Law. Phil served roughly 50 years in the asset management business including leadership positions at Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers, and AIM Capital Management, where he led a team of 90 investment professionals managing in excess of $100 billion. Following his retirement as Chief Investment Officer at AIM (now Invesco) in 2007, he has continued his involvement in the industry through participation on the board of directors of a Fortune 500 company (ABM Industries), as well as Salient Partners in Houston. Phil and his wife Kathy O’Neil live in Houston but spend as much time as they can at their ranch in the Texas Hill Country, where they champion land conservation efforts. They have a blended family of five grown children and are blessed with 10 grandchildren. A fond memory for Phil is of serving on the initial organizing committee for the Lonesome Dove Reunion, culminating in that extraordinary event coming to his hometown of Fort Worth. To paraphrase Gus, “By God, Woodrow, it was one helluva party.”

Stephen Harrigan

Location: Austin

Stephen Harrigan is the author of fourteen books of fiction and non-fiction, including the award-winning novels The Gates of the Alamo, which became a New York Times bestseller, Remember Ben Clayton, A Friend of Mr. Lincoln, and The Leopard is Loose.

Harrigan has been a writer for Texas Monthly since the magazine's founding in 1973 and his articles and essays have been collected in books such as The Eye of the Mammoth and the forthcoming An Anchor in the Sea of Time, both published by the University of Texas Press. His most recent book, published by Knopf in April 2025, is Sorrowful Mysteries: The Shepherd Children of Fatima and the Fate of the Twentieth Century.

A 1970 graduate of the University of Texas, Harrigan lives in Austin, where for twenty years he taught at UT’s James A. Michener Center for Writers. He is a writer-at-large for Texas Monthly and a founding member of CAST (Capital Area Statues, Inc.) an organization in Austin that commissions monumental works of art as gifts to the city. He is the recipient of the Texas Book Festival’s Texas Writers Award, the Lon Tinkle Award for lifetime achievement from the Texas Institute of Letters, the Texas Medal of Arts award from the Texas Cultural Trust, and has been inducted into the Texas Literary Hall of Fame. Stephen Harrigan and his wife Sue Ellen live in Austin and have three daughters and six grandchildren.

Craig Hester

Location: Austin

Craig Hester, CFA, CIC, is a principal of Luther King Capital Management (LKCM). He joined the firm in 2012 and serves as a portfolio manager. Prior to joining LKCM, Craig was chairman, chief executive officer, chief investment officer, director, and portfolio manager of Hester Capital Management in Austin. He served as director of regional asset management for InterFirst Investment Management, chief investment officer of the Texas Municipal Retirement System, assistant vice president and trust officer for Republic National Bank Dallas, and senior analyst for the Teachers Retirement System of Texas. He is currently chairman of the board of Employees Retirement System of Texas. Craig graduated with a bachelor of business administration and a master of business administration in finance from The University of Texas at Austin. Craig and his wife, Felicia, live in Austin and enjoy spending time at their ranch. They have three children and two grandchildren.

Richard C. Jones

Location: Austin

Richard C. Jones works mostly in Austin as an actor, film producer, and director. Of those three jobs, the one he enjoys most is acting. He acted in the film Pit Stop that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. He also recently acted in the Westworld Interactive project at SXSW. It was part of a creative effort by HBO which was nominated for an Emmy. Richard helped produce the feature film, The Vessel, starring Martin Sheen. He was born in Jourdanton, Texas. He is also a proud Bobcat having graduated from Texas State with a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. He and his wife, Meagan, have two awesome children.

Judson Kauffman

Location: Austin

Judson Kauffman is a 6th generation Texan born and raised in Longview. He is a veteran, a father, a fisherman, and an entrepreneur. He started his career as a Navy SEAL, serving as a sniper and team leader with three combat deployments in the Middle East, earning multiple decorations and valor distinction. After a decade with the Navy, Jud transitioned into business, where he founded multiple companies, some successful, others not so much. Throughout his career, he has earned a reputation for having a difficult time following the rules and trying to make up new ones. He co-founded Desert Door Distillery, a near zero-waste, organic distillery that established an entirely new category of spirits and was named #1 craft distillery in the nation by USA Today. He also co-founded Terradepth, Inc., an ocean exploration and data management company that has been named one of the nation’s most innovative start-ups by TechCrunch for their leading-edge submarine technology. Today, Judson is serving his life’s purpose: to help others find fulfillment and maximize their positive impact in the world. He is the CEO at EVRYMAN, where he spends his full time on this mission. He earned his Master’s in Business from the University of Texas and has been given the “Future Legend Award” by the Texas Business Hall of Fame. Judson is a dedicated family man with four young children and enjoys teaching his kids, freediving, fly fishing, reading, traveling, and serving others.

Susan Longley

Location: Austin

Susan Longley is president and owner of The Longley Group. As a fundraiser, volunteer, and political activist in Texas politics, Susan has been a tireless worker for democratic causes and campaigns. She is on the advisory board for the Bob Bullock Archives Endowment at Baylor University and Texans for Stem Cell Research; is immediate past president of the Texas Democracy Foundation, which publishes the Texas Observer; and she served on the National Founding Board for Atticus Circle. For several years Susan co-chaired the MOLLY National Journalism Prize, now one of the preeminent honors available to the nation’s finest journalists. Susan previously served as president of Zachary Scott Theatre Center where she is currently an emeritus member, and the Texas Book Festival Board. Susan is known for her knowledge of the legislative process and skillful political instincts. She was chief fundraiser for Bob Bullock and directed his legislative agenda when he was both Comptroller and Lieutenant Governor. She was the legislative liaison for Bob Bullock both at both offices. Susan served as statewide co-chair for Democrat Tom Schieffer’s 2009 campaign run for governor of Texas; finance co-chair for the Ann Richards/Bob Bullock Inaugural Committee, finance chair for Tony Sanchez’s 2006 gubernatorial campaign, and campaign manager for Congressman Lloyd Doggett’s first campaign to the Texas Senate. She has also worked for former Lt. Governor Ben Barnes and former gubernatorial candidate Sissy Farenthold.

Marise McDermott

Location: San Antonio

Marise McDermott has 30 years of experience in cultural arts, for 20 of those years as President and CEO of the Witte Museum, from 2004 to 2024. While there, McDermott led the $120 million museum campus transformation. She currently serves as the Witte’s Director Emeritus. Earlier in her career, McDermott was the Executive Director of the History Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Director of the Humanities Center at the Witte, and the Editor of the Texas Humanist, as well as a journalist for numerous Texas newspapers. Under her tenure at the Witte, numerous acclaimed books were published, including the most recent, Mary Virginia Carson: Pioneer Artist Capturing Rock Art with Watercolors.

McDermott served on the Accreditation Commission for the American Alliance of Museums for five years, including as Chair, and has given numerous presentations at state and national museum conferences. McDermott served on the Texas Association of Museums board and was honored with TAM’s Jack Nokes Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023.McDermott was named Texas State University Liberal Arts Alumni of the Year in 2016, where she earned her Master’s in Fine Arts (1996). McDermott was named the 2017 Business Person of the Year and the 2023 Nonprofit Lifetime Achievement Award by the San Antonio Business Journal, among other awards.

Barbara Morgan

Location: Austin

Barbara Morgan co-founded the Austin Film Festival in 1993 and has served as the sole executive director since 1999. Barbara developed and produced the film Natural Selection and co-produced the feature documentary Antone’s: Home of the Blues. Both films were released internationally. Most recently, she produced the documentary feature, Portrait of Wally, and the narrative feature, Spring Eddy. She developed and produces the TV and radio series “Austin Film Festival’s On Story,” currently airing on PBS stations across the country as well as on Public Radio International. Barbara co-edited the book series On Story: Screenwriters and Their Craft, published by UT Press. She has one daughter.

Brad Nations

Location: San Antonio

Brad Nations is the Vice President of Employer Solutions for Consumer Medical, and has spent much of his career helping to build several mission-driven startup companies in the healthcare space. Brad is also a very proud Texas State alum, having graduated with a Speech Communications degree in 1996. During his time in San Marcos, Brad was active on campus serving in a variety of roles including Student Government president and KTSW morning show host. Brad’s true passion lies in the arts, with a heavy focus on Texas music and independent film. In addition to his regular attendance at many of Texas’ most iconic music venues, Brad is also a guitar player himself having recorded an EP with his band “When You Were Bigger” in 2017. Brad’s love and support of independent film culminated in 2016 when he worked for the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, supporting festival operations and donor relations. In addition to the arts, Brad has a strong passion for cycling and is a top fundraiser for the Ride MS-150. Brad is married to Patty Nations, also a Bobcat. Together, they have raised two incredible children.

Liz Rogers

Location: Alpine

Liz Rogers grew up on a sheep and goat ranch in Uvalde County. She moved to El Paso after graduating from Texas A&M and South Texas College of Law. She spent most of her professional life with the Federal Public Defender’s Office in El Paso and Alpine. She relocated to the Big Bend region in 2001, and upon retirement, she circumnavigated the globe by train and container ship. She opened her own criminal defense practice in January 2015. Liz served on the board of the Texas Nature Conservancy and is a long-time board member of Marfa Public Radio. She was inducted into the Philosophical Society of Texas in 2008.

John Spong

Location: Austin

John Spong, a staff writer for Texas Monthly since 2002, was nominated for a National Magazine Award in 2010 for his story celebrating Texas dance halls, “Step Right Up,” and has twice won the Texas Institute of Letters’ O. Henry Award for Magazine Journalism – in 2007 for “The Good Book and the Bad Book,” and in 2010 for “Holding Garmsir.” He is the author of A Book on the Making of Lonesome Dove (UT Press), and his magazine stories have been collected in Best Food Writing 2012 (Da Capo Press), The Best American Sports Writing 2009 (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), Literary Austin (TCU Press), and Rio Grande (UT Press). He holds a bachelor of arts and a doctor of jurisprudence degree from The University of Texas at Austin. John and his wife, Julie Blakeslee, have two sons, Willie Mo and Leon.

Carmen Tafolla

Location: San Antonio

Dr. Carmen Tafolla is a poet, storyteller, performance artist, motivational speaker, and university professor – loved throughout the world for her moving performances and poetry readings. The author of more than 30 books, her work appears internationally in high school and university textbooks, newspapers, journals and magazines, and elementary school readers. Carmen was named Poet Laureate of Texas in 2015, and she is the immediate past president of the Texas Institute of Letters. Carmen also served from 2012-2014 as the first Poet Laureate of San Antonio and presented at more than 300 schools, universities, professional conferences, and community arts centers in her two-year tenure. She has received numerous awards, including the Americas Award, five International Latino Book Awards, two Tomas Rivera Book Awards, three ALA Notable Books, a Charlotte Zolotow Award, the Art of Peace Award, and Top Ten Books for Babies. She has been recognized by the National Association of Chicana and Chicano Studies for work which “gives voice to the peoples and cultures of this land.”

James S. Taylor

Location: Austin

James S. Taylor has an enduring love of and appreciation for Mexico—the result of his upbringing in that country. Born in the Texas panhandle and raised in Tamaulipas, James’ bi-cultural background and bi-national experience have infused his career, personal interests, and community endeavors.

An underlying purpose of James’ multi-faceted career has been to deepen connections and knowledge between the U.S. and Mexico in business, the arts, and politics. He graduated from Texas State University with a degree in international studies and began pursuit of opportunities that help bridge a better understanding of the two neighboring countries.

James is a co-founder of Vianovo, an international strategic advisory consultancy, and of Grupo Compadres, a company that produces and markets SUSTO Mezcal, a new brand of Mexico’s oldest agave spirit.

James is a member of the advisory board of the Texas Book Festival and serves as honorary consul of Spain in Austin, Texas. James and his wife Ingrid have two children, Benjamin and Gabriela.

Ellen Wagnon

Location: Houston

Ellen Weingarten Wagnon, a second generation Texan and Houstonian, is a former public relations and marketing professional, with over two decades of experience representing a wide variety of clients, from Fortune 500 companies to local and regional non-profit organizations. She has experience in creating and implementing multi-platform communications campaigns, developing branding and marketing strategies, and extensive event planning and execution, including everything from large-scale public events to private launches and celebrations. Having worked as both a professional executive and as a volunteer for numerous charitable boards and committees, she possesses a unique perspective on the business of non-profit organizations, from operations to fund development to program fulfillment. She and her husband, Robert, live in Houston and have three adult sons.

Reid Wittliff

Location: Austin

Reid Wittliff, a partner in the Austin-based law firm, Wittliff Cutter PLLC, is a technology lawyer with a deep understanding of the fast-developing law governing online activity, privacy, and data security. He has represented both fortune 100 companies and small start-ups in technology and intellectual property disputes. As a certified mediator, he also frequently negotiates and drafts software licenses and other technology contracts. Reid’s prior experience includes serving as the founding Division Chief of the Texas Attorney General Office’s Computer Crime Division and as a federal prosecutor responsible for leading computer crime investigations and prosecutions in the Dallas, Texas area. In 2008, Reid founded R3 Digital Forensics, LLC as an independent company to provide digital forensics and e-Discovery services to clients throughout the nation. He holds a B.A. from Vanderbilt University and a J.D. with honors from the University of Texas School of Law.

Sally Wittliff

Location: Austin

Sally Wittliff is an Austin attorney with a general practice. Born in New York City, she spent most of her childhood in Washington, D.C. Sally moved to San Antonio during her high school years, and has been in Texas ever since. She is a member of Inns of Court and a fellow of the Texas State Bar and Austin Bar Foundations. She is a former secondary mathematics teacher, chair of the City of Austin Urban Transportation Commission, president of We Care Austin, and board member of many civic organizations, including KLRU Public Television, Safe Place, and the Contemporary Austin. Cofounder with her husband, Bill, of Austin’s Encino Press and The Wittliff Collections at Texas State University, Sally is also the business manager of Pangaea, Inc., an Austin film production company, and of Wittliff Properties. Sally and Bill have two grown children and four grandchildren.