Community leaders join UHV president’s advisory board
Five Victoria community leaders will be joining the University of Houston-Victoria’s President’s Regional Advisory Board this fall.
The board’s newest members are Robin Cadle, president and chief executive officer of the Food Bank of the Golden Crescent; Robert Crawford, Frost Bank regional president; Jesus Garza, Victoria city manager; Tammy Murphy, University of Houston System Board of Regents member and owner of Power Avenue Warehouse and Chick-fil-A ; and Ben Zeller, Victoria County judge. These five new members will each serve three-year terms beginning this fall.
"I am delighted to welcome the newest members of our university advisory board," said UHV President Bob Glenn. "Each of these distinguished individuals is a respected leader within our community, and they bring with them a wealth of knowledge, experience and connections that will be invaluable to our institution."
The President’s Regional Advisory Board functions as UHV’s primary external advisory council. Its purpose is to enhance and promote the university along with its academic offerings while offering guidance on strategic planning. Members assist the president by advising on issues important to community partners, responding to proposed concepts and projects and serving as bridges between the university and the local community.
Cadle serves as president and CEO of the Food Bank of the Golden Crescent, where she has led efforts to combat hunger across an 11-county region since 2013. She previously worked at UHV from 2001 to 2012, where she held multiple leadership roles and was twice recognized as Employee of the Month and honored as the 2004 Staff Employee of the Year. A three-time UHV graduate, Robin holds an MBA, MAIS, and M.Ed., and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Nonprofit Leadership. She has also served as an adjunct professor at UHV, teaching courses in business and leadership. Deeply committed to service, she continues to support a variety of community organizations and initiatives throughout the region.
“Being part of the President’s Advisory Board is a meaningful full-circle moment for me. UHV shaped both my professional path and personal growth – from employee to student to instructor,” Cadle said. “I look forward to helping shape a future where students are empowered to lead, give back and create meaningful change. This university played a pivotal role in my journey, and I’m honored and excited to support its continued growth and impact in our region as we elevate the next generation of leaders.”
Crawford is a Frost Bank regional president and is celebrating 25 years with the bank this year. He has been in Victoria since 2018. Crawford graduated high school in Alvin and attended college at Southwest Texas State University. He has three daughters, with one daughter who is a UHV alumna, and he has two granddaughters.
“I am pleased to be associated with such an important part of our community, and I desire to bring the value of my professional and life experience to the board,” Crawford said. “I have enjoyed working with Dr. Glenn and look forward to working with the new president, as well as the other board members.”
Garza has served as Victoria’s city manager since May 2019. Prior to this role, he was the city manager for the City of Kingsville and held positions with the City of San Antonio, the City of Von Ormy and the Mexicans and Americans Thinking Together Foundation. Garza is actively involved in several professional local government associations. He currently serves on the board of the Victoria Economic Development Corporation and has previously served on the boards of the Victoria Chamber of Commerce and the Victoria Boys & Girls Club. A native of Brownsville, Garza earned both his bachelor’s degree in political science and his master’s degree in urban management from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio. He also holds a graduate certificate in urban and regional planning from the University of Texas at San Antonio. In addition, he is a Certified Public Manager and a Credentialed Manager through the International City/County Management Association.
“As our community’s university officially transitions to Texas A&M University-Victoria, we’re entering an exciting new era for higher education in our region, one that deserves our continued support,” Garza said. “I’m honored to serve on the President’s Regional Advisory Board and look forward to working together to strengthen our university and help drive growth in Victoria.”
Murphy, a Victoria native and UHV graduate, began her career at Chick-fil-A at thirteen and now works alongside her husband, David, who has been a franchisee for 27 years, operating three restaurants in Victoria. The Murphys also own and operate the iconic Power Avenue Warehouse event venue and are passionate advocates for education, having created scholarships at VC and UHV while mentoring and supporting their 200 Chick-fil-A team members. Tammy opened her first business at age 20, has led numerous community initiatives – including serving as co-chair of the Victoria College Bond PAC and chairing multiple fundraising events for the American Cancer Society, Children's Discovery Museum and the Chick-fil-A 5K benefitting Young Life – and currently serves as vice president of Future Sight and is on the Committee for a Stronger Victoria. She is honored to serve on the UH System Board of Regents and remains deeply committed to advancing higher education through meaningful leadership and advocacy. The Murphys received the UHV Distinguished Alumni Award in 2010 and the UHV Community Partnership Award in 2021 and were honored as two of the 50 Faces contributing to UHV's success during its 50-year anniversary.
"Serving on the UHV President's Regional Advisory Board aligns with my commitment to fostering community engagement and promoting educational opportunities,” Murphy said. “I look forward to contributing my insights and experiences to support the university's mission and help guide its transition to the Texas A&M System, working toward a brighter future for our students and our region.”
An 8th-Generation Texan with deep roots in our state dating back to Stephen F. Austin’s "Old 300" settlers, Zeller began serving as Victoria County Judge in 2015. As county judge, he is the county’s chief budget officer, as well as director of emergency management for Victoria County. A graduate of both UHV and the Texas A&M University System, Ben has been honored by both the UH and A&M systems, including receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award from Texas A&M University-San Antonio where he earned an MBA. Judge Zeller has served in numerous leadership positions at the county, regional and state levels, including as president of the South Texas County Judges & Commissioners Association, then president of the statewide County Judges & Commissioners Association of Texas. He has also played active roles with the Texas Association of Counties, the Texas I-69 Alliance, the Texas Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness & Response, and the State Republican Executive Committee. Ben and his wife, Jamie, have been married for more than 15 years and have three children.
“As a graduate of both the University of Houston-Victoria and the Texas A&M University System, I believe I bring a unique perspective on what the UHV campus in Victoria has meant to our community for years, and the huge positive impacts that the presence of Texas A&M with its resources and all it represents can have on both the campus and our county,” Zeller said.
The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 50 academic programs in the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business Administration; and Education, Health Professions & Human Development. UHV provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as an instructional site in Katy, Texas, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. UHV supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.