Our Welcome to the City networking event in Dallas Fort-Worth will feature inspiring alumni, each recognized as a leader within the Bobcat community! They'll share key moments from their professional journeys and guide interactive networking activities to help you make meaningful connections with fellow alumni.
Kris Sanders
Senior Vice President
Northern Market Growth and Development at Children’s Health Plano
Kris Sanders, FACHE currently serves as Senior Vice President, Northern Market Growth and Development at Children’s Health Plano. In addition to being a proud Texas State alum, she is board certified in Healthcare Administration. She has a Bachelor of Healthcare Administration as well as her Master of Business Administration. Kris currently oversees the leadership and implementation of all Northern Market clinical program activities as well as community engagement in DFW for Children’s Health. She previously worked at Envision Physician Services, which she worked as Vice President of Operations. Other previous roles include opportunities at Methodist Health System and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
Jerry Villegas
Gerardo (Jerry) Villegas was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, before leaving to attend Texas State University. At Texas State he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Athletic Training and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Spanish. That led to work as an Athletic Trainer with the Fort Worth ISD and Mansfield ISD, as well as teaching for a year at his high school alma mater. Because of his interest in politics and law, Jerry decided to pursue a career in law, earning his Juris Doctorate from Villanova University School of Law. Following law school, Jerry attended Instituto Superior de Derecho y Economía earning an LLM in International Sports Law. Jerry now runs a successful legal practice in DFW representing clients on a wide array of immigration matters, and criminal defense.
Lauren Darby
Co-Founder and VP of Operations
The Launch Box
Lauren Darby is Co-Founder and VP of Operations at The Launch Box, a venture studio focused on services firms, where she leads operations and people strategy across a portfolio of eight firms. Lauren partners with founders from the launch of their business to build systems and structures to scale. Lauren also serves on the Board of Stelos Alliance, a nonprofit focused on scholarships and leadership development for Texas State students. Through the Stelos Alliance, she funds an annual scholarship for a TXST student to study abroad, as she believes travel is one of the best forms of education. In her free time, she can be found working remotely (mostly in Mexico these days) or at home in Fort Worth with her two rescue dogs.
See you in DFW!
Welcome to the City will foster meaningful connections that support a strong transition from student to young professional within the Bobcat network.