November 16, 2017: Gov. Appoints Three Trustees to Board

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 16, 2017

GOV. ABBOTT APPOINTS THREE TRUSTEES, INCLUDING CHAIRMAN, TO TRS BOARD

AUSTIN - Gov. Greg Abbott has announced the appointment of Jarvis V. Hollingsworth of Missouri City as chairman, and James “Dick” Nance of Hallettsville and Nanette Sissney of Whitesboro as trustees to the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) Board of Trustees. The new board members will be sworn in and ready to serve at the Dec. 14-15 board meeting.

Hollingsworth is a former chairman of the TRS Board of Trustees. He served from 2002-07 on a number of committees. Hollingsworth is a partner and member of the management committee of the law firm of Bracewell LLP. He is a former regent of the University of Houston System, where he served in many capacities, including chairman of the board of regents. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Houston Bar Association, State Bar of Texas Foundation, and the State Bar of Texas, and previously served on its board of directors. Additionally, he is former treasurer of the Houston Bar Foundation and a member of the United Way of Greater Houston’s Alexis de Tocqueville Society. Hollingsworth received a B.S. from the United States Military Academy at West Point, and served for several years on active and reserve duty in the United States Army. He received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Houston.

Nance of Hallettsville represents TRS retirees. He is retired from Pasadena ISD after 35 years of service. He is a former member of the Texas Athletic Directors Association, Greater Houston Football Coaches Association, and the Texas High School Coaches Association. Additionally, he is president of the District III Texas Retired Teachers Association and former president of Pasadena South Rotary Club and Lavaca County Retired Teachers Association. He is former secretary of the Hallettsville ISD Education Foundation and a former member of the Hallettsville Lions Club and the Hallettsville ISD Strategic Planning Committee. Nance received a B.S. in education, a mid-management certificate, and a Master of Education from the University of Houston.

A public educator for 26 years, Sissney served on the TRS board from 2009-16, having served as vice chair as well as budget and compensation committees chairs. She is a school counselor and former high school teacher with Whitesboro ISD. She is the former state president of the Texas Classroom Teachers Association and former member of the National Council on Teacher Retirement. Additionally, she is a volunteer for Christmas Angel Tree and Ministerial Alliance and chair of Whitesboro Santa’s Breakfast. Sissney earned a B.A. from Texas Woman’s University and a Master of Education from Southeastern Oklahoma State University. She was appointed to the new at-large trustee position. The at-large seat on the board was formerly reserved for a candidate from higher education.

All three board appointments are for terms that will expire on Aug. 31, 2023.

“We congratulate and look forward to benefitting from the prior board experience of both Chairman Hollingsworth and Ms. Sissney,” said TRS Executive Director Brian Guthrie. “We also welcome and congratulate Mr. Nance on his appointment to the board. These three individuals will bring valuable investment and public education perspectives and experience to TRS.”

Guthrie added, “I’d also like to thank outgoing Chairman R. David Kelly , Trustee T. Karen Charleston and the late Trustee Anita Smith Palmer for their many years of service on the board. All of us at TRS appreciate their wisdom and willingness to learn about complex issues, deliberate carefully, and make the best possible decisions for our members and retirees.”

“I have enjoyed my years of service to the teachers and retirees of our great state,” said outgoing Chairman R. David Kelly. “I am grateful to have had the opportunity to help guide the fund from a low of $63 billion during the Great Financial Crisis to its current healthy status of $147 billion. I will also miss my fellow trustees, executives and TRS employees I’ve enjoyed knowing these past years and wish them all the best.”