You will be inspired by stories of first-generation college students like Marysol Villeda, whose future was transformed by earning her degree from Tarleton State University. Stories of scholarship recipients like …
Assistant Professor & W.K. Gordon Chair of Texas History
Dept. of History, Sociology and Geography/GIS
dliles@tarleton.edu
254-968-9305
Deborah Liles, Ph.D. teaches the history of Texas, local communities, the United States, women, ranching, and slavery and works with the W.K. Gordon Center. She is the author or editor of several award-winning books and articles, and she serves on the boards of different history associations throughout the state. Current manuscripts in progress are a biography of Oliver Loving, a cattleman in Texas, and a critical examination of the connection between the livestock industry and slave owning in the antebellum and Civil War South.
Social Media and Marketing Assistant, W.K. Gordon Center
lhart@tarleton.edu
254-968-1886
Local Texan and current student, Lea has been at the W.K. Gordon Center since 2014 as a student intern and now an employee. Lea is seeking her Bachelor’s degree in History at Tarleton State University and works as the W.K. Gordon Center’s Social Media and Marketing Assistant. Lea is one of your first lines of contact at the W.K. Gordon Center and is happy to answer any questions you may have about the W.K. Gordon Center, Thurber, or the surrounding area.
Curator of Education and Exhibits, W.K. Gordon Center
sgoodman@tarleton.edu
254-968-9330
Sue’s alma mater is Southern Methodist University where she earned both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in education. She has served as an educator in settings that include public schools, private schools, and museums. Her service in higher education includes institutional advancement at Texas Tech and University of Arizona. While working as a Community Relations Officer at Tarleton she served as advisor for Tarleton Ambassadors, leading them through several years of fundraising to create The Tarleton Ambassadors’ Core Values Endowed Scholarship. She brings energy, creativity and experience to her current position at the W. K. Gordon Museum.
Director & Curator of Collections, W.K. Gordon Center
MKAdams@tarleton.edu
254-968-1886
Mary Adams began her career at Tarleton at the W. K. Gordon Center in June of 2012 as the Facilities Manager and Curator of Collections. She transitioned to Director and Curator of Collections in April of 2018. Mary received both her Bachelor’s Degree in History and her Masters of History with emphasis on Museum Studies from Tarleton State University.