New Voices Texas is thrilled to announce the official establishment and inaugural membership of its Advisory Board, a dedicated group of educators, media industry professionals, and student press freedom advocates committed to supporting and defending scholastic media across the Lone Star State.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: August 2, 2026
Contact: Sydney Ortiz, New Voices Texas Communications Officer
Email: newvoices4texas@gmail.com | sydneyortiz35@gmail.com
Website / Socials: NewVoicesTX.com | Instagram: @newvoicestx

New Voices Texas Announces First Advisory Board and Leadership Ahead of 2027 Legislative Session

New Voices Texas is thrilled to announce the official establishment and inaugural membership of its Advisory Board, a dedicated group of educators, media industry professionals, and student press freedom advocates committed to supporting and defending scholastic media across the Lone Star State.

Following an election on July 30, 2026, the board has named its inaugural leadership team:

  • Jennifer Buergermeister, Advisory Board Chair
  • Andrea Negri, Advisory Board Vice Chair
  • Melissa Perner, Advisory Board Secretary

Beginning its strategic work this August, the Advisory Board will focus on empowering student journalists and laying the groundwork for advocacy during the 2027 Texas Legislative Session, where New Voices Texas aims to pass state-level legislation guaranteeing legal protections for student press rights under the First Amendment.

“I believe New Voices Texas has an incredible opportunity before us,” said Advisory Board Chair Jennifer Buergermeister in a letter to advisory board members and student leaders. “Together, we can create a stronger statewide network that brings students, educators, professional journalists, attorneys, universities, and community partners together to protect and expand the rights of student journalists.”

Buergermeister emphasized that the coalition’s goals extend beyond legislative advocacy. “My hope is that our organization becomes more than a legislative effort. I want it to become a vibrant community where students feel heard, advisers feel supported, and everyone has a meaningful way to contribute throughout the year,” she added, pointing to regular monthly meetings and year-round mentorship as key steps toward sustaining momentum.

The mission of the Advisory Board is to provide mentorship, strategic guidance, professional networking, and institutional advocacy to New Voices Texas—a vibrant, student-led nonpartisan grassroots coalition. By working in close partnership with student leaders, the Advisory Board ensures that young reporters across Texas have the support, resources, and legal backing necessary to cover vital community issues safely, ethically, and without fear of censorship.

Meet the New Voices Texas Advisory Board Members

Board Officers

Jennifer Buergermeister — Advisory Board Chair

  • Title/Role: High School News & Yearbook Adviser | Adjunct Professor & Lecturer
  • Organization/Affiliation: Bellaire High School (Houston ISD), Rice University, College of Health Care Professions (CHCP), CIEE
  • Biography: Jennifer Buergermeister is a journalism educator at Bellaire High School in Houston where she advises award-winning student media programs and champions student press freedom. She also serves as an adjunct professor in psychology at CHCP and a lecturer at Rice University in health and wellness. As a published author, global program leader, longtime educator, and Texas advocate, she has spent more than two decades developing leaders through journalism, health, small business advocacy, and civic engagement. Jennifer is passionate about empowering young voices, strengthening ethical journalism, and helping students understand the essential role of a free press in sustaining democracy and informed communities while navigating a complex political system.

Andrea Negri — Advisory Board Vice Chair

  • Title/Role: Journalism Teacher & JEA Member
  • Organization/Affiliation: Cy-Woods High School (Cypress-Fairbanks ISD)
  • Biography: Andrea serves as the Scholastic Press Rights Director for the Journalism Education Association (JEA) and is an active member of the JEA Scholastic Press Rights Committee. She brings deep expertise in media law, First Amendment rights, educator outreach, and professional networking to her leadership role on the board.

Melissa Perner — Advisory Board Secretary

  • Title/Role: High School Media Adviser
  • Organization/Affiliation: Ozona High School
  • Biography: Melissa is a high school publication adviser, former professional journalist, and former newspaper publisher and owner. She brings critical experience in government relations and legislative lobbying through her background with the Texas Press Association’s Legislative Advisory Committee.

Advisory Board Members

Dr. Pedro (PJ) Cabrera, MJE

  • Title/Role: Assistant Professor of Instruction, Communication
  • Organization/Affiliation: University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) & JEA
  • Biography: An award-winning educator with a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, Dr. Cabrera serves as an assistant professor of instruction in communication at UTSA. He coordinates JEA’s Scholastic Journalism Week, serves as the NAHJ Academic Officer at Large, is the At-Large Communication Member of the San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists, and has worked as a dedicated advocate for scholastic journalism and community organizing.

Josette Coker

  • Title/Role: High School Yearbook Adviser | ATPI Board President
  • Organization/Affiliation: V.R. Eaton High School (Northwest ISD)
  • Biography: Josette Coker is the yearbook adviser at V.R. Eaton High School in Haslet, Texas, and has served as Board President of the Association of Texas Photography Instructors (ATPI) since 2025. An award-winning educator and photographer, she has led her students to success in statewide competitions while discovering a passion for scholastic journalism that continues to inspire the next generation of storytellers.

Chris Evans

  • Title/Role: Executive Director of Student Media
  • Organization/Affiliation: Rice University
  • Biography: Chris Evans serves as executive director of Student Media at Rice University, where he advises student journalists across print, digital, radio, and broadcast platforms. A former print journalist, he previously helped lead the successful effort to pass New Voices legislation in Vermont and brings extensive experience in student press rights, media law, newsroom leadership, and journalism education to the advisory board.

Trinidad Gonzales

  • Title/Role: Owner/Founder | Historian & Educator
  • Organization/Affiliation: History Education, Research and Creative
  • Biography: Trinidad Gonzales is a retired South Texas College History and Mexican American Studies instructor and owner/founder of the history consulting firm History Education, Research and Creative. Gonzales is a nationally recognized public historian who co-founded the award-winning public history project Refusing to Forget. He has been recognized for public advocacy with the American Historical Association John Lewis Award for History and Social Justice and recently completed two terms on the National Humanities Alliance board. As the editor of The Pan American student newspaper at UT-Pan American, he was selected to attend the Poynter Institute for Media Studies in 1993.

Angela Macias

  • Title/Role: Pathway Manager
  • Organization/Affiliation: Dallas Free Press
  • Biography: Angela Macias works with students in South and West Dallas to tell the unique stories of their neighborhoods for the non-profit, non-partisan news site. As a former high school publications adviser and newspaper reporter, she was recognized by the Associated Press Media Editors for her work utilizing the Freedom of Information Act. Angela is a passionate public education advocate who believes all young people should be equipped with the essential tools to be engaged members of their communities.

Gilbert D. Martinez

  • Title/Role: Professor
  • Organization/Affiliation: Texas State University
  • Biography: A veteran educator, Gilbert has taught media law, ethics, and free speech courses since 2003. He specializes in First Amendment jurisprudence and has a long-standing history of providing direct advocacy and legal-context support to student journalists.

Bao Ong

  • Title/Role: Restaurant Critic
  • Organization/Affiliation: Houston Chronicle
  • Biography: Bao Ong is a restaurant critic for the Houston Chronicle. In his first year as a restaurant columnist in Houston, he earned the top award in the Comment and Criticism category from the Texas Managing Editors organization. He previously worked on staff at Eater New York, Bon Appétit, and Time Out New York. In addition to his background in journalism, Bao is a graduate of the French Culinary Institute.

John Schwartz

  • Title/Role: Professor of Practice in Journalism
  • Organization/Affiliation: University of Texas at Austin
  • Biography: A former reporter for The New York Times and The Washington Post, John brings decades of elite professional journalism experience and deep newsroom leadership to the board. His work at UT Austin focuses on training the next generation of professional journalists.

Erin Sledge

  • Title/Role: High School Media Adviser
  • Organization/Affiliation: Eagle Mountain High School (Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD)
  • Biography: In addition to serving as a student publication adviser, Erin served as chair of the New Voices Advisory Steering Committee. Her background provides the board with valuable strengths in public relations, strategic communications, marketing, and professional design services.

David Doerr — NVT Adviser Liaison

  • Title/Role: High School Media Adviser | New Voices Texas Adviser Officer Liaison (Non-Voting Board Member)
  • Organization/Affiliation: Akins High School (Austin ISD)
  • Biography: David has served as the Adviser Officer for New Voices Texas since its formal establishment in 2019, guiding student leaders in their vital campaign to pass a New Voices law in Texas. He has worked as a dedicated high school newspaper adviser at Akins High School since 2010, fostering a strong culture of scholastic journalism.

Zara Bukhari — NVT Student Liaison

  • Title/Role: Legislative Officer for New Voices Texas | Editor-in-Chief
  • Organization/Affiliation: Three Penny Press (Bellaire High School)
  • Biography: Zara has served as a Legislative Officer for New Voices Texas since 2025. She has been actively involved in advocacy and press rights since her sophomore year in high school after joining her school’s publication. Through her work as a student journalist and editor, she experienced firsthand the importance of protecting student journalists’ abilities to report accurately and responsibly. In 2026, she was recognized as the TAJE Student Press Rights Advocate for her commitment to protecting student press freedom.

About New Voices

New Voices is a national, student-led movement powered by the Student Press Law Center (SPLC) to defend and expand First Amendment protections for student journalists through state-level legislation.

How to Join

If you are interested in serving on the advisory board to empower the next generation of truth-tellers, we invite you to apply.