Team

Dan Hooper

Founder & Executive Director

Dan founded ScholarShot in 2009. Dan has been a successful business growth executive in Dallas since 1979. He left a successful business consulting firm, ISI, he helped manage and grow since 2003 to serve as Executive Director of ScholarShot. ISI has experienced record growth the last 6 years. It’s Dan’s vision and passion which helped create the ScholarShot model and DegreeDallas campaign.

Carlos Valadez

Director of Scholar Success

Carlos is a first-generation Texan, first college graduate, having graduated in 2010 from Texas A&M with his Bachelor of Science in Bioenvironmental Science. Carlos joined ScholarShot as its first Academic Manager in 2014 after 3 years of experienced as a High School College Advisor and University Admissions Counselor. Carlos’ knowledge of financial aid and admissions practices has provided ScholarShot with a number of processes and controls to help monitor and measure scholar success. In 2018, he became Director of Scholar Success and is responsible for overseeing the Academic Managers.

April Tillett, LMSW

Program Director

April is a first-generation college graduate and graduated from UT Austin in 2011 with a BA in Psychology and Minor in Education. April joined ScholarShot as Academic Manager in July 2016. She brings with her six years of experience in college admissions and financial aid processes after serving as a High School College Advisor & College Admissions Counselor. She completed her Masters in Social Work from UT Arlington in December 2016, where her concentration on administrative and community practice has helped her in additional responsibilities such as marketing and managing ScholarShot’s website. In 2018, she became Program Director and is responsible for cultivating relationships with community partners to aid in scholar recruitment and managing the mentor program.

Kenya Silva

Academic Manager

Kenya is a first-generation college student and a ScholarShot Scholar, who joined the ScholarShot team in October 2018. She will graduate with a Bachelor in Business Administration from the University of North Texas at Dallas in December. Her experience as a ScholarShot Scholar and her year of working in higher education provides Kenya with the ideal platform to assist other at-risk students through navigating the college system. She is thrilled for this opportunity and eager to assist in alleviating the personal, academic and financial obstacles our younger scholars encounter.

Heather Lacey

Academic Manager

Heather is a first-generation college student, who gradauted from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology in 2018. She credits her experience to AdviseTX, where she worked as a College Advisor with under-represented, low-income, first-generation students. During her time as an adviser, she gained an exceptional amount of knowledge of the college-going process. Heather joined ScholarShot in 2020 and will use her passion combined with experience to guide students through their academic journey.

REBECCA MORGAN, MBA

Director of Data Intelligence

Rebecca earned a Bachelor’s degree in History in 2011 from Wake Forest University and a Master’s in Business Administration in 2017 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She comes with varying experience both in education and the non-profit sector. She has worked as both a teacher and administrator in the public-school system giving her insight into what kinds of improvements can benefit students preparing for college. Most recently, she worked as a Non-Profit Consultant where she advised non-profits on strategic and fundraising initiatives. She is excited for the opportunity to join ScholarShot as the Director of Data Intelligence where she will work to create the first Economic Mobility Report Card for Universities in Texas.

JORDAN BENDER

Development Manager

Jordan graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and Education in 2013. Jordan joins the ScholarShot team with several years of Development and Event experience, as well as time working in the outreach and education field. Upon moving to Dallas, Jordan completed the Center for Non-Profit Management certificate course focusing on Fund Development. She is looking forward to supporting ScholarShot’s fundraising initiatives and sharing the ScholarShot mission in the North Texas community.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Cliff Braly, Finance
Cole Evans, Operations
Trey Hill, Community Chair
Dan Hooper, Executive Director
Guy Kerr, Compliance and Governance
Sheilon King, Corporate Outreach
Melinda Lafitte, Mentors / Volunteers
Bob McCamey, Vice Chair
George Morgan, Treasurer
Winifred Mundinger, Strategy
Deanna Naugles
Lou Schaufele, Operations Chair
Rob Spencer, Funding
Van Sheets, Strategy
Jim Wills, Board Chair

ADVISORS TO THE BOARD

Dr. Judith Allen, Ph.D., Chief Program Officer, Communities in Schools, Dallas Region
Dr. Cathy Bryce, Educator and former HPISD Superintendent
Mrs. Becky McCamey