Past Matters, Summer 2025, Published 6/23/2025
Summer Greetings! As you read this issue of Past Matters, and especially the letter from our Board Chair, Donna Carter, I hope that our commitment, to ensuring that the stories and histories of all Texans are preserved, comes through clearly. All Texans, generational as well as newly arrived, with their varied stories and perspectives and their Texan-ness, are part of the rich and complex tapestry that is Texas history. And we take our responsibility to preserve this tapestry and share it forward very seriously.
To that end, we are continually building our capacity and strengthening our team to do the work we are committed to doing. It is my pleasure to introduce to you the newest member of the Friends of the Texas Historical Commission’s team – Development Manager Lorelei Gonzalez.
Lorelei Gonzalez is an accomplished nonprofit professional with over 15 years of experience in the sector and proudly brings this experience to the FTHC and THC’s mission of historic preservation. Lorelei is also a communications expert who has specialized in helping small businesses and start-up entrepreneurs refine their forward-facing communications and presentation styles. Lorelei is a passionate advocate for people-centered missions, with high level expertise in the realms of communications, operational execution, program creation and delivery, and cross-functional development. Her work has ranged from at-risk youth services to local political and environmental campaigns, community building in Austin around mental health support and homelessness, as well as women’s professional development.
Lorelei obtained her bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas and her Master of Public Administration from the University of Colorado. Additionally, she is a Certified Nonprofit Manager and a Google #IamRemarkable facilitator. Staying active in volunteer service is a priority as well. After serving Austin’s recovery community for several years on the board of the Austin chapter of the Texas Association of Addiction Professionals (TAAP), she has pivoted to working with developing leaders through the Young Women’s Alliance (YWA); currently serving on the YWA’s Advisory Council and as an active mentor through the YWA Connect program for the past five years. She is a proud Leadership Austin alumna, an ANGEL advocate with the Tigerlily Foundation, and a member of the Women Communicators of Austin (WCA).
Please join Kristy, Traci and me in welcoming Lorelei to the work of preservation! I look forward to working with her to reach out to many of you in the coming weeks and months, to have deeper and detailed conversations about the impact your support is having on our communities and on Texas history. As always, we are deeply grateful for your faith in us! Your gifts help us preserve the stories and histories of all Texans, so we can continue to build community through storytelling. We look forward to your continued support!
On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the staff of the Friends of the Texas Historical Commission—warm regards and best wishes!
Anjali Zutshi, Executive Director