DASF Board

Voting Directors

  • Bette B. Sherman

    Chairman and Co-Founder

    Retired – CEO, First Colonial Investment Services & Senior Vice President, First Colonial Bankshares (Chicago, 35+ years). Business Owner. Member of Several Nonprofit Boards. Community Volunteer.

    BA and MBA Northwestern University.

  • Kim Gaffey

    1st Vice Chairman – Administration

    Business Owner – Gaffey Dog Training. Dog Behavior Evaluation & Trainer. DASF Social Media Manager. Volunteers with several shelters and rescue organizations. Animal Advocate.

  • Dena Guyette

    2nd Vice Chairman – Donor Relations

    Senior Executive/Director, Telecom Industry for 20+ years. Chair DASF Ad Hoc Committee on DonorSearch Project. Community Volunteer for several shelters and rescue organizations. Animal Advocate.

    BS Kansas State University, MBA University of Missouri, KC.

  • Rosemary Grose

    Corporate Secretary

    Retired – Educator. DASF Volunteer Coordinator 10 years. DASF Endowment Committee. Community Volunteer.

    BS Missouri State University, MA University of Missouri.

  • Robert Sherman

    Treasurer

    Retired – COO, First Colonial Bankshares (Chicago, 35+ years). Business owner. Member of Several Corporate Boards and Community Volunteer.

    BA Washington University and Washington University School of Law.

  • Stephanie (Sandi) Brackeen

    Director

    Retired – Public Information Officer, Denton County Sheriff’s Office. English Instructor NCTC. Past Chair DASF Grants Committee. Certified Instructor – Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education.

    MA University of North Texas.

  • Sharon Harris Draper

    Director

    Retired – Business Owner. Executive Administrator, Information Technology/Oil & Gas Industries. DASF Past Treasurer and DASF Endowment Committee. Community Volunteer.

  • Donn M. Fuller

    Director

    Retired – Senior VP & Director, Asset Management & New Business Development, Jones Lang LaSalle Retail. Over 40+ years in Commercial Real Estate Investment. U.S.Navy veteran.

    BS Bemidji State University, BA and CPA Minnesota State University. CPA Certification.

  • Michael A. Mlinac

    Director

    Retired – President & CEO, UNT Foundation, 11 years. GM, SVP & CFO, and President for Fidelity Investments’ US & International Business Units, 17 years. Ernst & Young Auditor & Consultant, 5 years.

    BS LaRoche College, MBA Harvard University, CPA & CFPⓇ Certifications.

  • Kevin Sanders

    Director

    Business Owner and Entrepreneur, Applejack’s Liquors, and previously Paradise Liquors. Member of other local boards. Community Volunteer.

  • Blanton D. Stogdill

    Director

    Residential Mortgage Secondary Marketing, Financial Analysis, and Strategic Planning – American National Bank & Trust. DASF Endowment Committee.

    Associate of Science NCTC and UNT Studies in Communications.

  • Kimberly Truax

    Director

    Business Owner and Entrepreneur, Kind Companions Caregiving Agency, 20+ years, and Bellaire Assisted Living Facilities. Over 30+ years in the healthcare industry. DASF Past Vice Chairman. Community Volunteer.

    Texas State University, Richland College, and North Central Texas College.

  • Jerry Watson, PhD

    Director

    Retired – Manager/Nuclear Physicist, Argonne, Los Alamos, and SuperCollider National Laboratories. Founder, DASF Endowment Fund.

    BA and PhD University of Chicago, MBA University of New Mexico.

  • Shirley Watson

    Director

    Retired – Administrative Assistant at Argonne, Los Alamos, and SuperCollider National Laboratories. Founder, DASF Endowment Fund.

    University of Chicago and Moser Secretarial School.

Ex-Officio

Karla Orozco

Senior Marketing & Communications Manager 

BBA and MPA University of North Texas.

Karen Scruggs 

Executive Director 

Former business owner of Karen Scruggs Photography for 13 years, Retired American Airlines Flight Attendant, Animal Welfare Board Hickory Creek Animal Shelter, Former Volunteer Coordinator at several Denton County Animal shelters, Animal Advocate, and Rescue group volunteer.

Honorary

Jackie Bruce 

Educator 

Served on DASF Board as Events/Community Outreach Chairman and as Chairman of Revenue Development. Also served as Chairman of the Education Committee. Total of 12 years active service.

Sue Hundt 

Business Owner

Served on DASF Board as Chairman of Revenue Development and as Chairman of the Endowment Committee. Total of 10 years active service.

In Memory

Janet Steiss, PhD, DVM passed away while serving as an active board member in 2023. She joined the board in 2017 and was very engaged in the mission. Jan served as Chairman of the DASF Education Committee. 

PhD University of Georgia; Professor Emerita, Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Peter Lane, PhD, Col. U.S. Air Force (Ret) 

Retired – VP Development, Special Assistant to the Chancellor, History faculty, University of North Texas, 25 years. Passed away in 2021. U.S. Air Force fighter pilot and educator, 23 years. Flew over 100 combat missions – Vietnam. Served on the DASF Board for 6 years and was a member of the 1st DASF board. 

Graduate, U.S. Air Force Academy. MA and PhD, University of Washington.