Full-Time Staff
Susie Smith
Director
Susie is from Texas and received a B.S. in Speech Communication from The University of Texas at Austin in 1987. Her career has focused in the areas of membership, development and event planning at organizations such as Barton Creek Country Club, Riverplace Country Club and destination management company, Circa Austin. Susie found her way back to the Forty Acres in 2008, serving as associate director for constituent relations in the College of Natural Sciences. In 2011, she was named director of Texas Parents and charged with developing strategies to enhance and expand Texas Parents services for all UT families. As mom of three active kids ages 19, 15 and 15 (yes, twins!), she enjoys being her kids' biggest fan in all that they do. Quite simply, Susie loves being a mom and sees her position at UT as an opportunity to draw on her and others' parental experiences to help UT parents and their students.
Favorite UT Austin Fact: Back in the day, class Adds and Drops were done manually with index cards and tables circling the multiple levels of the Erwin Center.
Shannon Cantlay
Assistant Director for Family Orientation and Events
Shannon grew up just outside of Dallas, Texas in the city of Frisco. She earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology from Louisiana State University (LSU) and a Masters of Education in Higher Education Administration from Auburn University. Shannon has worked with parents and family members at several universities before landing back in her home state at the University of Texas at Austin. She also spent some time as a traveling leadership consultant visiting 20 different universities. Outside of work, Shannon enjoys going to the dog park, watching movies, and taking in the sights and sounds of Austin.
Favorite UT Austin Fact: The famous Big Bertha drum, “The sweetheart of the Longhorn Band” weighs over 500 pounds and is almost a century old.
Ashley Lawrence
Assistant Director for Communication
Ashley was born in Las Vegas, Nevada, but spent the majority of her adolescence in Lafayette, Louisiana. After serving 3 years on active duty as a Space Systems Operator for the United States Air Force, she attended Minot State University (MSU) and earned a BA in English Literature and Writing. While attending MSU, Ashley served as a TA who supervised, led and mentored students enrolled in accredited university courses in the absence of senior professors. After graduation, she relocated to Austin and began her journey at Texas Parents. As a proud parent of a three-year-old son and five-year-old daughter, she strives to accommodate the needs of Longhorn parents and families. When she isn’t spending time with her family, Ashley can be found sipping coffee while indulging in a good book.
Favorite UT Austin Fact: The UT campus houses 17 libraries and nearly ten million volumes!
Laurie Alvarado
Membership Associate
Laurie was born and raised in Texas just outside of Austin. She began her career at The University of Texas at Austin in 1998 in University Housing and Dining where she spent 18 years assisting students and their parents with on-campus housing. Laurie enjoys helping parents and was excited to transition to Texas Parents in May 2016. She is a proud mom of two boys, ages 10 and 14. She loves spending time with her family, gardening and traveling to new places. She hopes her experience on campus will better prepare her for the day her kids go off to college.
Favorite UT Austin Fact: The first live mascot was a dog named Pig Bellmont born on February 10, 1914. He was named after Gus “Pig” Dittmar, who played center for the football team. Each morning, Pig greeted students and faculty on his daily rounds. He regularly attended athletic events, and it was said he would snarl at the slightest mention of Texas A&M.
Lindsey Lundberg
Office Manager
Lindsey was born and raised in Southern California. She earned her Bachelors of Art in Mathematics from Azusa Pacific University (APU) in 2013. She spent a few years after graduation living overseas before moving back to California to work at APU assisting in Finances and Office Management. Since then, Lindsey has moved to Texas with her husband. Outside of work, Lindsey enjoys cooking, crocheting and traveling to different countries all over the world.
Favorite UT Austin Fact: The university holds one of only 21 remaining complete copies of the Gutenberg Bible and the first permanent photograph.
Student Staff
Anna is a junior English major from Mansfield, Texas. She began working as an Office Assistant for Texas Parents in 2018. Anna is a member of the Liberal Arts Refugee Alliance and a production assistant for the local podcast, Everyday Superhumans. Anna enjoys going to local concerts, eating Thai food and going to the movies.
Bryce is a senior Aerospace Engineering major from Cedar Park, Texas. He began working for Texas Parents in 2016 as an Office Assistant. Bryce is a member of the Longhorn Rocketry Association and hopes to join more organizations. Bryce enjoys cooking, rock climbing and camping. In his free time, Bryce can usually be found building things in the Engineering Makerspace.
Chris is a junior Marketing and Sociology double major from San Antonio, Texas. He began working for Texas Parents in 2016 as an Office Assistant. Chris is involved with the Gates Millennium Student Association, and is also a member of the Campus Events + Entertainment group ShowTime. Chris enjoys watching films, road trips around the Austin area and exploring the Austin music scene.
Edith is a sophmore Plan II and Government major from New Haven, Connecticut. She began working for Texas Parents in 2017 as an Office Assistant. Edith is a member of the spirit group Absolute Texxas and the Liberal Arts Refugee Alliance. Edith enjoys exploring Austin’s green spaces, music scene and practicing yoga.
Lauren is a junior Public Relations major from Mansfield, Texas. She began working for Texas Parents in 2017 as an Office Assistant. Lauren is a member of the spirit group Absolute Texxas and a copyeditor for her PR class website, News & Junk. Lauren enjoys going to local Austin music shows, tex-mex food and painting.
Peter is Junior Quantitative Finance major from Garland, Texas. He began working with Texas Parents in 2018 as an Office Assistant. Peter wants to start his own student organization for block chain education soon. He loves to study the cosmos, play basketball and learn new groundbreaking technology.
Steven is a junior Marketing major from Leander, Texas. He began working for Texas Parents in 2017 as an Office Assistant. Steven is a member of the Entrepreneur Society and enjoys golf, working out and eating good food.