BMIA Board

Jacob Holloman, Chairman

Jacob Holloman was born and raised in Hobbs, New Mexico.  He is a registered Professional Engineer in Texas and New Mexico.  He graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Oklahoma Christian University.  He has a Masters degree in Bioengineering from Rice University.  He is a project manager at Dunaway.  Jacob has lived in Midland since 2012.  He is married with two children.  The oldest is a student at Milam.  He is a Deacon at Fairmont Park Church of Christ where he regularly leads bible classes.  He is also an Eagle Scout.

Perla Abrego, Secretary

Perla Ábrego is an associate professor at the University of Texas Permian Basin. She coordinates the Spanish undergraduate and graduate programs and has taught Hispanic literature and culture, Spanish linguistics, and Spanish as first and second language for more than 20 years in Mexico and the United States. Perla has researched and published articles about the Spanish dialectal variations in West Texas, advocating for bilingual spaces and education. 

Marissa Salgado, Treasurer

Marissa Salgado is a Financial Advisor for Edward Jones.  She was born and raised in west Texas and is very involved in the community. Marissa has lived in Midland since 2012. She has her business in Odessa, which is her hometown, and is therefore connected to both communities. She serves on the board for the Midland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, also serves on the board for UTPB's Falcon Alumni Network, among other roles with organizations in the Permian Basin. She has a passion for education and in her own career has experienced the value of being bilingual and the value of children learning in a dual language environment.

Dr. Amin Davoodi, Board Member

 Dr. Amin Davoodi is assistant professor of bilingual/ESL education at the University of Texas Permian Basin. He received his PhD in ESL,  technology, and teacher education from Texas A&M University in 2021. He has two decades of teaching experience in different parts of the
world and has delivered keynote speeches and teacher training courses in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Belize, Armenia, Iran, Turkey, Thailand, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Egypt. His research interests are tech-driven equity for language learners, AI-assisted language
learning, robot-assisted language learning, bilingual education, and socio-politics of language education.

Denise Norman, Board Member

Denise Norman is a proud wife, mother, and dedicated advocate for education. She has served on numerous MISD committees, including the Superintendent Parent Advisory Committee, Strategic Planning Team, Abell-Hanger Foundation Diversity Council, IDEA Permian Basin Regional Advisory Board, Educate Midland's Hispanic Leadership Group, Bond Planning Committee, Energize Midland School PAC, and Bond Oversight Committee. With 12 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, Denise understands firsthand the value of being bilingual in today’s global economy. She is committed to building strong school–community partnerships and ensuring every child at Ben Milam International Academy has the opportunity to thrive.  

Stephanie Mead, Board Member

Stephanie is a mental health therapist that specializes in trauma treatment. She graduated with honors, in psychology and a master in social work.  Her professional and volunteer experiences include refugee advocacy work, West Texas Food Bank board member (present), MISD interim board representative for District 7 (2023), international adoption specialist, lead for teen therapy groups, and motivational speaker in a variety of community events in Alaska, Norway, and Texas. She is an advocate in supporting and creating awareness for mental health with youth and parents. She has been married to her best friend for 22 years and is a proud mother of 7 children. She values the richness that comes from cultural diversity and multilingualism.  She speaks Norwegian and is now learning Spanish.

Erica Thomas, Board Member

Erica Thomas is the Director of Development at Basin PBS, where she works with donors, sponsors, and community partners to bring quality programming and free educational resources to families across West Texas.

Before joining Basin PBS, she spent over a decade teaching Social Studies at Goddard Junior High, also serving as Department Chair and leading the National Junior Honor Society and Student Council. She organized service projects, fundraisers, and educational trips to Washington, D.C., and New York, always looking for ways to give students meaningful experiences beyond the classroom.

Erica is active in the community, serving as Secretary and Gala Co-Chair for the Midland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Junior League of Midland, a graduate of both the Nonprofit Management Center’s Generations Program and NELC (Nonprofit Executive Leadership Certificate) program, and a board member for Ben Milam International Academy. She previously served as Treasurer for Energize Midland Schools PAC, playing a key role in passing a $1.4 billion school bond.

A graduate of the University of Texas of the Permian Basin with degrees in Political Science and Communication, Erica believes in the power of relationships and collaboration to make West Texas stronger.