ABOUT LINDA

After moving from Cleveland, Ohio, to Houston with her Bachelor’s in Business Management from Myers University and after obtaining her Master’s degree in Education from the University of Houston, Linda and her husband, Ken, have been proud Houstonians for more than 24 years and chose to raise their family in The Heights because of its neighborhood appeal. Their daughter, Tomiko, was educated at Travis Elementary through graduation at Challenge Early College High School.

Linda’s business background and involvement in the community will bring the diverse skills, insight and perspectives that are requirements of an HISD Trustee. An avid long distance runner for more than 30 years, Linda approaches each day anew. Linda’s motto is “anything is possible.” Linda’s experience in community relations/marketing, fundraising and business development serves her well as Chief Development Officer at the YWCA Greater Houston.

Linda was selected to Center for Houston’s Future; Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities; Strathmore’s Who’s Who Registry of Business Leaders; Leadership America; United Way Project Blueprint; and Leadership Houston.  She was a recipient of the humanitarian award from Transitional Women’s Diversified Center; and Distinguished Service Award recipient from the Texas Affiliate of the American Heart Association. She received the 2003 YWCA Outstanding Woman of Achievement award for Community Service–Volunteer and obtained her Nonprofit Executive Certificate from the University of Houston. She completed her chairmanship of Leadership Houston as the first Asian woman to lead the organization and the first woman to chair the Mayor’s International Affairs and Development Council-Asia/Australia.

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Linda serves on the boards of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Houston (she previously chaired its Diversity and Community Outreach committee), Leadership Houston and the Mayor’s International Affairs and Development Council-Asia/Australia. She also chaired of Leadership Houston’s annual Distinguished Leadership dinner honoring Dr. John and Anne Mendelsohn; proceeds from the dinner established the Leadership Houston endowment.

Throughout her career, Linda has been an advocate for people’s potential. Having spent more than 20 years championing the causes of non-profits, such as the YWCA, Houston Technology Center, DePelchin Children’s Center, Holocaust Museum Houston, American Heart Association, St. Joseph Hospital, Japan America Society, Japanese American Citizens League, Greater Houston Partnership and Texas Heart Institute.  Linda believes her PTO, volunteer and non-profit experience affords her a unique perspective about the Houston community and the District’s children, parents and community.

Linda will stand for our children because they are the future of our city. Houston’s economic health is contingent upon a strong public education system to provide the future workforce.

Serving on numerous non-profits' boards, Linda has the experience to understand the role of board governance and responsibility, dealing with conflict resolution, understanding consensus building and working as a team in the best interests of the mission of an organization. Linda listens and brings diverse constituents together for the betterment of the Houston community.