Fort Bend County Judge Bob Hebert appointed Dr. Mary desVignes-Kendrick to the Texana Board of Trustees. The Texana Board is made up of 9 members; 5 are appointed from each of the Fort Bend County Commissioners and County Judge. Matagorda, Waller and Wharton County Commissioner’s Courts each appoint one member and a member is appointed jointly from Austin and Colorado Counties.

Dr. Mary desVignes-Kendrick serves as Director of Fort Bend County Health & Human Services and Health Authority of Fort Bend County. Prior to this position, she served as Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Texas A&M Health Science Center, School of Rural Public Health and as faculty with the Texas A&M National Center for Emergency Medical Preparedness and Response (2007-2011). She previously served as Professor of Management, Policy and Community Health and Deputy Director of the UT Center for Biosecurity and Public Health Preparedness at UT School of Public Health in Houston, Texas (2004-2007). Prior to her work in academia, Dr. desVignes-Kendrick served as the Health Authority and Director of the City of Houston Department of Health and Human Services, a position she held for twelve years. She completed her undergraduate degree with majors in Biology and Spanish at New York University, her medical degree at Meharry Medical College, Pediatrics residency at Baylor College of Medicine, and Master of Public Health degree at the University of Texas School of Public Health in Houston. Dr. desVignes-Kendrick is board certified in pediatrics and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She is a former president of the National Association of County and City Health Officials, and is actively involved in public health issues at the local, state and national level.