Life-long Texan. Future Focused. A Lucky Traveler. Vice President of Communications for Texas 2036. My opinions and tweets are my own.
Austin, TX
Joined June 2008
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MerrillLDavis retweeted
Tom Luce, one of the state’s most influential behind-the-scenes leaders, has died at 86.
“Without Tom, Texas would not be the powerhouse that it is,” said former President George W. Bush on Sunday.
wfaa.com/article/news/nation…
MerrillLDavis retweeted
Statement by Texas 2036 President and CEO David W. Leebron on Tom Luce:
“It is with profound sorrow that we learned of the passing of Tom Luce, Texas 2036’s founder and chairman emeritus. Tom was a visionary leader whose dedication to public service transformed the lives and opportunities of millions of people across our state. He firmly believed in the power of Texans coming together to address the big challenges vital for future generations to thrive, inspiring significant action and driving meaningful change across his lifetime.
Texas 2036 would not exist without Tom’s desire to unite Texans in favor of a better tomorrow. How we work every day is guided by this vision and the values of the man behind it.
While we grieve this immense loss, we honor Tom’s legacy by carrying forward the mission of improving the lives and opportunities of all Texans.”
MerrillLDavis retweeted
The 2026 STAAR End-of-Course results are in, and Texas high school students showed improvements across ALL five core high school subjects compared to last year. #txed
Ready to dive into the scores? Take a closer look: bit.ly/4uryiNM
MerrillLDavis retweeted
Take a behind-the-scenes look at "The Future of Texas" episode 10! President & CEO of @PermianSP @Tracee_Bentley joins Texas 2036's @jordannwat and host @bradswail to explore the future of energy in Texas.
⏰ Full episode drops this Tuesday at 3:00 PM. #txenergy
MerrillLDavis retweeted
🚨 NEW REPORT: Texas schools lost more than 76,000 students in a single year — the second-largest single-year enrollment decline in modern state history, and the largest outside of COVID-19.
Texas 2036's new report examines what's driving the decline: bit.ly/4d2u3D5 #txed
MerrillLDavis retweeted
Who is paying for data centers in Texas? President and CEO of @ERCOT_ISO Pablo Vegas explains in our latest episode of "The Future of Texas."
Catch the full episode here: bit.ly/4ezLfRo
MerrillLDavis retweeted
Does the Texas Triangle have what it takes to become a leading force in the global economy? #txgrowth #txlege
Former Secretary of HUD @henrygcisneros shares his thoughts in Ep. 4 of "The Future of Texas."
Watch the full conversation here 👉 bit.ly/4sKOObO
MerrillLDavis retweeted
How can Texas best support the growth of its biggest cities? Find out in our latest podcast episode.
@henrygcisneros, former Secretary of HUD and former mayor of San Antonio, joins Texas 2036's @AJRodriguez2036 and host @bradswail to explore the future of urban growth in Texas.
🎧 Spotify: bit.ly/4s49NFe
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: apple.co/4s2oRTJ
Powerful read. This reframed imagination for me. So often, failures in war and beyond come from the same place: we see what is, but can’t imagine how others understand the world or what experiences might mean to them.
The algebra of the war makers will have been flawless. But what they cannot read, they will not have reckoned with — and wars are made of resentment, dishonor, loyalty and grief as much as of algorithms and fire.
My Guest Essay in @nytimes: nytimes.com/2026/03/29/opini…
MerrillLDavis retweeted
Texas is projected to add more than two million jobs over the next decade. But will the #txworkforce be prepared?
In Ep. 3 of "The Future of Texas," co-founder of @GSDM and founder of the Purpose Institute joins @renzo_soto21 and @bradswail to discuss.
Watch here: bit.ly/47eu6bG
MerrillLDavis retweeted
Is the #txworkforce ready for the future? Find out in our latest episode of "The Future of Texas," featuring co-founder of @GSDM and founder of the Purpose Institute @royspence.
🎧 Spotify: bit.ly/3NCGI5M
🎙️ Apple Podcasts: apple.co/485smSa
Last year, a 30-second spot we worked on with @KXAN_News earned a Telly. I had the chance to talk with the @tellyawards about storytelling and what makes ideas stick at @Texas2036. Entries are open through March 27. Share your work. tlly.co/3PaX3z4
The @AustinAirport was packed this morning, but everything ran like clockwork. I arrived around 7:30am. Organized, calm, helpful staff and smooth sailing all the way through. Nice work, AUS! ✈️👏
MerrillLDavis retweeted
Big news, Texas: we’re launching our first podcast!
Introducing “The Future of Texas,” a new series bringing together leaders from across the state to help answer one question: What do we want Texas' next century to look like?
First episode drops next Tuesday. Explore the lineup 👉 bit.ly/3N9fuDk
MerrillLDavis retweeted
Ten years ago, Founder Tom Luce believed our future should never be left to chance. He wanted the next generation to have the same or better opportunities than he had.
And he knew data and discipline would lead the way. That belief became Texas 2036.
We're celebrating 10 years today. Here's to shaping the next decade. #txlege
MerrillLDavis retweeted
Texas turns 200 in just ten years. So what do we want our state to look like by 2036? #TexasBirthday #txlege
The next decade is a real opportunity to address our state's biggest challenges and build a stronger future for all Texans.
Follow along for more: bit.ly/4rOaa7O
MerrillLDavis retweeted
On March 2, 1836, Texas declared its independence.
Now, with just a decade until our 200th birthday, we're looking ahead to a stronger future for every Texan. #txlege
Watch our birthday message below — and share yours using #TexasBirthday! 🎂 👇
Texans were ready for a better way to use well-designed tests to support student learning and this poll shows voters strongly support what the Legislature delivered. #txlege
🚨 NEW POLL: Texans support a new approach to student testing. #txed
Our latest survey shows 7 in 10 voters support replacing the once-a-year STAAR with three shorter tests given throughout the year, along with faster results and more instructional time for students.
See the full findings ⬇️
bit.ly/3KI5T5l
Powerful op-ed from Former Speaker Joe Straus. Tom Luce has moved Texas forward in mental health, education, and so much more. Well worth the read.
Tom Luce, the founding CEO of the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, is praised for his lifelong leadership and public service in a new @dallasnews column by former Texas House Speaker Joe Straus. Read it here: bit.ly/4rBmnNj