Bio
Formerly the research assistant for the General Counsel of Southern Methodist University, Averie has utilized her experience in her University's legal affairs office to address higher education policy in third world countries. She was recently a Ronald Regan Presidential Foundation Fellow, U.S. Congressional Policy Fellow in Washington D.C., a University Interscholastic Scholarship recipient, and The Texas Women's Museum Woman of the Year awardee.
She is the co-founder and current director of The Tulong Foundation, a non profit organization that aids children in third world countries afford education. Averie and her mother aim to eradicate the gender gap in education by offering scholarships to girls who have a passion to learn but not the necessary funds to pursue their academic aspirations. Additionally, their foundation has expanded and provides micro-entrepreneurial loans to women, builds water wells, and constructs libraries in provincial Philippines. Her nonprofit has been internationally recognized by the Clinton Foundation and can be seen in a permanent exhibition at the brand new Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights museum.
Averie graduated from Southern Methodist University with honors distinction in Human Rights and Sociology. She attended Dedman School of Law and received her juris doctorate degree this past May. During her time in law school, Averie won the first year closing argument tournament, was president of the Asian American Pacific Islander Law Student Association, and developed a legal app that helps formerly incarcerated individuals determine record expungement. For her first year on the Miss America circuit, she placed first runner up at Miss Texas and received $18,000 in scholarships. She was the first Asian American woman to represent the city of Dallas as Miss Dallas 2020. Today, she is the 85th anniversary Miss Texas and made history as the first Asian American woman to represent the Lone star state.
In her free time, Averie enjoys hiking, spending time with her two obnoxious dogs, and tending to her vegetable garden in her backyard.
