Meet the 2025 Outstanding Young Texas Exes

Each year, the Texas Exes honors a select group of Longhorns whose impact reaches far beyond the Forty Acres with the Outstanding Young Texas Ex Awards. Honoring alumni 39 and younger, the award recognizes professional achievement, community service, and meaningful contributions to the University. An Emmy-winning storyteller, a champion of disability rights, an entrepreneur who bleeds burnt-orange, and a gifted astrophysicist—this year’s recipients represent the best of The University of Texas.  

In Memoriam 1988–2025  
Qusay Salih Hussein  
BA, BSW ’21, MS ’22, PhD ’25  
Austin, TX 
An education advocate, author, and motivational speaker, Hussein became a powerful voice for people with disabilities after a 2006 suicide bombing in Mosul, Iraq, left him blind and critically injured. Following years of grueling surgeries, he resettled in the United States and fulfilled a promise to his father to pursue an education, earning four degrees in social work from UT, including a minor in disability studies—a field he helped create. Hussein’s work reflects kindness, resilience, and a legacy of creating opportunities for others.  

"Do not let your disability stop you from doing what you want to accomplish. Never say, 'I can't,' instead, say, 'I will try.'" 

Eddie Lopez  
BM ’08, Life Member 
Austin, TX 
An innovator and community leader with a deep love for UT, Lopez’s career bridges entrepreneurship and arts education. When he’s not running his global student travel performance group or promoting his Hill Country wine brand, Lopez is busy raising funds for underserved school programs and leading the Texas Cowboys Alumni Association as its executive director.  

“It is an incredible honor to be recognized by the Texas Exes and the University. I’m thankful for the place that has given me so much and changed my world. And I hope to continue giving my best.”  

Ashley Glazier  
BS ’06, Life Member Los Angeles, CA  
An award-winning television producer, Glazier unites creative vision with logistical precision to bring dynamic, character-driven stories to life. She credits her time on the Forty Acres and the UTLA program with giving her the confidence to make a bold leap into Hollywood—one that has earned her two Emmys, a Golden Globe, and a Producers Guild Award.  

“I quickly learned that being a Longhorn, even in Los Angeles, could open opportunities for me. Though far from Austin, I’m surrounded by a vast community of Texas Exes in LA. I’m fortunate to continue to work with and even hire Longhorns. We always bond over things that others just don’t understand—like the superiority of Blue Bell and H-E-B and, of course, Vince Young destroying USC in the 2005 Championship.”  

Sarafina Nance   
BS ’16 
San Francisco, CA

As an astrophysicist, author, and women’s health advocate, Nance’s work bridges science, storytelling, and public engagement. From her acclaimed memoir, Starstruck, to national media appearances, Nance makes the most of her platform to challenge stereotypes and promote equity in science and health care.  

“So much of my growth and development as a scientist—and as a person—were shaped by the extraordinary teachers and students at UT. As a Longhorn, I learned to pair ambition with service. This honor feels like both a celebration of what I’ve built so far and a responsibility to keep showing up for Texans through science, equity, and public trust.”