An Evening of Great Conversation

February 27, 2025

6 pm Cocktail Reception

7 pm Dinner Event with Conversation Hosts

Celebrate 100 Years of the Intellectual Heart of Texas Christian University

An Evening of Great Conversation! is a biennial fundraising dinner, celebrating the intellectual heart of TCU. Guests enjoy a cocktail reception and dine at tables with prominent local leaders and notables during an evening filled with fine dining and memorable repartee. Proceeds from the event will allow the library to further improve the academic success of our students and meet the needs of our researchers and frog family.

Join us for a special evening – 100 years to the date – from the original dedication, of the Mary Couts Burnett Library!

Reserve your seat

Guests, table hosts, and tables at the 2019 dinner.

Table Hosts

In celebration of Mary Couts Burnett’s legacy, our distinguished hosts are influential women from the Fort Worth community who, much like Mary Couts Burnett, have a commitment to education and culture.

Rose Alvarez, Volunteer Director<br>Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo
Rose Alvarez
Volunteer Director
Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo
Beverley Bass, First Female Captain<br>American Airlines Commercial Plane
Beverley Bass
First Female Captain
American Airlines Commercial Plane
Judy Bernas, Sr. Associate Dean and Chief Strategy and Communication Officer<br>TCU Burnett School of Medicine<br>Chair of the Fiesta Bowl Board of Directors
Judy Bernas
Sr. Associate Dean and Chief Strategy and Communication Officer
TCU Burnett School of Medicine
Chair of the Fiesta Bowl Board of Directors
Tiffany Blackmon, <em>My So-Called Fabulous</em> Podcast Host<br>Influencer, Author and Chef
Tiffany Blackmon
My So-Called Fabulous Podcast Host
Influencer, Author and Chef
Krys Boyd, Host and Managing Editor<br><em>Think</em>, KERA
Krys Boyd
Host and Managing Editor
Think, KERA
Sandra Brown, <em>New York Times</em> Bestselling Author
Sandra Brown
New York Times Bestselling Author
Julie Butner, President and Chief Executive Officer<br>Tarrant Area Food Bank
Julie Butner
President and Chief Executive Officer
Tarrant Area Food Bank
Brenda Cline, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary<br>Kimbell Art Foundation
Brenda Cline
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary
Kimbell Art Foundation
Nicole Donati, First Lady of TCU Athletics
Nicole Donati
First Lady of TCU Athletics
Jo Ellard, Bowie House Owner
Jo Ellard
Bowie House Owner
Jessica Hill, VP of Marketing and Film Commissioner<br>Visit Fort Worth<br>Fort Worth Commission
Jessica Hill
VP of Marketing and Film Commissioner
Visit Fort Worth
Fort Worth Commission
The Honorable Macy Hill, President of Macy Hill and Company<br>Fort Worth City Council Member
The Honorable Macy Hill
President of Macy Hill and Company
Fort Worth City Council Member
Melissa Ice, Founder and Executive Director<br>The Net
Melissa Ice
Founder and Executive Director
The Net
Dione Kennedy, President and CEO<br>Performing Arts Fort Worth, Inc.
Dione Kennedy
President and CEO
Performing Arts Fort Worth, Inc.
Sainty Nelsen, Actress and Producer<br>Star of <em>Gabby's Dollhouse</em> on Netflix<br>Glamour and Grit Podcast
Sainty Nelsen
Actress and Producer
Star of Gabby's Dollhouse on Netflix
Glamour and Grit Podcast
Tracy Reneé Williams, Leadership development facilitator, speaker and coach<br>Founder of TraComm Development Group
Tracy Reneé Williams
Leadership development facilitator, speaker and coach
Founder of TraComm Development Group

Explore how the Mary Couts Burnett Library is central to learning and life at TCU.
Click on any image to open a larger version in a new window.

An open 17th century book, showing a music score and an illustration
The 17th century Mixson-Colquitt Gradual, part of
the Rare Books Collection in Special Collections
Three students with laptops sitting in front of the Bistro Burnett sign.
Students studying in Bistro Burnett.
Exhibit cases. with objects, photos and text.
Exhibit showcasing collections and
TCU history holdings in Special Collections
Students sitting on steps, posign with the TCU Frog symbol.
Students on the Library front steps at
the kickoff to the 2018-2019 school year.
Two men sitting on interior Library steps.
Dr. Frederick Gooding & graduate assistant Marcellis
Perkins, leaders of the Race & Reconciliation Initiative,
on the Library's Knowledge is Power steps.
A Torah scroll partially open on a table.
Early 20th century Sephardic Torah, part of
the Otto Lehman Collection in Special Collections
Plaza on a sunny day, with students at tables. Two students are walking and smiling at the camera.
Students enjoying the plaza between the
Mary Couts Burnett Library and Rees-Jones Hall.
Studetns sitting on interior Library steps, talking to each other.
Student discussions on the Knowledge is Power
steps in the Library.
A student touching a large touchscreen on the wall.
Learning about water via the
Library's interactive display.
A student in cap and gown standing on the exterior Library steps.
A graduating senior on the Library steps.
The TCU Library after rain, with a rainbow above it.