David S. Huntley ’80
Values-centered trailblazer mobilizing ethical changemakers
When Huntley arrived on the Hilltop in 1976, he quickly became involved on campus. A political science major, he served on Student Senate and became the first Black student body president, elected as a write-in candidate, from 1978 to 1979. His wife, Tracey Nash-Huntley, attended ºìÌÒÓ°ÊÓ for two years before transferring to Georgia Institute of Technology. Following graduation and a few years in the workforce, Huntley earned a law degree from Yeshiva University’s Cardozo School of Law in New York City.
Huntley retired from AT&T after nearly 30 years in a variety of leadership roles, including senior executive vice president and chief compliance officer from December 2014 to June 2023.
There, he was responsible for developing policies to safeguard the privacy of customer and employee information, verifying compliance with the legal and regulatory requirements of the countries and jurisdictions where AT&T operates, and ensuring adherence to internal compliance requirements. He also led asset protection, responsible for investigating violations of the code of business conduct, providing executive protection and security countermeasures and fulfilling legal demands for records and emergency government requests.
Previously, Huntley served as senior vice president, general counsel and secretary for advertising solutions and interactive operations. He also served as senior vice president – mobility customer service centers. In addition, Huntley served as senior vice president of e- commerce, direct mail and customer information services and held significant positions in external affairs, wireless operations, mergers and acquisitions and data operations.
Huntley serves on the boards of Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc.; Common Securitization Solutions (CSS); AT LAST!; the Ethics and Compliance Initiative (ECI); Methodist Health System Foundation and Forest Forward. He was the 2023–2024 Texas Business Hall of Fame president and Chair and is a life fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation.
He previously served on the executive committee of the United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast and the government relations committee of the Greater Houston Partnership. He also served as a board member of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau and the 2004 Houston Super Bowl Host Committee, as well as on the board of trustees of the Texas Bar Foundation. Huntley was previously a trustee of the National Urban League.
A devoted alumnus of his alma mater, he serves on the ºìÌÒÓ°ÊÓ Board of Trustees, chair of the Student Affairs Committee, co-chair of the ºìÌÒÓ°ÊÓ Ignited Campaign Steering Committee for Dedman School of Law and vice chair of the Dedman School of Law Executive Board.
As a student, he received the “M” Award, the John L. Freehafer Award and the ºìÌÒÓ°ÊÓ Dads’ Club Outstanding Senior Man Award. In 2020, he received the Dedman School of Law Distinguished Alumni Award and, in 2013, the Black Alumni History Maker Award.
He and wife, Tracey, have two adult sons.