Senator, Texas State Senate, District 21, 1987-present

President Pro Tempore, Texas State Senate, District 21

Candidate, Texas State Senate, District 21, 2020

Member, Business and Commerce Committee

Member, Finance Committee

Vice Chair, Natural Resources and Economic Development Committee

Member, Select Committee on Redistricting

Member, State Affairs Committee

Former Member, Administration Committee, Texas State Senate

Former Vice Chair, Agriculture, Water, & Rural Affairs Committee, Texas State Senate

Former Member, Business and Commerce Committee, Texas State Senate

Former Member, Committee of the Whole Senate, Texas State Senate

Former Member, Economic Development Committee, Texas State Senate

Former Member, Government Organization Committee, Texas Senate

Former Member, Health and Human Services Committee, Texas State Senate

Former Co-Chair, Joint Committee of Oversight on Higher Education Governance, Excellence and Transparency, Texas State Senate

Former Member, Select Committee on Redistricting, Texas State Senate

Former Member, Subcommittee on Fiscal Matters, Texas State Senate

Former Member, Subcommittee on Higher Education Funding, Texas State Senate

Former Member, Subcommittee on Medicaid, Texas State Senate

Owner, Zaffirini Communications

Instructor, Laredo Junior College, 1970

Administrator, Laredo Junior College, 1970

Member, Legislative Budget Board, 2004-present

Member, National Order of Women Legislators, 1987-present

Member, National Women's Forum, 1987-present

Member, San Antonio Women's Forum, 1987-present

Member, Society of Martha Washington, 1974-present

Member, Ex-Students Association, The University of Texas, 1973-present

Member, American Institute of Parliamentarians and Association for Borderlands Studies

Member, Association of Borderlands Scholars

Lector, Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church

President, D&J Alexander Development

President, D&J Alexander Foundation

President, D&J Alexander Investments

Lifetime Member, Friends of Library

Member, International Communication Association

President, Mr. South Texas Foundation

Member, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society

Member, Speech Communication Association

Member, Texas Philosophical Society

Member, Texas Press Women

Member, Texas Professional Communicators

Member, Texas Public Relations Association

Member, Democratic National Committee, 1984-1986

Member, Executive Committee, National Association of State Democratic Chairs, 1984-1986

Vice Chair, Texas Democratic Party, 1984-1986

National Secretary, Hispanic American Democrats, 1979-1981

Awards:

(2022) Laredo-Webb County Bar Association Liberty Bell award
(2021) Texas Press Association's Champion of Transparency
(2021) State Bar of Texas Judicial Section's Friend of the Judiciary
(2021) Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities' Legislative Champion
(2019) Texas Women's Hall of Fame
(2019) Texas Nurses Association Legislative Champion award
(2016) Outstanding Alumna of the Moody College of Communication
(2016) University of Texas Daily Texan's Hall of Fame
(2013) Presidential Citation
(2003) Texas Observer People's Friend: Lord's Work Award
(2003) The University of Texas at Austin Distinguished Alumna award

Publications:

20 Dozen Tips for Better Communication and Leadership Skills