Tessa Galloso joined Texans Care for Children in 2025 as the Policy Fellow for Mental Health. In that role, Tessa works with the health policy team to analyze policy, collaborate with partners, and advocate for state policies that improve access to mental health services and health coverage. She also participates in the Hogg Foundation’s Mental Health Policy Academy.
Prior to joining Texans Care for Children, Tessa interned at Children at Risk, where she worked on research and advocacy efforts addressing food insecurity, mental health access, and child care deserts in Harris County. Tessa also has experience in health policy education, having served as an Instructional Support Specialist at The University of Texas at Austin, where she co-managed curriculum development and lectures for a senior-level health policy course. Her background also includes work in therapeutic interventions for children who have experienced trauma, human resources, and health care administration, giving her a strong foundation in the intersection of equity, policy, and operations in health care. Driven by a commitment to equity and access, Tessa is passionate about using policy to address health disparities and create meaningful change for Texas children and families.
Tessa earned her Master of Public Health from The University of Texas Health Science Center, with an emphasis in Healthcare Administration and holds a B.S. in Advanced Human Development and Family Sciences from The University of Texas at Austin.
In her free time, Tessa loves to try Austin’s many restaurants, watch movies and musicals, and spend time with friends walking around Lady Bird Lake.
