Brianah Wallace still remembers when, a few years ago, she came into the Texas Capitol to interview for a position within the sergeant-at-arms office.
As she was waiting for her interview, she noticed someone else in the room 鈥� another woman.
Her name: Kara Coffee.
鈥淚 remember sitting right next to her and being like, 鈥榳ho is this cool woman? I hope she鈥檚 not interviewing for my job because she鈥檚 definitely going to get it,鈥� Wallace said.
Both got jobs at the office 鈥� Wallace as a messenger, and Coffee as a supervisor.
But in 2023, they made history.
Coffee, 36, is the first woman to be the Texas House of Representatives' sergeant-at-arms. Wallace is the first Black woman to serve as assistant sergeant.
The sergeant-at-arms is the chamber鈥檚 chief law enforcement officer. She works as a liaison between the House and the Texas Department of Public Safety ensuring the safety of House members and staff.
She鈥檚 also in charge of a group of college students who serve as House messengers. And that鈥檚 not all.
鈥淲e also, you know, bring in and decorate the Christmas tree,鈥� Coffee said. 鈥淪o we have a little bit of managing terrorism and safety 鈥� and Christmas trees.鈥�
Overcoming challenges
Coffee鈥檚 path to the Texas capital wasn鈥檛 a straight line.
She鈥檚 from Tonganoxie, a small town in Kansas of about 6,000 people. She has lived in London. She鈥檚 worked in film operations for a film festival. She鈥檚 done marketing and worked for a nonprofit serving people with HIV.
Coffee landed with the House Sergeant-at-Arms in 2020 as a supervisor, but it wasn鈥檛 always easy. When she became assistant sergeant in 2021, she said she got pushback for trying to fill the office with more women.
Still, Coffee says she鈥檚 hired people with talent, who are coachable, and who want to do a good job.
Coffee has also received comments on her appearance 鈥� including her clothes. Many of those comments have been posted to social media accounts that follow the Texas Legislature closely, complimenting the bright-colored clothes she wears.
She started wearing bright colors after her body changed due to an eating disorder. She gained weight after starting medication to treat depression and anxiety.
鈥淚 said, 鈥極K, I鈥檓 going to do some dopamine dressing, I鈥檓 going to wear bright, fun outfits, like I want to be excited about getting dressed,鈥欌�� Coffee said.
She added the decision also pushed people to reconsider how they traditionally see authority figures.
鈥淚鈥檓 taking care of death threats to the members while wearing a lime green pantsuit,鈥� Coffee said. 鈥淪o, that鈥檚 how I鈥檓 living my life.鈥�
Brianah Wallace
When Coffee became the head of the Sergeant鈥檚 office in January, she promoted Brianah Wallace to assistant sergeant-at-arms.
Wallace, 26, is the first Black woman to hold that post.
鈥淚 remember telling my mom I wanted to be the first Black president of the United States, and then Obama did that,鈥� Wallace joked. 鈥淪o, I was like, 鈥極K, I鈥檒l do sergeant-at-arms.鈥欌��
Wallace was always interested in politics, and working there gave her the opportunity to get involved without the politicking.
She sees Coffee as a mentor on how to do the job 鈥� something Wallace said is refreshing. Coffee has also vouched for her and other people of color, she added.
鈥淚 would hope that I can pave the way for more people of color to just know that they are capable of being in spaces like this,鈥� Wallace said. 鈥淚 think that鈥檚 very important.鈥�
Now Wallace wants to continue changing the culture of the House鈥檚 sergeant-at-arms office.
鈥淚鈥檝e made it like a personal passion of mine to really take care of our staff,鈥� Wallace said. 鈥淚t fuels me and it feeds me with joy.鈥�
Coffee said she sees it as a priority to help change the office by 鈥渂eing supportive of our staff and guiding them towards resources, whatever that may be, and listening to them.鈥�
Both women have received support from many House members, including House Speaker Phelan.
In a statement to The Texas Newsroom, Phelan said both Coffee and Wallace, 鈥渟tand as role models for a new generation of Texans who can break the glass ceiling to reach great heights based on merit, intelligence and commitment.鈥�
Coffee and Wallace told The Texas Newsroom they appreciate Phelan鈥檚 approach to office culture, and how he鈥檚 implemented policies that create a better work environment.
A moment that comes to mind is when, in May, , R-Royse City, after a House investigation accused him of inappropriate sexual conduct with an aide.
Right after the vote, Coffee went up a ladder and physically removed Slaton鈥檚 name from the voting board.
鈥淚 think there are so many women that were watching or saw those pictures that just replaced that name with somebody else in their own head,鈥� Coffee said.
The House that day served justice, she said 鈥� something she appreciates, especially as being the first woman in her role.
She hopes these moments are part of her legacy. She hopes those who work in her office can see that you can stand up for what鈥檚 right. She also said she wants to have a positive impact on their lives.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 how you live on,鈥� Coffee said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 immortality.鈥�
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