Virginia Chandler Dykes

As a healthcare provider and through her civic activities, Mrs. Dykes has spent a lifetime committed to helping others. She is known internationally for her work in occupational therapy. Locally, she is known for her leadership in many cultural and charitable organizations.

Mrs. Dykes completed the graduate occupational therapy program at Texas Woman’s University in 1954 after earning her bachelor of arts degree in art and psychology from Southern Methodist University in 1952. She was director of the Occupational and Recreational Therapy Department at Baylor University Medical Center for 25 years. Mrs. Dykes developed and supervised the occupational and recreational therapy programs at Baylor in rehabilitation, adult and adolescent psychiatry, eating disorders and hand splinting. She also founded the Boomerang Club, the first support group for stroke patients and their families in Dallas.

Her community service activities include establishing the annual Fanny B. Vanderkooi Endowed Lectureship for the School of Occupational Therapy at TWU; serving on the board of directors for the Dallas Opera, Theater III, Fort Worth Opera, Dallas-Fort Worth Ballet, Les Femmes du Monde and Dallas Theater Center Guild; serving as president of the Diana Dean Head Injury Guild; and chairing the auxiliary board of the Healing Environment Program at Baylor.

About the Award

The Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award was established in 2002 and is given annually to Dallas residents who represent the caring, commitment and leadership Mrs. Dykes exemplifies.

TWU Chancellor and President Dr. Ann Stuart says the award recipients are noted for their local involvement. "Texas Woman's University is proud to honor Dallasites for their commitment to building a better and stronger community," she said. "They lead by example and demonstrate we all can make a difference."