October 2021

Lege OKs funding for health sciences building

Dear Friends:

In one of the Texas Legislature’s final actions before adjourning its third special session, legislators authorized $100 million to construct a health sciences building for our Denton campus. We are grateful for the leadership of our Denton County legislators, particularly Sen. Drew Springer, Sen. Jane Nelson, and Rep. Lynn Stucky. They were instrumental in ensuring Texas Woman's was included in the legislation and secured nearly full funding for this important project.

This state investment is a game-changer for Texas Woman’s, as the new building will allow the Denton campus to expand programming in high-need, health-related fields such as nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy and mental health, just to name a few. The benefit will be felt throughout the Texas Woman’s University System by alleviating pressure on the clinical programs in Dallas and Houston as well, better positioning all three campuses to grow as we operationalize our status as the first university system in the nation with a commitment to women. The legislation was awaiting the governor’s signature at the time of this publication, but the legislative action is cause enough for optimism. I promise to keep you apprised of details concerning this extraordinary news.

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Celebrating a boost to women’s leadership

^{The Winged Victory statue sits in the lobby of the Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership.}

I am thrilled to announce the grand opening of the Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership on Nov. 4, as the occasion marks more than just the official re-opening of brick-and-mortar space at the venerable Old Main building. The institute and the adjacent Sue S. Bancroft Women’s Leadership Hall are signature entities for Texas Woman’s because they represent an amplified effort to produce more women leaders for our state and beyond. I am particularly pleased that First Lady Cecilia Abbott will be here to commemorate the event. Now, more than ever, a dedicated commitment aimed at bringing more women into positions of leadership in business and public service is critical as the pandemic saw women leave the workforce at a rate four times greater than that of men.

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New academic center supports nursing

^{Officials take part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new tutoring center for nursing students on the Dallas campus.}

At a time when the nation’s nursing shortage has been exacerbated by the pandemic, Texas Woman’s nursing program got a boost from the Johanniter Humanitarian Group (JHG) of Texas when it partnered with Mike A. Myers and the Mike A. Myers Foundation to launch the Myers-JHG Tutoring and Academic Support Center this month at the Dallas campus. The center includes a fully dedicated staff coordinator and 13 tutors who offer free tutoring to student nurses. Besides announcing the center, JHG also awarded 10 more scholarships to nursing students at TWU Dallas.

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Dean selected for statewide award

I am never surprised when one of our faculty leaders is recognized for outstanding contributions but it was no less pleasing to learn that the Texas Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (TACTE) selected Lisa Huffman, dean of the College of Professional Education, for its Leadership Award. In presenting the statewide award to Dean Huffman this month, TACTE cited her efforts in arranging monthly meetings during the pandemic at which higher education officials across Texas could discuss concerns, exchange ideas and learn about program governance.

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Boo at the U returns to TWU

^{Festival-goers enjoy Boo at the U in 2019.}

It has been a Halloween tradition now for more than 20 years, and Boo at the U continues to generate great buzz at Texas Woman’s Denton campus each fall. The free festival draws as many as 3,000 children, mostly from the Denton community, who take part in a giant trick-or-treat event that includes games and attractions in a family-friendly setting. It is a tremendous service to the community and it also benefits the TWU Food Pantry. Thousands of cans of non-perishable food items were donated at this year’s event, which was held Oct. 21.

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A nursing professor’s Emmy experience

^{From Left, Christine Acho and her son Emmanuel on the red carpet at the 2021 Creative Arts Emmy Awards.}

It is not very often that a university faculty member gets to enjoy a glitzy Hollywood experience, but assistant professor of nursing Christie Acho of the Dallas campus got her chance in September when she attended the 2021 Creative Arts Emmy Awards and watched her son win one of the coveted awards. Acho’s son, former Texas Longhorn and NFL standout Emmanuel Acho, received the Emmy for Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series for his “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man” podcast. It was an experience neither Acho will soon forget.

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I would like to close by sharing an image from my dear friend James Lentini’s inauguration as the 7th president of Molloy College in New York last month. I hope he enjoys his tenure as president as much as I am enjoying mine.

I promise to keep you posted on the activities that make us all proud to be Pioneers.

Thanks for your interest in Texas Woman’s. As always, email me with your comments or questions. I am delighted that you have spent a few minutes with me today.

Warm Regards,

 

 

 

 

 

Follow Carine M. Feyten, Ph.D.

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Page last updated 3:38 PM, October 11, 2023