August 2024

Dear Friends,

The university received a major boost over the summer in the form of an historic gift, and significant construction projects have crossed their halfway point, giving Texas Woman’s extra momentum going into the new academic year.

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Alumna, beverage entrepreneur makes record gift to business college

You have likely already heard in the media about our record $30 million gift from BuzzBallz founder and CEO Merrilee Kick. The gift is the largest ever given to the university, and will fund an institute focused on innovation and entrepreneurship, an endowed chair, and an entrepreneur-in-residence program. The gift also will help spur the construction of a building to house the newly named Merrilee Alexander Kick College of Business and Entrepreneurship. Merrilee concocted a business plan in 2009 as part of her MBA capstone project at Texas Woman’s. The plan served as the blueprint for what has become a spirits empire, and Merrilee meticulously put it together while working as a teacher in Plano and a radio broadcaster. I am proud of her pioneering spirit and the example she offers to other aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders at Texas Woman's.

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University celebrates 'topping off' of health sciences building

In mid-August, we marked a significant milestone in the construction of our health sciences center during a “topping off” event, in which we ceremoniously raised the highest beam of the building project. Members of the university community and representatives from the construction and architecture companies signed their names on the beam. This $107 million, 136,000-square-foot center will be a focal point for interdisciplinary collaborations across all of our colleges and will allow TWU to dramatically expand health-related activities such as research and patient outreach into rural areas of North Texas. The building is scheduled for completion in summer 2025 and to be operational in fall 2025.

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Seasoned higher ed veteran to lead Houston campus

I am pleased that higher education executive Monica G. Williams has joined TWU as the inaugural Houston campus president. Monica has an impressive resume and strong record of accomplishment in leading philanthropic efforts in Houston and will serve our interest in growing the campus. She served nine years as foundation president and vice president of advancement at the University of North Texas at Dallas and has also held leadership positions in fundraising at the United States Fund for UNICEF, Houston Works USA, Rice University, Prairie View A&M University and Texas Southern University. Monica also taught English in the Houston Independent School District, served as the inaugural director of Houston’s Sylvan at Work/Sylvan Learning Systems Office and worked at Neighborhood Centers Inc. leading its community-based programming.

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Pioneer Dance team earns bid to national competition

Last season was quite the year for athletic superlatives at Texas Woman’s, with every sports team earning an opportunity for postseason play. This summer, the accolades continue. For the first time in program history, the TWU Pioneer Pride Dance Team earned a Gold Paid Bid to the 2025 National Dance Alliance (NDA) college nationals in Daytona Beach, Fla. The team earned the bid – the highest level awarded – during the 2024 NDA Camp at SMU in July. During the three-day competition, the Pioneers took first place honors in the Division II Game Day and Team Performance Competition. Additionally, three Pioneers were selected as NDA All-Americans: Caden Hensley, Kendall Madkins and Maddy Keehn.

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Lastly, I wanted to share this image of exuberant students during Move-In, a sure sign that activity has geared up for the fall semester at Texas Woman’s. Last week started with a fall assembly—themed “Open Doors”—to welcome faculty and staff to the 2024-25 academic year, and ended with our annual block party to welcome back our students. We wish everyone a stellar academic year.

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 2:13 PM, October 8, 2024