February 2024

Dear Friends,

We began our spring 2024 semester much like we ended our fall 2023 semester: Strong! Among the good-news items I am happy to share with you are a new leader for TWU’s Dallas campus, a glowing 10-year accreditation visit and a generous gift from a devoted alumna.

---

Inaugural president to lead Dallas campus

I was truly excited to announce the appointment of Monica Christopher as the first Dallas campus president. Her first day was Feb. 1. Christopher is a highly regarded nonprofit executive and community relations professional with 25 years of fundraising and relationship-building experience that will serve Texas Woman’s exceptionally well during this period of growth. She has an extensive background working with boards, foundations, nonprofits and corporations, which is key to establishing partnerships that will take the Dallas campus to new heights. This marks a huge step toward transforming the campus into a stand-alone university. The search for an inaugural president for the Houston campus is underway.

---

Alumna gift to bolster leadership activities

Texas Woman’s received a $3.8 million gift in January that will be used to support leadership efforts across the university. A portion of the gift will create an endowment to fund a professor of leadership that could support any of the five colleges. The remaining funds will establish an endowment to support other leadership activities. This generous gift was made by a 1956 alumna who wished to remain anonymous, but who has been an ardent supporter of the university.

---

Dallas philanthropists tapped for leadership award

I am also very excited to announce that Abby and Todd Williams of Dallas were chosen as this year’s recipients of the Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award, which honors the outstanding achievements of Dallas residents. Abby is founder and CEO of Dallas-based education nonprofit United to Learn (U2L), which focuses on accelerating student achievement across 75 Dallas ISD elementary schools, and growing purposeful leaders through business partnerships, high schools, faith-based organizations, individuals and groups. Todd is the founding chairman and CEO of The Commit Partnership, the nation’s largest educational collective impact organization that includes over 200 institutions and educates more than 790,000 students. The organization’s focus is on improving post-secondary completion and economic mobility across Texas. The couple will receive the award at the Dallas Leadership Luncheon on Thursday, March 21, at The Arts District Mansion. Consider registering to attend or sponsor this event and support graduate students at Texas Woman’s University.

---

TWU gains reaccreditation

This is not the kind of news that typically grabs headlines, but it is certainly worth sharing: The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges has officially reaffirmed accreditation for Texas Woman’s University. In a review of documents, policies and practices at the university that usually takes more than a year, a committee of peers determines whether a university has maintained accreditation standards. The thorough review is conducted once every 10 years, and I am proud to say that the committee found no areas that required improvement.

---

Lastly, I leave you with this picture at the annual NCAA convention in Phoenix, where institutions consider legislative proposals and other business associated with collegiate sports is discussed. TWU Athletics continues to rise, and I am tremendously proud of our student-athletes.

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.

‌

Page last updated 10:27 AM, March 8, 2024