May 2025

Just like that, another semester ends

Dear Friends,

It seems like only yesterday I was sharing early spring news about achieving the Carnegie “R2” research designation and Texas Woman’s impressive national rankings in the Wall Street Journal and Forbes. Then, in the blink of an eye, we are hosting commencement exercises, signaling the end of another academic term. I cannot imagine a better way to usher in the end of full and fulfilling academic year than celebrating the achievements of so many Pioneers.

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More than 2,400 take part in spring commencement

We kicked off spring commencement on May 4 in The Woodlands to celebrate TWU’s Houston campus graduates and followed with six additional ceremonies to recognize our Denton and Dallas campus graduates on May 9 and 10. Graduation is among our most revered events, and we had an extraordinary slate of commencement speakers to highlight our ceremonies, including basketball Hall of Fame inductee Nancy Lieberman, FC Dallas Vice President of Media and Communications Gina Miller, and Gay Su Pinnell, professor emerita at the School of Teaching and Learning at The Ohio State University. Here is a link to a gallery of our spring commencement exercises.

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Exhibit explores intersection of art, nursing

I am constantly impressed by the creative, innovative minds at the university and how their collective thoughts sometimes yield extraordinary collaborations. Opening earlier this month at the Janette Kennedy Gallery in Dallas, the works of 14 student artists from TWU are on display in an exhibit titled “Vital Signs: Art, Health, and Aging.” The exhibit explores the intersection of art and nursing and incorporates a focus on health care issues faced by the elderly. The project was launched by Dr. Aaron Loeb, assistant clinical professor at TWU’s Houston campus and Giovanni Valderas, a drawing and painting professor at the Denton campus. The exhibit spotlights illnesses that commonly affect the elderly and seeks creative ways to visually chart the human experience. It runs through May 31.

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A farewell to a venerable building

The Graduate Research Building, which opened in 1968 and served as Texas Woman’s hub for research, will be razed this summer to make space for a new building to house the Merrilee Alexander Kick College of Business and Entrepreneurship. The venerable science building contained labs, offices and a vivarium and served as a center for discovery for decades until the outdated edifice was in need of major repairs and an update. We replaced it in 2021 with the state-of-the-art Scientific Research Commons. TWU leaders, faculty, staff and some longtime researchers took part in a special ceremony recently to acknowledge the contributions that took place in the GRB over the years.

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National champs ― times two!

TWU student-athletes never cease to amaze me with the way they perform in their chosen sport, in the classroom and in service to the community, so it is always exceedingly pleasing when our student-athletes finish their seasons literally at the top of their games. I am most proud to share that two Texas Woman’s teams brought home national championships this year: First, Pioneer Pride Dance won the National Dance Alliance Division II Spirit Rally National Championship. This national title was the team’s first in its short program history. Second, TWU Gymnastics clinched the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics National Invitational Championship, which was that program’s amazing 13th national title. Fittingly, we recognized both teams’ outstanding seasons with a special celebration on the Hubbard Lawn last month. We look forward to next year’s continued success for our student-athletes.

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I leave you with this picture of the namesake of the Mike A. Myers Stroke Center in Dallas. Myers is a Dallas businessman and philanthropist who gave a $2 million gift to the center, which was renamed in his honor during a dedication ceremony earlier this month. The center is a true lifeline for people who have suffered stroke or dramatic brain injury.

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 12:54 PM, September 16, 2025