Celebrating Juneteenth

Dear Texas Woman’s Community,

I hope this message finds you well.

Last year we took an unprecedented step at Texas Woman’s and closed university operations to celebrate Juneteenth. This year I want to continue in that direction and close the university on Friday, June 18, to celebrate Juneteenth. In the future, the closure for Juneteenth will be a part of our published holiday calendar. As we distribute the fixed number of holidays the state gives us, we will prioritize Juneteenth the same as we do Fourth of July.

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. famously said, “no one is free until we are all free.” It follows that Juneteenth is then a celebration of freedom—freedom for all of us. I invite you to use the time off to also reflect on the day’s connection to Texas, and remember the suffering and sacrifices of many who have brought us the privileges we enjoy today.

To learn more about Juneteenth, the offices of Diversity, Inclusion, and Outreach (DIO) and Alumni Engagement will host a virtual talk by genealogy expert Donald Payton titled “A Historical Exploration of Juneteenth” at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 15.

I look forward to the many ways we can celebrate freedom together.

With a pioneering spirit,

Carine M. Feyten, Ph.D.
Chancellor and President

Page last updated 8:53 AM, June 17, 2021