News and Events

Special ed grad opened speech clinic in native Zambia

12/16/22

Muchinka Peele earned a PhD in Special Education with an emphasis in communication sciences.

Dream to become educator took decades, perseverance

12/16/22

Rita Greeley is a first-generation student who started at TWU in 1986 and returned in 2019 to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher. 

Real-life experiences enhanced grad’s path to degree

12/16/22

For Sonya Mellerson, earning a PhD in special education was more than a typical academic experience. Sonya chose TWU because of the real-life experiences of the professors and the great teacher education program that allows students to complete their graduate degree while working full time.

Grad’s focus on mental health was impetus for podcast

12/16/22

Lauren Sepulvador received a Master of Science in Counseling and Development with an emphasis in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She was inspired to study mental health out of a desire to help others.

COPE welcomes Kazakhstani educators

12/13/22

The College of Professional Education welcomed a delegation of respected educators from the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Denton campus on Tuesday, Dec. 6, for a cultural exchange and a full day of activities.

Holmes Scholar recognized nationally

11/9/22

The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) has named Texas Woman’s doctoral student Phyliciá Anderson the Holmes Scholar of the month for October.

After turbulent past, grad student finds stability in helping bilingual students

9/19/22

For nearly a decade, Gladys Acosta endured the societal ills of escalating violent crime, political strife and government corruption in her native country of Venezuela. Almost every day, she or someone she knew was touched by the turmoil. Twice, co-workers of her husband were kidnapped and later killed. And once, Acosta herself was the victim of an attempted sexual assault.

COPE announces RII Speaker Series Fall lineup

8/25/22

The College of Professional Education brings back the Research, Inclusion and Innovation Speaker Series for the second year after a successful run during the 2021-22 academic year. For the 2022-23 academic year, Associate Dean Maria Peterson-Ahmad, PhD, announced a compelling lineup.

New Teacher Academy continues through ninth year

7/19/22

The New Teacher Academy (NTA) at Texas Woman’s University continued into its ninth consecutive year and third as an online event. This summer, the NTA welcomed 118 participants with engaging sessions on classroom management, a teacher/principal panel, and more.

TWU pledges to prepare future educators for digital learning environments

7/12/22

The College of Professional Education at Texas Woman's University signed the Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs) for Digital Equity and Transformation Pledge, committing to prepare educators to use technology for learning in face-to-face, hybrid, and online classrooms. 

TWU inspired nation’s youngest law grad

5/11/22

This Friday, 19-year old TWU alumna Haley Taylor Schlitz will become the youngest law school graduate in the nation and the youngest law school grad ever from SMU.

SLIS announces 2022 alumni awards

5/3/22

The School of Library and Information Studies celebrated its alumni at the annual Texas Library Association Conference last week. This year, June Johnson (2012), Delaney Daly (2020), and Amber Wessies (2019) were recognized with alumni awards. 

Grad uses master’s for career change

4/27/22

A mid-career shift can be a surprise for some, but thanks to a supportive school district and a master’s in teaching, Kameka Hollins-Banks is prepared for the step. 

Visiting Literacy Research Scholar Symposium

4/7/22

The Davis Simpson Endowment and Texas Woman's University Department of Literacy and Learning present the 2022 Visiting Literacy Research Scholar Symposium. Lorena Escoto Germán, co-founder of the groups #DisruptTexts and Multicultural Classroom, will speak at 10 a.m. on Monday, June 27, 2022 via Zoom.

Project HELP lauded in diversity magazine article

4/6/22

Project HELP (Hispanic Educators Leading the Profession), funded through a Department of Education grant and led by Teacher Education faculty Sarah McMahan, PhD, and Rebecca Fredrickson, EdD, (both Denton) was featured as helping diversify education preparation in an INSIGHT into Diversity article.

New grants support TWU students working in LISD

4/5/22

Trevor Collie, a special education paraprofessional at Prairie Trail Elementary in Flower Mound, appreciates the opportunities he has to build relationships with his students, see them overcome challenges, accomplish goals and reach milestones. Faculty from TWU’s Teacher Education Department and the Educator Preparation Program felt the same way when they celebrated Collie and three others who work in the Lewisville Independent School District.

TWU Holmes Scholars establish national footprint

3/31/22

Texas Woman’s University students have a history of achieving success fast. Maybe that’s why they are called Pioneers. Kimberly Lawson, a TWU PhD candidate in reading education, is among the latest to serve as a testament to that. In the College of Professional Education’s (COPE) inaugural year of participating in the Holmes Scholars Program, Lawson was voted to national office as the Holmes Scholarship Council Secretary.

Four COPE faculty recognized

3/29/22

Four faculty members represent the College of Professional Education in the 2022 TWU faculty and staff awards. Karen Dunlap, EdD, Randa Keeley, PhD, Aimée Myers, PhD, and Catherine Dutton, PhD, will be recognized in the university’s Founders Day festivities at 3 p.m., April 6, in the auditorium of the Student Union at Hubbard Hall. 

Ladd receives TxCFR's highest award

3/29/22

Linda Ladd, PhD, (HDFSC, Denton) received the Moore-Bowman Award during the Texas Council on Family Relations (TxCFR) annual conference March 24-25 in Dallas.

COPE celebrates Black History Month

2/10/22

The College of Professional Education (COPE) at TWU is proud to celebrate Black History Month in February. Below you will find several resources suggested by COPE for Black History Month and the college will welcome Brittany Frieson, PhD, to present Hear Our Truths: The Power of Multilingual Black Girls' Literacies on Feb. 25.

TWU now offering Pearson VUE exams, Teacher Certification testing

2/10/22

Texas Woman’s University’s Academic Testing Services, in partnership with Pearson VUE, now offers professional certification and academic exams.

Dean, Associate Dean: Teacher diversity boosts students

2/3/22

Texas Woman’s University College of Professional Education Dean Lisa Huffman, PhD, and Associate Dean Gina Anderson, EdD, teamed up for an opinion piece published in the San Antonio Express-News. 

U.S. News ranks online master’s education program among nation’s best

1/25/22

U.S. News & World Report has recognized Texas Woman’s online master’s education programs as being among the nation’s best.

Challenges lined grad’s PhD path

12/7/21

As a young woman, Florence Osuofa was among very few women fighting pirates in the Nigerian Navy at the time. And it was that military experience that helped prepare her for later leadership roles, future challenges and the academic rigor of a PhD in marriage and family therapy.

Grad draws inspiration from father on educational journey

12/3/21

Most people have a motivating factor that helps them reach an ambitious goal. Sometimes, the motivating factor is a person. For Bryanna Ferren, it’s her dad, Kevin. He has helped her and motivated her to graduate with a bachelor of science in child development. 

State educators’ group selects COPE dean for top award

10/18/21

The Texas Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (TACTE) recognized Lisa Huffman, PhD, dean of the Texas Woman’s University College of Professional Education, with the TACTE Leadership Award during the Consortium of State Organizations for Texas Teacher Education (CSOTTE) annual meeting Oct. 10.

TWU, Amarillo College unite to expand degree options for Panhandle communities

9/15/21

Texas Woman’s University and Amarillo College (AC) have partnered to create a seamless pathway to teacher certification and other programs that will effectively increase career options for Texas Panhandle communities.

COPE celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

9/10/21

The College of Professional Education (COPE) at TWU is proud to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 with three speakers. As part of a university that ranks first in Texas and fifth nationally in ethnic diversity and just announced its most diverse student body ever, the college values equity and inclusion.

Despite challenges, honors abound for school leader

9/3/21

Despite challenges arising from a growing pandemic, Irving ISD Superintendent Magda Hernández was named an educator of the year, spearheaded more than 1,000 home visits with students, launched a second collegiate academy and began teaching her first class at Texas Woman’s University.

COPE PhDs earn faculty positions within year of graduating

8/31/21

There are many reasons to pursue a doctorate degree, but one of the most common is to gain a faculty position at a university or college. Recent PhD graduates out of the College of Professional Education (COPE) are doing that quickly and at a high rate.

Lamar Muro reflects on culture wars

8/31/21

Lamar Muro, PhD, wrote an opinion piece, “Commentary: Reaching beyond the front lines of the culture wars,” that was published in the Aug. 25 issue of the San Antonio Express-News. In the op-ed, Muro writes that one lie of the culture wars is that people from different groups can’t co-exist.

COPE joins program to increase diversity in education

8/20/21

The TWU College of Professional Education (COPE) has been selected to participate in the Holmes Program sponsored by the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), which supports racially and ethnically diverse students pursuing graduate degrees in education.

New Teacher Academy completes eighth year of supporting new educators

8/3/21

The New Teacher Academy (NTA) at Texas Woman’s University welcomed more than 165 new educators this summer. The ever-growing event, developed in 2014 by Sarah McMahan, PhD, and Rebecca Fredrickson, EdD, in the Department of Teacher Education, was online for the second consecutive year. McMahan said more participants were actively engaged this year. 

COPE professor honored with bilingual educator award

7/12/21

The Bilingual–ESL Education Association of the Metroplex (BEAM) has named Jorge Figueroa Flores, PhD, the recipient of the organization’s Higher Education Award. The award recognizes an individual furthering educational research for bilingual education and celebrates achievements and contributions to the field of education.

Alumna helps students take writing out of the classroom and into the mainstream

6/22/21

Poet, educator, LGBTQIA+ activist and TWU alumna Em Ramser (MA, MAT ‘20) once swore “up, down and sideways” that she would never become a teacher. Now, she teaches high school pre-AP English classes and designs her curriculum around professional opportunities for students, inspired by Dr. Gretchen Busl's lessons in “pop scholarship.”

Texas Woman's lists spring 2021 graduates

6/17/21

Texas Woman’s University has released its list of graduates for the spring 2021 semester.

Professor develops video modeling application

6/11/21

When it comes to phone applications there is a saying — “There’s an app for that.” However, Minkowan Goo, PhD, an associate professor in the teacher education department at Texas Woman’s University, found that is not always the case. 

TWU releases spring 2021 deans', chancellor's lists

6/11/21

Texas Woman's University has released its deans' and chancellor's lists for the spring 2021 semester.

Undergraduate students who complete at least 12 graded credit hours and achieve at least a 3.5 grade point average are eligible for the deans' list. Students who have achieved a 4.0 GPA are named to the chancellor's list.

Alumni honored with district-wide award

5/14/21

First year on the job, 29 fifth-graders, the COVID-19 pandemic — these were the challenges facing Katie Domagala, a Spring 2020 graduate of Texas Woman’s University, two weeks before the 2020-2021 school year started. Then she found out that she would be teaching entirely online.

Mother wants academic journey to be example for sons

4/27/21

Her academic career was put on hold when she became a mother at the age of 16, but a direct question from her husband two years ago gave Erica Hyatt just the spark she needed to pursue her dream of becoming a marriage and family therapist.

U.S. News ranks graduate online programs among country’s best

1/26/21

U.S. News & World Report has recognized online graduate education at Texas Woman’s University as being among the nation’s best, ranking it in the top half of all universities assessed in the country. 

Video tool to pave path for teacher preparation

12/18/20

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it tougher for student teachers to gain field experience and observation for clinical student teaching. But the Department of Teacher Education and the Educator Preparation Program at Texas Woman’s University has found a novel way to help.

Student’s citizenship path began with big leap

12/8/20

A journey begins with one step. For Saumi Liyanage, that initial step was more like a huge leap. 

Opinion: This holiday, don’t forget grace – for teachers

12/1/20

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to negatively impact our state economies, health systems and educational institutions, many Americans—no doubt—are experiencing profound stress.

COPE recognizes principals and assistant principals

10/30/20

As National Principals Month comes to a close this weekend, TWU's College of Professional Education recognizes alumni currently working as principals or assistant principals. 

Besides books, rural librarian’s focus is telehealth

10/15/20

Access to broadband internet and healthcare are challenges to rural Texans. And in a pandemic, those challenges are magnified. But efforts by a Texas Woman’s University graduate student are chipping away at those issues in one North Texas community. 

TWU Bilingual Ed celebrates 50+ years

9/22/20

The bilingual education program at Texas Woman’s University started on the fly and required dedicated, creative people to build it into what it would become 51 years later: one of the country’s leaders in bilingual education and a shining example of why TWU is recognized as a Hispanic-Serving Institution.

PIONERAS named a 'Program to Watch'

9/21/20

A Texas Woman’s University program dedicated to helping improve instruction for Spanish-speaking English language learners has received national recognition for the third consecutive year.

New degree name aims to attract classroom teachers

9/10/20

It has never been more evident how important trained, versatile educators are for school districts adapting to a new normal with each passing day amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The College of Professional Education (COPE) at Texas Woman’s University has long set the standard for educating teachers through continuing professional education, in pursuit of graduate degrees and certifications, and, of course, in preparing them for the classroom.

Alumna adds to family's legacy of giving at TWU

8/10/20

The legacy of Carolyn Sowell and her family’s philanthropy will continue with the establishment of a new scholarship endowment, the Carolyn E. Sowell Scholarship Endowment in Elementary Education.

Annual New Teacher Academy moves to virtual format

8/4/20

The seventh annual New Teacher Academy had traditional elements — a keynote speaker, sessions designed to help new teachers in the classroom, and a question-and-answer panel featuring area administrators. As in the past few years, the event drew more than 100 participants.

Camps forge ahead in online format

7/28/20

Some of TWU’s homegrown summer camps moved online in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, with faculty, staff, students and departments pulling together to make the camps a success. One of those was Digital Days sponsored by Literacy & Learning.

TWU releases Spring 2020 deans', chancellor's lists

6/18/20

Texas Woman’s University has released its deans’ and chancellor’s lists for the Spring 2020 semester.

TWU alumna named top 10 librarian in US

2/25/20

The American Library Association recently named Texas Woman’s alumna Tracie Walker-Reed (BS ’90, MLS ’07) as one of only 10 librarians nationwide to receive its annual I Love My Librarian! Award. The award recognizes lasting contributions of dynamic librarians working in public, school, college, community college and university libraries.

Muchinka Peele: TWU student leads cause for change in Zambia

2/6/20

TWU PhD student Muchinka Peele (special education) is on a mission to help the people of Zambia. Traditionally in her home country, those with disabilities have been shamed and hidden. Education and advocacy are slowly changing these views, and Peele is leading the cause.

TWU family studies PhD student receives 2020 Virginia Chandler Dykes Scholarship

2/4/20

Lorna Durrant, an international graduate student pursuing her Ph.D. in family studies, will receive the 2020 Virginia Chandler Dykes scholarship from the College of Professional Education. 

Study shows benefits of Spanish-language literacy program

12/5/19

Citing the growing number of Latino English learners and the lack of evidence-based educational opportunities they are provided, evaluators with the American Institutes of Research (AIR) teamed with the Texas Woman’s University Reading Recovery program for a randomized controlled study of Descubriendo la Lectura (DLL), a literacy program for bilingual first-graders who are having difficulty learning to read and write in their native Spanish.

Project aims to produce more Hispanic teachers

12/3/19

Texas Woman’s University will use a $500,000 federal grant to recruit and educate more Hispanics as teachers to address teacher shortages in the state. The university is partnering with Tarrant County College District and other community colleges to create a path for teacher candidates to transfer from a two-year school to complete their bachelor’s degree at TWU.

College of Professional Education and the Institute for Women’s Leadership partner to present leadership boot camp

12/4/19

The TWU College of Professional Education (COPE) and the Institute for Women’s Leadership (IWL) hosted the inaugural COPE Emerging Leaders Leadership Boot Camp on September 27 to provide leadership training to undergraduate students. The pilot program offered a full day of training to 18 students, who became the first cohort of fellows for the COPE Emerging Leaders program.

Alumna's 'Unique' program wins national award

10/2/19

Texas Woman's alumna Christina Buce was in her first year as an elementary school counselor when her principal challenged her to “get creative” with the school’s awareness days — those days focusing attention on key health issues. Buce’s response not only captured the hearts and minds of the school community, but won a national award as a Character.org Promising Practice as well. 

Texas Woman's launches biliteracy certificate program

8/1/19

This fall, Texas Woman’s University launches a new graduate certificate in biliteracy, the only one of its kind in the state. Educators can earn the certificate with the option of applying the credits toward a master’s degree in reading education.

New Teacher Academy enters sixth year of aiding new educators

7/24/19

Participants at the annual New Teacher Academy at Texas Woman’s University got a firsthand account of how their first year of teaching could look, as well as information and encouragement to help them not only survive, but thrive.

TWU grad takes the helm of Slidell schools

4/17/19

Taylor Williams achieved her lifelong goal of being a teacher after graduating from Texas Woman’s University, but when the time came to move into administration, she was ready. Now, as Slidell ISD’s new superintendent, she remains focused on students.

Doctoral family therapy program earns national accreditation

1/24/19

The family therapy doctoral program at Texas Woman’s University recently received national accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), becoming only the third doctoral program in Texas accredited by the agency, and the only one in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

TWU teaching collaborative named Star Award finalist

11/14/18

A Texas Woman’s University collaborative still in its early stages already has gained the attention of the state’s higher education governing board.

TWU awarded $397,000 grant to educate rural librarians

5/9/18

Texas Woman’s University has been awarded $397,000 from the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences under the 2018 Laura Bush 21^st Century Librarian Program for a project to educate future leaders in rural libraries.

Jeng concludes service as Texas Library Association president

4/19/18

Ling Hwey Jeng, Ph.D., professor and director of TWU's School of Library and Information Studies, officially ended her term as president of the Texas Library Association at the organization’s 2018 conference April 3-6 in Dallas.

Family therapy students awarded national research fellowships

12/4/17

Two Texas Woman’s University doctoral students are among only 21 family therapy students across the nation to be awarded competitive federal research fellowships with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

University selects Huffman as dean of College of Professional Education

7/19/17

Following an extensive national search, Texas Woman’s University has named Lisa Huffman, Ph.D., dean of its College of Professional Education. Huffman currently serves as dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies at Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma. She joins TWU on Sept. 1.

University offers new 'triple crown' teacher certification program

7/31/17

A “triple crown” teacher certification program beginning this fall at Texas Woman’s University will prepare new teachers to meet the needs of all students in the classroom. The degree program — which offers teacher candidates the potential to graduate with core subjects, special education and English as a Second Language (ESL) certification — is believed to be the first of its kind in the state.

Texas Woman's earns accreditation renewal from American Library Association

6/29/17

The American Library Association’s Committee on Accreditation has reaffirmed accreditation for Texas Woman’s University’s master of library science and master of arts in library science degree programs through 2024.

TWU teachers-in-training to attend NASA summer institute

5/24/18

Texas Woman’s University has been selected to send a team of four pre-service teachers along with a faculty sponsor to the 2018 NASA Minority University Research and Education Project’s (MUREP) Educator Institute at Johnson Space Center in Houston. The five-day on-site experience takes place June 4-8 and will feature student-centered classroom activities that use NASA assets and resources to help educators develop practices that will engage students in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Professors receive federal grant to support mental health in schools

1/10/23

The U.S. Department of Education has awarded a $1.2 million grant aimed at supporting mental health efforts for K-12 students to two Texas Woman’s faculty members.