Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award

About Virginia Chandler Dykes

The late Virginia Chandler Dykes (1930-2022) continues to be recognized internationally for her work in the field of occupational therapy. She is locally known for the leadership she provided in many cultural and charitable organizations such as the Dallas Opera, the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and the Fort Worth Opera. Juliette Fowler Communities named her the 2016 Visionary Woman, and in 2014, Les Femmes du Monde honored her as one of six Women of the Year. In 2012, she and her husband, Roland, were honored by the American Occupational Therapy Association for their sustained philanthropic service to occupational therapy education. In 2011, they were also honored with the Texas Occupational Therapy Distinguished Service Award. From 2005 until 2011, Mrs. Dykes served on the TWU Board of Regents, and during this time, in 2010, she was honored as a TWU Distinguished Alumna.Mrs. Dykes completed the graduate occupational therapy program at TWU in 1953 after earning her Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Methodist University. She served as the director of the Occupational and Recreational Therapy Department at Baylor University Medical Center for 25 years. Her work impacted a number of areas including rehabilitation, adult and adolescent psychiatry, eating disorders, hand splinting and acute physical disabilities.

In 2002, she established the Virginia Chandler Dykes Scholarship Endowment at TWU for occupational therapy students. It has since expanded to include all five of TWU’s colleges: Arts & Sciences, Business, Health Sciences, Nursing and Professional Education. Mr. and Mrs. Dykes also helped establish the Fanny B. Vanderkooi Endowed Lectureship for the School of Occupational Therapy at TWU, which has grown to be one of the premier continuing education offerings in Texas. The Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award, established in 2002, honors a Dallas leader with a commitment to improving the quality of life in the community and to furthering the importance of education. The award also recognizes the late Virginia Chandler Dykes as an outstanding healthcare provider, whose professional and civic achievements represent a lifetime committed to helping others.

As a young girl, she heard her grandmother say, “Get a good education, and no one can take that away from you.” This quote became the inspiration behind her lifelong vision and passion to help students achieve their dreams. As a visionary leader, dedicated professional, compassionate philanthropist and mentor, she changed countless lives in this community and beyond. We are grateful for her many decades of support.