Scholarship Recipients

Erica Garcia
College of Arts & Sciences

Erica Garcia is a graduate student at Texas Woman’s University, pursuing a PhD in molecular biology. She was raised in southern California, and graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor’s degree in biology. She is a first-generation college graduate, and the first in her family to pursue a career in STEM. In TWU’s division of biology, she is currently studying the effects of human cytomegalovirus on factors that could enhance the aggressive nature of breast cancer cells. Her long-term goal is to investigate factors that could contribute to breast cancer development and progression.

Thuc Huynh Nguyen
College of Business

Thuc Huynh Nguyen was born and raised in Sài Gòn, Vietnam and first studied in the US at the age of 14. She completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at TWU and is currently enrolled in the university’s MBA in Healthcare Administration. She works full-time for the Dallas County Health and Human Services laboratory as a public health microbiologist, and she began an internship in Fall 2022 with the Fiscal Support and Oversight Unit for Texas Health and Human Services. In her internship, Thuc works with a team to help grantees comply with state and federal contract and agency requirements.

Anne Sullivan
College of Health Sciences

Anne Sullivan, MOT, OTR is an occupational therapist in Dallas, where she works with children, adolescents, and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). She is currently pursuing a PhD in occupational therapy at Texas Woman’s University Dallas campus with plans to pursue a career in academia. Anne is conducting grant-funded research to expand the understanding of functional cognition and independent living skill development during the transition to adulthood for young adults with ASD. She is collaborating with community organizations to pursue occupational therapy research and advocate for the needs of young adults with Autism.

Tracy Tyner
College of Nursing

Tracy Tyner is an acute care nurse practitioner with 26 years of critical care experience. For the past 15 years, she has worked in the Surgical-Trauma Intensive Care Unit at Parkland Hospital in Dallas. She obtained a BSN from Texas Woman’s University, an MSN from the University of Texas at Arlington and is currently enrolled in TWU’s nursing science PhD program. Her research focuses on the pre- and post-mastectomy experiences of women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. As a breast cancer survivor, she advocates for breast cancer awareness and promotes educational initiatives to improve breast cancer surgical decision making.

Connie Hicks
College of Professional Education

Connie Hicks has built her career in higher education administration supporting students, faculty and staff. She is a member of the facilities management and construction department within the division of finance and administration at TWU. Connie is a first-generation college graduate who earned her MBA at TWU. She is currently enrolled in TWU’s Education, Leadership, and Organization PhD program. Connie seeks to enhance her knowledge and applied skills to explore new approaches ensuring university environments support all areas of the academic experience.