News and Announcements

History professor shares holiday cheer with students

12/14/22

Each December, Texas Woman's University history professor Jacob Blosser and his wife, Kathy, welcome TWU students into their Denton home.

History publishes 15th edition of Ibid.

7/1/22

July 1, 2022 – DENTON - The Texas Woman's University History Program on Friday published the 15th edition of Ibid., A Student History Journal.

Ibid is written and produced by the members of the TWU Eta Nu Chapter of Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society.

TWU hosts hero pilot Tammie Jo Shults in online lecture Oct. 6

9/14/21

Captain Tammie Jo Shults, the widely acclaimed pilot who brought Southwest Flight 1380 in for a successful, heroic emergency landing in 2018, headlines the fall installment of the Paup Lecture Series. The free, online event is open to the public and hosted by the Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership at Texas Woman’s University. 

The virtual lecture will begin at 6 p.m., Oct. 6, 2021. Preregistration is required.

Alumna Melissa Theil leads effort to memorialize Sherman, Texas lynching

6/7/21

TWU alumna Melissa Thiel is leading an effort to install a historical marker for the lynching of George Hughes and the Sherman Riot of 1930. Thiel’s effort to commemorate Sherman’s painful past has stalled — caught between resistance by some of the town’s White leaders and a rising desire among residents to confront old racial wounds.
Although she has approached her project with a certain indomitability, “I picked a doozy,” Thiel said. “I was naive, and I didn’t think the pushback I’d get would get to this level.”

Thiel earned her master's in history and was part of TWU's public history program.

WFAA features Clare Brock, PhD, as expert in Texas power grid reform coverage

5/27/21

Its spectacular collapse during February’s record-smashing winter storm revealed how unprepared our power system was to handle days of below-freezing temperatures.  The public rightly demanded answers, and more importantly, swift action from Austin

To help manage the legislative storm, the Texas energy sector hired lobbyists. Hundreds of them. 

“There's an old adage that, if you're not at the table, you might be on the menu,” said Dr. Clare Brock, a Texas Woman’s University political science professor in Denton, and expert on lobbying. 

Good Morning America airs segment featuring Katherine Sharp Landdeck and her book

3/15/21

In celebration of Women’s History Month, Good Morning America aired a segment on the amazing Women Airforce Service Pilots, whose heroic feats during World War II were chronicled by TWU’s Kate Landdeck in her latest book, “The Women with Silver Wings.”

Landdeck and her book were also featured in the Texas Standard story, "Women Who Flew: The Silver Winged WASPs Of World War II."

Katherine Sharp Landdeck speaks at national U.S. Air Force symposium

3/15/21

Associate professor of history Katherine Sharp Landdeck, PhD, was a speaker on several panels for the U.S. Air Force Academy National Character and Leadership Symposium in February. She was also a guest speaker for the academy's freshmen and upper-level history classes.

Watch Landdeck's USAF presentation on Youtube>>

TWU to present virtual forum on legacy, roots of Capitol violence

3/1/21

Texas Woman’s University will host its first virtual Public Affairs Forum, “Capitol Violence: Tracing Legacies of Anti-Black Racism, White Supremacy and Anti-Semitism,” on Zoom 6-7:30 p.m., March 4. The event is free and open to the public. Participants must register in advance and are encouraged to submit questions for the panelists through the registration form. 

Jamison Lecture to feature Melba Patillo Beals of Little Rock Nine

2/24/21

Melba Patillo Beals, Ed.D., journalist, author and member of the Little Rock Nine — the first group of African American students to integrate Little Rock Central High School in 1957 — will speak at Texas Woman’s University’s sixth annual Jamison Lecture, part of the Nancy P. and Thaddeus E. Paup Lecture Series. The lecture, titled “Warriors Don’t Cry,” will take place online via live stream beginning at 7 p.m., March 18.

Radio stations across Texas air segment on Katherine Landdeck's new book

12/3/20

For more than 25 years, Katherine Sharp Landdeck, PhD, has been completely enamored with the story of the female pilots of World War II. Landdeck, a pilot herself and a professor of history at Texas Woman’s University, has written a book that tells the personal stories of “The Women With Silver Wings.” A Texas Standard radio segment featuring Landdeck and her book aired earlier this month on NPR affiliate stations across the state.

TWU's Kate Landdeck featured on 'Stuff You Missed in History Class' podcast

10/21/20

Associate professor of history Katherine Sharp Landdeck, PhD, provided her expertise on the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) of WWII on a recent episode of the "Stuff You Missed in History Class" podcast. She spoke about her new book as well as Jacqueline Cochran, who was an incredible pilot, and one of the driving forces behind the WASPs. 

Clare Brock discusses the complex relationship between church and politics in DRC article

9/22/20

Clare Brock, PhD, a political science professor at Texas Woman’s University, said churches often function as community centers and open their doors for local discussions of legislation and social justice issues. When people think a church has violated the Johnson Amendment, they expect the federal government to act. 

History alumna named coordinator of Ector ISD postsecondary education

8/3/20

As part of an initiative to help high school graduates enroll in college and get through it, Ector County ISD has named Elizabeth Gray coordinator of postsecondary education. Gray previously served as the coordinator for the Advancement Via Individual Determination program for Odessa Collegiate Academy. Gray earned her bachelor’s degree in history from Texas Woman’s University, her master’s in professional education from University of Texas Permian Basin, and is now studying mechanical engineering with an aerospace focus at UTPB.

Katherine Sharp Landdeck's 'The Women with Silver Wings' now available

4/21/20

Associate professor of history Katherine Sharp Landdeck’s new book, "The Women with Silver Wings: The Inspiring True Story of the Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II," is available today in audio, ebook and hardcover formats.

More than 1,100 women from across the nation earned their silver wings under perilous conditions, and many of these unsung heroes are telling their stories for the first time. From debutantes to Pearl Harbor survivors and from housewives to first female pilots to break the sound barrier, Landdeck has delved deep into the lives of these incredible women.

Listen to Landdeck’s interview with Krys Boyd on KERA's Think>>

Jamison Lecture to feature ‘The Hate U Give’ author, ‘Hope Nation’ editor

2/13/20

Angie Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of “The Hate U Give,” and Rose Brock, Ph.D., editor of “Hope Nation: YA Authors Share Personal Moments of Inspiration,” will speak at Texas Woman’s University’s fifth annual Jamison Lecture, beginning at 7 p.m., March 5. The lecture, titled “The Power of Books: Inspiring Hope and Fighting for Social Justice,” will take place in the new Hubbard Hall Student Union auditorium on TWU’s Denton campus.

Texas Woman’s history professor elected president of national honor society

1/8/20

Texas Woman’s University history professor Jacob M. Blosser, Ph.D., was elected president of Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society at the society's biennial national convention in San Antonio Jan. 4. Blosser is the youngest-elected president in the society’s history.

TWU history alumna Elizabeth Gray wins teaching excellence award

1/6/20

Odessa Collegiate Academy AVID coordinator and teacher Elizabeth Gray recently won a National Society for Leadership and Success Award for excellence in teaching. Gray graduated from Texas Woman’s University in Denton with a bachelor’s degree in history.

TWU's Kate Landdeck featured in 'War changes everyone'

12/23/19

"They gave it all because they needed to give it all," said Katherine Landdeck, associate professor of history at Texas Woman's University, but they would likely make the point that they were "just ordinary people." She said a gift of getting to know these veterans is realizing "they make mistakes and they are very human," not "heroes on a pedestal." And she said this may inspire others to realize that maybe they too - if pressed - can "stand up and do the right thing."

Kate Landdeck, PhD, quoted in Review Times article about aging WWII vets

11/12/19

Associate professor Kate Landdeck, Ph.D., of the History & Political Science Department was quoted in an article that was published in the Review Times (Fostoria, Ohio) about aging veterans of World War II and their recollections of life before, during and after the war.

Jacob Blosser, PhD, appointed to THECB Undergraduate Education Advisory Committee

9/4/19

TWU professor of history Jacob Blosser, Ph.D., has been appointed by the Texas Higher Educating Coordinating Board (THECB) to a three-year term on the Undergraduate Education Advisory Committee (UEAC).  This twenty-three member committee provides a state-wide forum for the development of ideas and policies impacting undergraduate education throughout Texas. Blosser comes to UEAC having most recently served as co-chair of the Texas Education Coordinating Board’s History Field of Study Advisory Committee. Blosser also serves as Vice President, and President-Elect, of the nation’s 400,000-member History Honor Society, Phi Alpha Theta.   

Katherine Sharp Landdeck featured in History Channel D-Day documentary, NPR Air Talk interview

6/6/19

Associate professor of history Katherine Sharp Landdeck, Ph.D., recently took part in A&E's documentary film D-Day: The Untold Stories, which airs on the History Channel this week and will be available online until July 9, 2019. She also was a guest on the NPR 89.3 KPCC (Los Angeles) show Air Talk, taking part in a discussion about D-Day and the Americans who fought in WWII.

TWU Jamison Lecture to feature US Congresswomen Sylvia Garcia and Kay Granger

3/11/19

U.S. Congresswomen Sylvia Garcia and Kay Granger will speak at Texas Woman’s University’s fourth annual Jamison Lecture, beginning at 7 p.m., March 21 on the university’s Denton campus. The lecture, titled “Women on the Rise: Reflections on the 2018 Election,” will take place in Margo Jones Performance Hall on Pioneer Circle. The lecture is free and open to the public.

History alumna Jenelle Osborne sworn in as mayor of Lompoc, CA

2/27/19

Jenelle Osborne fills her life with passion and laughter, whether running her business, volunteering in the community or taking the gavel as Lompoc’s newest mayor. After studying journalism, Osborne earned her degree in history from Texas Woman’s University. Both majors fed her interest in research, in data, in putting the parts together into a workable, understandable whole.

Kate Landdeck interviewed by NBC for story on US Navy's legendary first female jet pilot

1/29/19

Katherine Sharp Landdeck, Ph.D., a historian of the Women Airforce Service Pilots of World War II and a professor at Texas Woman's University who was friends with Rosemary Mariner, said Mariner's intelligence was one of her signature assets, along with her willingness to assist others in reaching their potential. "She shaped generations of people with that confidence in them and helping them find their path," Landdeck said.