2025 Nancy P. and Thaddeus E. Paup Lecture

The Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership is honored to present the 2025 Nancy P. and Thaddeus E. Paup Lecture “Leading Through Turbulence: Create Your Flight Plan for Success”, with Amelia Rose Earhart, around-the-world pilot, speaker, and advocate for women in aviation.

Join us Tuesday, October 14, from 7–8 PM in the Southwest Ballroom of TWU’s Student Union in Hubbard Hall for this free, in-person event, followed by a Q&A session moderated by Tammie Jo Shults, 2025 Paup Lecture Series Ambassador. A video of this lecture will be made available after the event.

About the Speaker

As a boundary-pushing around the world pilot, Amelia Rose Earhart knows exactly what it takes to venture into uncharted territory — with confidence. With the odds stacked against her, Amelia not only trained to become a pilot, but to become the type of pilot to choose to honor the person she was named after, Amelia Mary Earhart, by piloting a single-engine airplane (Pilatus PC-12NG) 28,000 Nautical Miles around the globe. To accomplish this, Amelia developed a flight plan all her own, and while reporting full-time as on air, TV helicopter reporter, completed private, instrument and commercial pilot training, crafted an entrepreneurial and strategic business plan to design, fund and market her around the world attempt, raised close to $2 million in partnerships with 28 corporations, founded and ran the Fly With Amelia Foundation, which sent numerous teenage girls to flight school, and more.

Today, Amelia Rose Earhart is a full-time speaker, podcast host, and artist who incorporates the lessons of her 2014 global flight into every aspect of her professional and personal life. Amelia is excited to share the remaining funds from the Fly With Amelia Foundation to another aviation charity helping to promote women in aviation and will be sharing exciting details soon. From the Air Force Thunderbirds to the Reagan Library, to corporations like Capital One, Lockheed Martin and United Healthcare, Amelia’s list of clients who trust her message of agility continues to grow. Memorabilia from Amelia’s flight around the world can be found at her permanent display at Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum in Denver, CO.

Her book, Learn to Love the Turbulence: Flight Lessons on Becoming the Pilot in Command of Your Own Journey teaches readers how to navigate the inevitable storms that come with taking flight toward the life we were meant to live.

2025 Paup Lecture Series Ambassador

Captain Tammie Jo Shults is a pioneering aviator whose calm leadership and skill have been highlighted in a number of aircraft from military to civilian. One of the first female fighter pilots in the U.S. Navy, she broke barriers flying the F/A-18 Hornet before transitioning to a career as a commercial pilot with Southwest Airlines.

On April 17, 2018, Captain Shults, along with her crew, was responsible for safely landing Southwest Flight 1380 after a catastrophic engine failure, saving the lives of 148 people. Her decisive action under pressure showcased not only her technical expertise, but her deep commitment to crew coordination and passenger safety. A mentor and author, Tammie Jo continues to open doors for the next generation.

About the Regents’ Scholarship Endowment

Established by the Paups, the Regents’ Scholarship Endowment Initiative supports students who excel academically and based on the following criteria: 3.5 GPA or higher, junior or senior year of study, and leadership both inside and outside the classroom. Our goal is a minimum of 10 commitments to the Regents’ Scholarship Endowment Initiative by the culmination of the DREAM BIG Campaign in 2026. With the Paups having established the first Regents’ Scholarship Endowment, Texas Woman’s University and the Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership are challenging both current and former TWU Regents, alumni, and friends to join TWU in creating named regents’ scholarship endowments today.

For more information, contact Jamie Porter, Interim Executive Director, TWU Foundation, at 940-898-3861 or jporter9@twu.edu.

Meet this year’s recipients:

JHG Texas Regents’ Endowed Scholarship

Chelsea Wierenga

• Junior | Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• Argyle, TX

Sharon Faye Wilbur Regents’ Endowed Scholarship

Kamille Zarlengo

• Senior | Bachelor of Science in Education
• Littleton, CO
• TWU Gymnastics Team Member

Ellen A. Amirkhan Regents’ Endowed Scholarship

Candela Fidalgo Garcia

• Senior | Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology
• Spain
• TWU Artistic Swimming Team Member

Nancy P. & Thaddeus E. Paup Regents’ Endowed Scholarship

Giselle Fernandez

• Senior | Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting
• Sanger, TX

Stephanie Lusk

• Senior | Bachelor of Science in Political Science
• Montgomery, TX

Page last updated 12:20 PM, November 13, 2025