News

TWU doctoral student awarded summer fellowship

3/24/23

Alexis Grant-Panting, a PhD student in the Texas Woman’s University Sociology division, has been named recipient of the inaugural W.E.B. Dubois Fellowship in Support of Diversity and Inclusion.

TWU alumna overcomes hardships on journey to Austin

2/1/23

Dawna-Diamond Tyson's life has been a bit of a rollercoaster. But with a master's degree in political science from TWU in hand, Tyson is at the 88th regular session of the Texas Legislature as a policy analyst for José Menéndez, state senator from San Antonio.

TWU's Graham publishes op-ed in Fort Worth Weekly

1/10/23

Celeste Graham, mother, high school special education teacher and PhD candidate in Texas Woman’s University's department of social sciences and historical studies, published a column, "The Factual Retelling of History Is the Greatest Tool that Activists and Advocates Have," with the Fort Worth Weekly.

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.

TWU's Brock addresses hunger issues in Washington Post

9/29/22

TWU political science professor Clare Brock penned an article on the Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health, the first in more than 50 years. Hopes are high of achieving a goal of ending hunger in America by 2030.

TWU's Bejarano to speak at Latinas Represent Summit

9/22/22

Dr. Christina Bejarano, TWU professor of political science and director of graduate study in History & Political Science, will be among the speakers at the Latinas Represent Summit on Oct. 8.

The online event is described as "building a more reflective democracy by increasing the number and diversity of Latinas in elected office."

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.

Powers first at Texas Woman’s to win Boren Fellowship

5/27/22

Petina JD Powers has survived a litany of hardships, but now the sociology doctoral student is the first TWU student to earn a David L. Boren Fellowship, which she will use to study the Hindi language this summer before traveling to India to conduct research.

Dr. Paul Bones Hosts Redefining Disability Book Launch Webinar March 23

3/16/22

Texas Woman's Assistant Professor of Sociology Dr. Paul Bones will host a roundtable discussion with several authors from Redefining Disability. The authors will share their expertise and experiences with disability in life, education, employment, and beyond.

Clare Brock on lobbying for large food and beverage companies in 'Food Dive'

12/14/21

Assistant professor of political science Clare Brock was quoted in the industry publication "Food Dive" in a story about the lobbying practices of major food and beverage companies. “Lobbying is sort of like insurance in that you just do it. Because as the old adage goes, if you're not at the table, you might be on the menu," Brock said.

Clare Brock interviewed for WFAA report on energy lobbying in Texas

11/22/21

Assistant Professor Clare Brock was interviewed for a WFAA investigative report on Texas energy company lobbying efforts following the February 2021 winter storm.

TWU alumna announces election bid for Texas' 15th Congressional District

10/25/21

TWU political science and government alumna Dr. Eliza Alvarado (BASc '04) has filed to run for Congress in Texas' 15th Congressional District. Alvarado previously worked for the U.S. Congress and U.S. Department of Labor before returning to her South Texas home to co-found the Advocacy Alliance Center of Texas. She currently serves as Director of Partnerships and Career Pathways at Region One Education Service Center.

Dr. Jonathan Olsen discusses Angela Merkel's impact on a united Germany with AICGS

10/21/21

"As Germany’s first Chancellor from the former GDR, how has she bridged the gaps between east and west and furthered unification in a country that was divided for forty years?" the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies (AICGS) at Johns Hopkins University asked in a recent retrospective of Merkel's tenure and legacy as Chancellor.

"Angela Merkel’s contribution to German unity is ambiguous," Dr. Jonathan Olsen, professor and chair of the TWU Department of Social Sciences and Historical Studies, said. "On the one hand, as the first (and so far only) chancellor from the east, her symbolic stature is unquestionable, as is her role in advocating policies that have closed some of the economic, political, and social gaps between the east and west. On the other hand, considerable differences—from wages and wealth to social and political attitudes—have stubbornly persisted between the two halves of Germany. 

Dr. Parker Hevron reflects on the impact of 9/11 in the DRC's 20th-anniversary article

9/13/21

TWU Associate Professor of Political Science Dr. Parker Hevron recently spoke with the Denton Record-Chronicle on the 20-year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, reflecting on how those events shaped domestic and foreign politics and policies in the aftermath.

“I think it’s kind of fitting that the war in Afghanistan ended a few weeks before the 20th anniversary of 9/11,” Hevron said. “In some ways, it has had a similar trajectory to how we all feel about that day. In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks — it was a horrific event, it was traumatizing — it was on everyone’s mind. Eventually, the event fades a little bit into the background. I think we all tried to compartmentalize trauma so we can move forward. And in some ways, that’s what happened to the war in Afghanistan.”

Christina Bejarano discusses changes in the U.S. political landscape with BELatina

8/31/21

"As demonstrated by researcher Christina Bejarano of Texas Woman’s University, beyond elections and incumbency, political participation rates of women from America’s once so-called 'racial and ethnic minorities' have also increased dramatically over the past ten years, far outpacing increases for men.

In fact, according to Bejarano, Latinas not only participate more but also 'express distinctive political attitudes that have helped them lead the way in boosting Latino political participation.'"

Sociology PhD student featured in GDAC 'Soul Art Renewal' exhibition

7/22/21

Petina JD Powers, a PhD student and GTA at TWU, has a series of three poems included in the Greater Denton Arts Council (GDAC) exhibition, "Soul Art Renewal: PENS & LENSES." Powers’ poems are part of her larger qualitative work on pandemic poetry and images. 

TWU alumna says “multispecies families” impact birth rates, job location, disasters and more in new book

7/21/21

TWU alumna and current SMU sociologist Andrea Laurent-Simpson says treating pets like family has changed our laws, the number of children we have, and even where we choose to work. Her new book could make the fur fly for pet lovers and detractors alike.

Smartt Gullion, Tilton's "Researching With" named International Book Awards finalist

6/21/21

"Researching With: A Decolonizing Approach to Community-Based Action Research" by Jessica Smartt Gullion (Associate Dean of Research, College of Arts and Sciences; Associate Professor, Sociology) and Abigail Tilton (Dean, College of Arts and Sciences; Professor, Social Work) has been named a 2021 International Book Awards finalist in the Education/Academic category.

According to the publisher's website, "Researching With" "is a guide for how to do research that is inclusive, engages in community-building, and implements a decolonizing framework. The text advocates for a collaborative approach, researching with communities, rather than conducting research on them. Reviewing both theory and method, Jessica Smartt Gullion and Abigail Tilton offer practical tips for forming community partnerships and building coalitions."

Jeffrey Keen, President and CEO of American Book Fest, said this year’s contest yielded over 2,000 entries from authors and publishers around the world, which were then narrowed down to the final results.

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. 

Clare Brock, PhD, discusses Texas voter restriction legislation with The Guardian

5/6/21

Texas lawmakers are locked in a fight over legislation that would further restrict voting access, as Republicans lean on procedural moves to avoid public testimony and keep eleventh-hour negotiations behind closed doors.

"There’s not really a big problem with election fraud, right? That’s not actually a huge problem that we need to solve. But the public thinks it is, because they’ve been told that it is,” said Clare Brock, PhD, an assistant professor of political science at Texas Woman’s University.

History & Political Science student Sheryl English elected to Denton ISD school board

5/3/21

Dr. Lo discusses use of suicide prediction models for minoritized groups in MedPage Today

4/28/21

Asked for her perspective, Celia Lo, PhD, chair of the Department of Sociology at Texas Woman's University in Denton, who was not involved with the study, told MedPage Today that her own research on mental health utilization and treatment showed that certain minoritized groups may seek primary medical care as opposed to specialty care for mental health issues because of these historical barriers.

"You don't have accurate enough information to be inputted in this kind of model," Lo said. "The data [for white patients] will be a lot more reflective of the clinical needs of their mental health."

Professor and Chair Jon Olsen, PhD, weighs in on future of Die Linke in Germany's 2021 federal election

4/28/21

"If recent history is any guide, the 2021 German federal election will once again raise the question of whether the Left Party’s (Die Linke) cup is half-empty or half-full," Jon Olsen, PhD, professor and chair of the TWU Department of History & Political Science, in a recent opinion piece for Johns Hopkins University's American Institute for Contemporary German Studies.

TWU's Wouter van Erve weighs in on civics education legislation

4/12/21

What Texas kids need to know in order to become responsible citizens is up for debate.

After Gov. Greg Abbott named strengthening civics education as one of his priorities for the legislative session, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle filed bills with that goal in mind. But some advocacy groups are concerned that the issue could become too politicized, potentially stymieing progress in Austin.

Wouter van Erve, a Texas Woman’s University political science professor, said it’s important to pay attention to the emphasis on patriotism within civics education bills.

“Patriotism is a feeling. It’s a feeling of pride. In civics education, you have to watch out,” he said. “It’s not about feelings — it’s about facts.”

TWU sociology alumna Fara Francis-Eusea (BS '06) opens new Denton metaphysical shop

4/1/21

While Bewitched gives the (Francis-Euseas) the opportunity to devote more time to something they love, they say it also provides the chance to become more involved in the Denton community. Fara Francis-Eusea moved here in 1996 to study sociology at Texas Woman’s University, while Kasey, originally from Denver, fell in love with the city after visiting.

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>>

Meet the educator, reservist and soon-to-be triple alumna redefining ‘family’ in the Navy

3/15/21

Over the last two decades, Jamie Covey has earned three TWU degrees while serving concurrently as the lead American Sign Language teacher at Denton High School and a Navy reservist. Her dissertation topic, the effects of a reservist's deployment on their support system, draws from her own experience in the military.

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.

Bejarano awarded $30K grant for Latina political participation research

2/4/21

The Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) recently awarded a $30,000 grant to facilitate “Mujeres, Movidas y Movimiento: A Comparative Study of Latina Candidate Emergence and Political Mobilization in California and Texas.” The research project was one of nine funded by the CAWP in 2021 to help identify and address challenges and opportunities for women’s political participation.

Parker Hevron interviewed for Business Times' Biden article

1/25/21

"Trump seemed to be hellbent on shattering every possible norm associated with American politics but there are some things that cannot be shattered and that's one of them," said Parker Hevron, Ph.D., associate professor of political science at Texas Woman's University.

Christina Bejarano, PhD, interviewed for 'FiveThirtyEight' article about women of color in Congress

1/19/21

There are “two pieces to the puzzle: Mobilizing those voters, and finding the candidates out of that group,” as Christina Bejarano, PhD, a political scientist at Texas Woman’s University, put it in the recent FiveThirtyEight article, "Women of Color Were Shut Out of Congress For Decades. Now They're Transforming It."

Political science alumna named portfolio manager, vice president of Oakline

1/11/21

Vertical Capital Income Fund (VCIF) and Oakline Advisors, LLC, adviser to the Fund, announced today that the Fund's Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Treasurer and Portfolio Manager has announced his retirement effective today. Oakline's Senior Vice President Katherine Hawkins will assume the role of Portfolio Manager and Oakline's Vice President/Senior Controller.

Hawkins began her career with a Dallas investment bank developing a RMBS and whole loan trading desk which purchased over $5 billion in product during her tenure. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science from Texas Woman's University.

Sociology alumna quoted in Quartz 'pet industrial complex' article

1/11/21

TWU sociology alumna Andrea Laurent-Simpson (Ph.D. '16) was quoted in a recent Quartz article, titled "How America's love for its cats and dogs built the pet industrial comples."

“In the interviews I have done, no one says ‘I think of my cat or dog as a human child,’ but their behavior says otherwise,” said Laurent-Simpson, who is a professor of sociology at Southern Methodist University and author of the forthcoming book Just Like Family: How Companion Animals Joined the Household.