Dallas Fort Worth Nonprofit Business Journal

Category: Education

  • talkSTEM offering STEM-focused walking tours in DFW this summer

    Dallas’ talkSTEM is offering STEM-focused walking tours throughout the City of Dallas for the second year this summer.

    Inspired by the National Museum of Mathematics in New York City, walkSTEM is designed to engage elementary and middle school students–and their parents and teachers–in the ways that STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) education, is relevant to our everyday world.

    “Connecting STEM to the real world around students is central to making sense of otherwise abstract concepts,” said Dr. Koshi Dhingra, Founder and Director of talkSTEM, in a release focused on the initial walkSTEM program implemented in 2017. “walkSTEM aims to use the city as a living museum to help build connections in the minds of students.”

    walkSTEM experiences are designed for anyone from the upper elementary grades to adults. The talkSTEM website offers these options for parties interested in the program:

    • Students/families: join a docent-led tour, take a self-guided tour with our Oto-cast technology, visit a walkSTEM site with guiding signage.
    • School Groups: use our standards-aligned resources on walkSTEM Academy to take your students on a walkSTEM experience when visiting the Dallas Arts District.
    • Organizations: request a guided walkSTEM tour or contact us about creating a walkSTEM experience customized to your setting.
    • Groups of 15 or more can request a FREE docent-guided tour of the Dallas Arts District. Contact walkSTEM@gmail.com

    Current walkSTEM locations include:

    • Dallas Arts District (Otocast recording or docent-led)
    • Northpark Center – Art Rocks! (docent-led)
    • Youth Department of Jonsson Public Library (self-guided)
    • Dallas City Hall Plaza (self-guided)
    • Dallas Love Field

    walkSTEM locations to be added include:

    • SMU
    • Girl Scouts STEM Center of Excellence

    *Photo courtesy of talkSTEM

    ABOUT TALKSTEM

    talkSTEM is a 501(c)(3) organization that promotes conversation about the diversity of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) thinking in our daily lives, in our community, and in our world. talkSTEM was founded by Dr. Koshi Dhingra. Koshi has a doctorate in Science Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and ha s years of experience teaching at the middle and high school levels, as well as at teacher education programs. Most recently, she served as a director of the Science and Engineering Education Center at the University of Texas at Dallas. Learn more about talkSTEM and its programming by visiting the organization’s website.

  • Dallas Holocaust Museum Releases Statement on Immigration Policy

    The Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education and Tolerance released a statement on the U.S. Immigration Policy via its website last Wednesday.

    The statement reads:

    “The Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education and Tolerance calls upon all branches of our government to work together to fix our immigration system so that children are not separated from their parents at the borders of our great nation.

    Separating families, regardless of why they are here, is the wrong policy and it needs to end. We are viewed throughout the world as a humane and compassionate nation, and we need to live up to our ideals.

    At the Museum we teach visitors to be Upstanders, to stand up and take a moral, and ethical stance, even in the face of tremendous opposition.”

    The museum has not released any additional statements following the Executive Order to end immigrant separations that was signed by President Trump last Wednesday.

    ABOUT THE DALLAS HOLOCAUST MUSEUM

    Founded in 1984, the Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education and Tolerance is dedicated to teaching the history of the Holocaust and advancing human rights to combat prejudice, hatred and indifference. Located in Dallas’ Historic West End, the Museum hosted more than 86,000 visitors in 2017, among them 36,000 school children. A top-rated attraction in North Texas, the Museum is one of just a few Holocaust-related museums or centers in the United States and the only Holocaust museum serving North Central Texas, as well as the adjacent states of Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. The Museum has been recognized for its compelling and creative programming, internationally recognized exhibits, and world-class speakers. North Texas is home to over 50 survivors, refugees and hidden children from the Holocaust. Dedicated members and volunteers throughout the region and the state generously support the Museum every year. Find out more on the museum’s website.

  • University of North Texas at Dallas Emerging Teacher Institute receives $460,000 from Texas Instruments Foundation for STEM education program

    The University of North Texas at Dallas has announced it received a $460,000 grant from the Texas Instruments (TI) Foundation for its STEM Principal Training Program. The program provides an innovative approach to preparing the next generation of school leaders who know how to nurture school campuses to achieve uncommon STEM and Career and Technical Education (CTE) outcomes for students.

    The STEM Principal Training Program is among the many supported projects of ETI, the innovative School of Education at UNT Dallas dedicated to training and preparing educational leaders with a holistic approach for today’s classrooms. The STEM Principal Training Program will initially be developed in partnership with Dallas Independent School District (ISD) and Grand Prairie ISD and will strengthen each district’s commitment to identifying and developing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics competencies and skills for rising school leaders who are tasked with preparing the DFW Metroplex’s future STEM leaders. This program will focus on enhancing opportunities for principals, and ultimately positively impact teachers and their students in historically underserved areas of both the DISD and GPISD.

    “Our research shows that principals play a critical role in teachers’ and students’ success and have a tremendous impact within their schools on creating the mindsets, culture and climate required to nurture achievement and innovation,” said Dr. John Gasko, Dean of the UNT Dallas School of Education, on the school’s website. “We know these students want to achieve, and solve the wicked problems that beset our world, and STEM learning is crucial as they take on the complexity associated with a new generation of global challenges. The Principal Training Program will include a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership with a principal certification pathway that is mindful and inclusive of the latest research around effective leadership combined with innovative STEM education. We are grateful to the Texas Instruments Foundation for supporting our efforts with these resources and investing in the future of our communities.”

    he STEM Principal Training Program is competitive and UNT Dallas will offer a total of 30 full scholarships, which will allow prospective candidates to obtain a graduate degree and principal certification.

    “We are working to improve STEM education at its root, which includes investing in partners such as UNT Dallas and their programs to develop effective principals,” said Andy Smith, executive director of the TI Foundation, in a release. “Principals make a difference in student outcomes, and their leadership is key to attracting, developing and training high-quality teachers. The aim for training principals in the skills necessary to lead STEM-specific campuses and programs is to help students be better prepared for future opportunities in STEM.”

    Find out more here.

    ABOUT UNT DALLAS

    UNT Dallas empowers students, transforms lives, strengthens communities. Under the leadership of President Robert “Bob” Mong, UNT Dallas has achieved record enrollment exceeding 3,500 students, with an expectation of growth to 5,000+ students by 2021. But UNTD isn’t just growing from an enrollment standpoint – our tree-lined, 264-acre campus is evolving physically, as a thoughtfully-designed campus master plan fills out to accommodate more trail-blazing students. The university’s first residence hall is now in place – transforming UNT Dallas into a residential campus – and a new $63 million student center is opening in 2018. The main UNT Dallas campus is now served by DART light rail, making it more accessible than ever and directly connected to Downtown. Find out more on the school’s website.

  • Dallas Public Library and Equal Heart partner to feed local kids

    WFAA reported that 19 Dallas Public Library branches, in partnership with Equal Heart, will be providing free lunches and snacks to children under the age of 18 this summer, until Aug 17. The lunches are funded by the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program, according to WFAA.

    Children do not need to provide proof of need or pre-register in order to receive a meal.

    Lunches are available at the following locations and times:

    • Audelia Road, Monday-Friday, Noon to 12:45 p.m.
    • Bachman Lake, Monday-Friday, Noon to 12:45 p.m.
    • Dallas West, Monday-Friday, Noon to 12:45 p.m.
    • Forest Green, Monday-Friday, 1 to 1:45 p.m.
    • Grauwyler Park, Monday-Friday, 1 to 1:30 p.m.
    • Hampton-Illinois, Monday-Friday, 2 to 2:45 p.m.
    • Highland Hills, Monday-Friday, Noon to 1 p.m.
    • J. Erik Jonsson Central Library, Monday-Friday, Noon to 12:45 p.m.
    • Kleberg-Rylie, Monday-Friday, 1 to 1:45 p.m.
    • Lochwood, Monday-Friday, Noon to 12:45 p.m.
    • North Oak Cliff, Monday-Friday, 12:30 to 1:15 p.m.
    • Park Forest, Monday-Friday, Noon to 12:45 p.m.
    • Lancaster-Kiest, Monday-Friday, Noon to 12:45 p.m.
    • Pleasant Grove, Monday-Friday, 11 to 11:45 a.m.
    • Polk-Wisdom, Tuesday-Thursday, noon to 1 p.m.
    • Prairie Creek, Monday-Friday, 1 to 2 p.m.
    • Skyline, Monday-Friday, noon to 12:30 p.m.
    • Timberglen, Monday/Wednesday/Friday, noon to 12:45 p.m.
    • White Rock Hills, Monday-Friday, Noon to 12:45 p.m.

    WFAA also reports that the Dallas Public Library is encouraging local youth to get involved in some of the programs the library offers throughout the summer. Find out more on the library’s website.

    ABOUT EQUAL HEART

    Equal Heart is a 501(c)3 nonprofit with operations in Texas and Colorado. We are currently focused on alleviating hunger as we work to expand access to ensure every hungry individual has a daily meal no matter their circumstances. Find out more on the organization’s website.

    ABOUT DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY

    The Dallas Public Library strengthens communities by connecting people, inspiring curiosity and advancing lives. Find out more on the organization’s website.

  • UNT’s 2018 Dean’s Innovation Grant Winner is a Project to Improve Library Services for Patrons of all Abilities

    The University of North Texas (UNT) has announced on its website its 2018 Dean’s Innovation Grant Winner as ​Jennifer Rowe. Her proposed project is entitled Improving Library Services ofr Patrons of All Abilities. The project is designed to increase awareness and mindfulness of the needs of patrons with disabilities and to improve services offered to accommodate those patrons. Through a series of focus groups with UNT students and an online survey, the library will learn how to work with the unique needs of students with disabilities.

    The University of North Texas Libraries’ Dean’s Innovation Grant, formerly known as the Green Light To Greatness Award, provides funding to research and projects within the UNT Libraries that promote scholarship and contribute to the gathering of knowledge that helps improve its libraries, university, and the community.

    ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS

    UNT’s mission is to prepare students for careers in a rapidly changing world. As one of the nation’s largest universities, UNT offers 103 bachelor’s, 86 master’s and 38 doctoral degree programs. By providing access, welcoming diversity and strengthening its collaborations with its many educational, business and community partners, as well as building new partnerships across the globe, UNT’s faculty and staff work each day to prepare students for the challenges they will meet in our changing world. Find out more on UNT’s website.

  • George W. Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative Launched June 1

    The George W. Bush Institute and SMU announced they are joining forces to launch the Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative, which launched on June 1. This effort will combine the existing Economic Growth Initiative of the Bush Institute with the public policy-relevant work of the SMU Department of Economics. The objective is to build the initiative into a globally respected policy voice on the most pressing economic issues of our time.

    “We have developed a close and successful relationship with SMU since the establishment of the Bush Institute nine years ago, and we are thrilled to partner with SMU on this joint initiative,” said Kenneth Hersh, President and CEO of the Bush Center. “Since its inception, the Bush Institute’s Economic Growth Initiative has promoted pro-growth economic policies on issues like trade and immigration. The addition of SMU will add a nationally recognized research partner to our work. Importantly, we will also be able to add expertise to broaden our scope.”

    The Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative will promote policies to support domestic economic growth and strengthen our competitiveness in the global economy. The initiative will also highlight the benefits of continuing American economic leadership, global trade, immigration, and the economic vitality of cities and regions in our country.

    The new combined initiative will be supported by the George W. Bush Presidential Center Endowment at SMU that was established to support joint programming as well as funding from the Bush Institute, thereby enabling its work to begin immediately.

    “As the Bush Center was being developed and constructed, it was crucial to create an endowment that would ensure funding for the University to participate in joint programing,” said R. Gerald Turner, President of SMU. “The SMU Department of Economics and the Bush Institute’s Economic Growth Initiative are complementary centers of excellence whose collaboration will create very visible, research-based contributions to the dialogue regarding economic growth in our country and in North America.”

    “The Initiative combines the Bush Institute’s action-oriented approach to policy and its extraordinary convening ability with SMU’s research and academic excellence, particularly in economics,” said Holly Kuzmich, Executive Director of the Bush Institute and Senior Vice President of the Bush Center.

    Steve Currall, SMU’s Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs said, “The new Initiative will leverage synergies between the Bush Institute’s global visibility on economic policy and world-leading economic analysis by SMU’s Department of Economics and other academic units on our campus such as the Cox School of Business.  SMU’s faculty and students will benefit from the intellectual exchange with the Initiative’s leadership to advance thoughtful analyses and innovative solutions to promote economic growth domestically and globally.”

    The Bush Institute’s Director of Economic Growth, Matthew Rooney, and the Deputy Director, Laura Collins, will be joined in the initiative by Dr. Cullum Clark, Adjunct Professor of Economics at SMU, who will serve as a director.

    ABOUT THE GEORGE W. BUSH INSTITUTE

    Housed within the George W. Bush Presidential Center, the George W. Bush Institute is an action-oriented, nonpartisan policy organization with the mission of developing leaders, advancing policy, and taking action to solve today’s most pressing challenges. The work is achieved through three Impact Centers – Domestic Excellence, Global Leadership, and the Engagement Agenda – by which the Bush Institute engages the greater community with its important work. Find out more on the organization’s website.

     ABOUT SMU

    For more than 100 years, SMU has shaped minds, explored the frontiers of knowledge and fostered an entrepreneurial spirit in its seven degree-granting schools. Taking advantage of unbridled experiences on the University’s beautiful campuses and SMU’s relationship with Dallas, the dynamic center of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions, alumni, faculty and nearly 12,000 graduate and undergraduate students become ethical leaders in their professions and communities who change the world. Find out more on the SMU website.

  • North Texas NonProfits receive funding as part of Texas Wildlife and Parks Department’s Community Outdoor Outreach Program

    Dallas’ Audubon Texas, Dallas Parks Foundation, Groundwork Dallas and Fort Worth’s Fort Worth Independent School District and Friends of Cleburne State Park will receive a combined total of just over $150,000 in funding this year through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Community Outdoor Outreach Program (CO-OP). The grants help fund community-based youth and family outdoors-oriented programs and activities like camping, hiking, fishing, kayaking and service projects.

    These and many more CO-OP Grant sponsored programs will explore the best of outdoor Texas from the Canyons of Caprock, to the mysteries of Caddo Lake, and the Rio Grande Valley’s abundance of rare wildlife. Along the way, participants will discover why life is better outside. Throughout all of Texas, over $800,000 will be awarded to organizations like these.

    CO-OP was founded by TPWD in 1996 to help introduce underserved populations to environmental education, conservation and outdoor recreation programs.

    The program is authorized by the Texas State Legislature in the TPWD budget as a specialized component of the Texas Recreation and Parks Account Program. Grants range from $5,000 to $50,000 and may be used to pay for equipment, transportation, liability insurance and up to 40 percent for staffing costs.

    CO-OP grant funding is available to tax-exempt, nonprofit organizations, municipalities, universities and local school districts. Over the last 22 years, more than 700 grants have been awarded around the state to assist in this effort.

    More details on the North Texas organizations that will receive funding are below.

    Dallas

    Audubon Texas – $50,000 – The Audubon Conservation TREKS project will engage 210 youth in weeklong outdoor leadership experiences focusing on interpersonal growth, environmental science competency and outdoor skill development.

    Dallas Parks Foundation – $45,509 – The Dallas Outdoor Adventures project will provide overnight camping trips and other outdoor recreation activities such as fishing, mountain biking and kayaking at state parks in the DFW area for 175 participants.

    Groundwork Dallas — $20,294 – The Green Team Program will administer hands-on education about ecology, conservation and interpretation activities to 125 youth members and will coordinate nature hikes and paddling trips for 125 additional community members along the Trinity River in Dallas.

    Fort Worth

    Fort Worth Independent School District – $25,770 – The Western Hills Primary Family Wilderness Club will engage 600 individuals near the Las Vegas Trail community of Fort Worth in outdoor conservation classrooms and lead camping trips at local state parks.

    Friends of Cleburne State Park – $9,523 – Will administer the SEED Program providing daylong experiences for at-risk youth who learn outdoor recreation skills, explore natural resource career opportunities and participate in trail maintenance service projects at Cleburne State Park.

    ABOUT TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT

    The mission of TPWD is to manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas and to provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. Find out more on the organization’s website.

  • TI Foundation announces $4.6M grant to Educate Texas to immerse more than 10,000 students in K-12 STEM learning

    The Texas Instruments (TI) Foundation, Educate Texas and the Richardson Independent School District (RISD) announced a partnership to create a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) feeder pattern within the Lloyd V. Berkner High School attendance zone, which includes 16 schools serving more than 10,000 students from 80 different countries. The TI Foundation will give $4.6 million over the next three years to Educate Texas, the public-private initiative of Communities Foundation of Texas, to work with RISD to implement a “STEM for All” concept. The intent is to reshape the teaching and learning of these subjects across all grade levels to better prepare students from pre-K through 12th grade within the Berkner feeder schools for postsecondary and workforce success.

    A similar grant was bestowed upon Lancaster ISD in 2012. Because of the success of the Lancaster ISD STEM district, the TI Foundation and Educate Texas worked together over the past year to assess candidates from other north Texas districts to extend the concept. After a competitive grant proposal process, RISD was selected based on the strong commitment of its superintendent, school board and the Richardson Chamber of Commerce, as well as the opportunity to execute on the concept through a larger school district’s feeder pattern comprised of largely under-represented students.

    The “STEM for All” mission reflects RISD’s commitment to prepare students for careers of tomorrow by embedding STEM concepts and experiences in their learning journey, from pre-kindergarten through high school graduation.

    “STEM is not something we do, it’s who we are, which is why RISD strives to inspire our students from their very first day of school to explore and cultivate their interests to pursue a career pathway through a STEM culture,” said Jeannie Stone, Ed.D., superintendent of RISD.

    While the grant has the long-term aim of creating a stronger skilled STEM workforce for North Texas, the near-term goal over the next three years will be focused on helping RISD build and implement the “STEM for All” concept in the classroom. This includes:

    • Teacher professional development that focuses on project-based STEM training and is supported by dedicated STEM coaches, as well as the opportunity for a master’s degree.
    • Greater student engagement and relevancy through project-based learning as well as extracurricular STEM clubs, competitions, and STEM-based community engagement and outreach.
    • A rigorous, contextual-based curriculum and instruction that centers on college-and career-readiness that will increase opportunities for accelerated learning options, such as Advanced Placement® (AP) courses and dual-credit coursework.

    The grant will also help the district to work with post-secondary education partners in business and industry to ensure relevancy and sustainability of the concept.

    Find out more here.

    ABOUT EDUCATE TEXAS

    Launched in 2004 as Texas High School Project, Educate Texas, a public-private initiative of Communities Foundation of Texas, is dedicated to ensuring Texas students have the guidance and resources needed to graduate high school ready for college and career success. We bring together key organizations committed to improving education in Texas, working with school districts, community colleges, technical schools and regional universities to implement programs and practices promoting postsecondary readiness, access and success for all students. Educate Texas’ public-private partners include: the Texas Education Agency, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Governor’s Office, Texas Legislature, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, The Meadows Foundation, and Greater Texas Foundation. For more information, please visit: edtx.org.

    ABOUT RICHARDSON ISD

    Richardson ISD has been a leading school district in Texas since its establishment in 1854. Covering more than 43 square miles, its 54 schools span the cities of Richardson, Dallas and Garland. Traditions of excellence, high parent expectations and exceptional community support have all contributed to the district’s consistent academic success. RISD’s mission is to serve and prepare each of its more than 39,000 students for their global futures. For more information, please visit risd.org.

    ABOUT THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS FOUNDATION

    The Texas Instruments Foundation, founded in 1964, is a non-profit organization solely funded by Texas Instruments providing philanthropic support for educational and charitable purposes primarily in the communities where TI operates. Committed to supporting educational excellence, the foundation works to create measurable, replicable programs and initiatives. The focus is on providing knowledge, skills and programs to improve STEM education and increase the percentage of high school graduates who are math and science capable. More information can be found at ti.com/giving.

  • Dallas County Promise to receive $3M in funding from JPMorgan Chase

    Dallas County Promise will receive $3M in funding from JPMorgan Chase, as announced in a press release from the corporation earlier this month. The purpose of the investment is to expand access to opportunity in the Dallas region and provide students with necessary education and skills to secure well-paying, high-demand careers in growing local industries. According to the press release, the investment will substantially increase the number of young people graduating from the region’s public high schools with career opportunities in healthcare and information technology sectors. The gift is part of the company’s New Skills for Youth program. Since 2014, the JPMorgan Chase has invested $10 million in skills-related programs in the Dallas area.

    “It’s a powerful force for good when public institutions and private-sector leaders form partnerships to prepare our youth for high-skill, high-wage jobs,” said Mayor Mike Rawlings. “Working together, JPMorgan Chase and The Dallas County Promise will transform lives by putting more young people on the path to success.”

    Dallas County Promise is an unprecedented collaboration between school districts, community colleges, universities, workforce, the philanthropic community and community advocates to increase college completion. The Promise is a scholarship from the Dallas County Community College District that matches degree programs to career pathways to high-demand industries in the region. By next year, the Promise will support 10 Dallas County School Districts, 43 High Schools, and over 15,000 high school seniors.

    According to the press release, while the Dallas region consistently ranks among the top metro areas in employment growth, the opportunities are not shared equally, with 3 out of 4 students in the area being economically disadvantaged.

    With JPMorgan Chase’s New Skills for Youth investment to the Commit Partnership, Dallas County Promise will target a goal of supporting 3,500 community college student complete degrees that provide them with a pathway to well-paying careers in healthcare and information technology. Specifically, the investment will help introduce students early in high school through college to workforce opportunities in these sectors.

    Read the full release here.

    ABOUT DALLAS COUNTY PROMISE

    Dallas County Promise began as a pilot in the fall of 2017 with 31 high schools in Dallas County, representing 9,300 high school seniors. At its core, the Promise is a last dollar, full-tuition scholarship for an associate’s degree (the first and second years of college) provided by the Dallas County Community College District Foundation to every high school student, regardless of family income or grade point average. DCCCD’s effort is being matched with tuition-free scholarships provided by UNT Dallas, plus other partner public and private universities for students’ junior and senior years. Equally important, the Promise will include a coordinated effort to promote career awareness in high schools and higher education institutions with the goal to better align credentials students are seeking with current high-demand jobs. Those efforts will be supported by a framework of non-profit staff members, and will include mentoring and support from a student success coach as well as robust data support to drive the goal of owning the educational outcome for every Dallas County Promise student. To learn more, visit DallasCountyPromise.org.

  • Texas Women’s University announces plans for new Institute for Women’s Leadership

    Texas Women’s University announced via a press release that it plans to create a distinctive new Institute for Women’s Leadership on its Denton campus that will encompass three focused centers on the large second floor of Old Main, the university’s first building, built in 1903 (pictured above). Construction will begin this fall, with move-in slated for summer 2019.

    The Institute’s three centers are aimed at inspiring more women to run for political office, to become successful entrepreneurs and C-Suite executives, and to gain professional leadership skills and experience. The new Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy will join TWU’s existing Center for Women in Business and Center for Student Leadership as part of the new Institute.

    The Institute for Women’s Leadership also will include a new high-tech interactive exhibit that chronicles the state’s female political leaders and provides important online research for visitors, residents, scholars and students. Richard McWalters, former director of museum operations at the National Geographic Museum in Washington, D.C., is consulting with SBL Architecture to create this 3,200 square-foot exhibit space.

    “We are proud that our Texas governor and Legislature continue to support TWU’s distinctive role as the nation’s largest university primarily for women,” said Chancellor Carine M. Feyten. “This new institute will draw upon the legacy of the many women who have a record of leadership in the Lone Star State, and help us attract and enable a much larger cadre of women leaders to further advance Texas’ economy, quality of life and health, and engaged citizenry. It also will guide leadership development opportunities for our students.”

    Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Mary Saunders, a TWU alumna, will lead the new Institute, which has received $7.2 million in state start-up funds and a $2 million gift from Sue Schrier Bancroft and her husband Christopher. Regent Nancy Paup and her husband Ted also have given $250,000 for a special Institute lecture series.

    Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Mary Saunders will lead the new institute.

    In addition, two dozen of Texas’ top female leaders in business, politics, finance, education, law, real estate and communications have stepped forward to serve on the Institute’s advisory council chaired by Bancroft.

    “This group of dynamic women will provide significant direction for events, speakers, networking opportunities and research,” Saunders said. “In addition, their participation is critical in creating an extraordinary interactive environment for young Texans to learn about the contributions of women leaders throughout Texas’ history.”

    *Photos courtesy of Texas Women’s University.

    ABOUT TEXAS WOMEN’S UNIVERSITY

    Established in 1901, Texas Woman’s University has campuses in Denton, Dallas and Houston. Known for its strengths in the fields of education, nutrition, business, the arts and sciences, and especially in the nursing and health care professions, the university offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in traditional, online and hybrid formats. Texas Woman’s University is home to numerous important collections focused on women’s leadership, including the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) National Archives, the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame, and the Texas First Ladies Historic Costume Collection. Find out more on the university’s website.