TWUPres

We are thrilled to bring our legacy to the heart of Dallas with our landmark exhibition, “Blazing New Trails: 125 Years of Texas Woman's University,” hosted at the iconic Hall of State venue! What a wonderful evening celebrating our rich history at Wednesday's preview party.

From our humble beginnings in 1901 as a single-building campus in Denton—graduating just one student in our inaugural class—to becoming the nation’s first and only woman-focused public university system, Texas Woman’s was built on a bold premise: that women deserve an education that empowers them not just to participate in society, but to actively shape it.

Drawing from our extraordinary Special Collections and University Archives—including rare founding documents, historic campus publications, selections from our Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) archive, and our renowned cookbook collection—the exhibit honors a century of resilience, innovation, and Pioneer spirit.

A project of this scale takes a village. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to our incredible Special Collections and library staff, as well as our outstanding marketing department, for tirelessly working to bring this 125-year story to life for the public. I also want to share a special thank you to alumna Amber Fletcher and Fletcher's Original Corny Dogs for their wonderful contributions to our preview event and exhibit—a beloved State Fair tradition that made our celebration even more memorable!

If you are attending the State Fair of Texasf between now and October 18, I invite you to visit the Hall of State and experience the remarkable journey of TWU firsthand.

It was such a joy to join Dr. Jennifer Cowley and Dr. Emily Messer at the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce conference for an open conversation about leadership and the lessons that shape us along the way.

One message I shared during our panel was the power of the ripple effect.

Every action, word, and quiet thought we hold creates a ripple. They influence how we walk into a room and how we handle tough decisions. Whether we realize it or not, our choices leave a lasting impression on those around us—a student looking for direction, a teammate needing encouragement, or someone watching quietly from afar.

Leadership isn’t just found in the major milestones. It is built in the everyday moments, ensuring the ripples we leave behind are intentional and rooted in integrity.

What a wonderful day for Texas Woman's University, Denton, and the families who will make this new space their own.

Yesterday, we officially welcomed Bezos Academy to our Denton campus. This no cost to families preschool will serve 120 young children, giving parents the support they need to pursue their own educational and career goals.

For 125 years, TWU has been dedicated to removing barriers to opportunity. Having three- and four-year-olds discovering their world on the very same campus where their parents are discovering theirs feels so uniquely Texas Woman’s.

Thank you to Bezos Academy and the City of Denton, TX - City Hall TX for partnering with us to bring this vision to life. Thank you to the community that really showed up to celebrate with us. And a special thank you to Karen Hughes White from the Texas Women's Foundation for sharing with guests about why this partnership is so beneficial to the community.

Block party, Pioneer style!

Proud to officially welcome President Christopher Johnson to the Dallas campus!

Dear Texas Woman’s Community,

I am delighted to share that, with the approval of the TWU System Board of Regents, I have appointed Christopher Johnson as Dallas campus president.

Many of you know Christopher well. He has served Texas Woman’s for 16 years, including as chief of staff since 2015 and, more recently, as vice chancellor for strategy. Since February, he has also served as interim president of TWU Dallas, helping the campus move forward with an ambitious agenda for growth.

Over those 16 years, Christopher’s work has touched nearly every corner of Texas Woman’s — strategy, governance, legislative relations, philanthropy, enrollment, student success, operations and communications, as well as the work of becoming a university system.

Few people have had a wider view of this institution or a greater opportunity to understand how its many parts connect.

I have worked alongside Christopher for more than a decade. He is a systems thinker by nature. He asks a lot of questions — often beginning with why — looks for connections others may miss, and brings people together around possibilities. He also understands that our strategies ultimately matter because of the opportunities they create for the people and communities we serve.

For Christopher, that commitment is also personal. As a first-generation college graduate, he has experienced firsthand both the complexities of navigating the college journey and the opportunities higher education has unlocked in his own life. That perspective has shaped his belief that universities must continue finding better ways to help students see a place for themselves in higher education and create pathways that meet them where they are.

It is a perspective that fits this moment particularly well at TWU Dallas.

“I believe TWU Dallas can remain deeply rooted in the Southwestern Medical District while becoming increasingly connected to the whole city,” Christopher said. “We have an opportunity to create new academic and workforce pathways, deepen relationships with employers and community partners, and make Texas Woman’s more accessible to students across Dallas. I am especially excited about what we can build when we think of Dallas not simply as a campus, but as an urban front door to the university.”

Christopher’s appointment also reflects the university system we are continuing to build. Denton, Dallas and Houston each serve distinct communities, and each makes the whole stronger. As Dallas grows, I believe it will create new opportunities not only for the students and communities it serves, but for Texas Woman’s as a whole.

I am grateful to the Board of Regents for their approval of his appointment, Dean Catrine Tudor-Locke for leading the search, Jessica Walling for staffing the process, and everyone who participated and shared their perspectives along the way.

Christopher has spent much of his career helping other people lead at Texas Woman’s. I am thrilled to see him bring that same spirit of service, imagination, and partnership to TWU Dallas.

Please join me in congratulating Christopher and supporting him and the TWU Dallas community as we build this next chapter together.

With a pioneering spirit,

Carine M. Feyten, Ph.D.
Chancellor and President

Welcome home, Pioneers! ♥️ It was so much fun stopping by the dorms this week and seeing campus come alive again.

Excuse me while we interrupt the back-to-school content for something VERY important… 🎉 Please join me in wishing TWU Ambassador, Oakley’s BFF, bow-tie enthusiast and my biggest fan, Chad Wick, a very happy birthday! 🤍

It was wonderful to welcome Regent Dianne Costa to Texas Woman’s University for her first board meeting. We are grateful to have her as part of the TWU family and look forward to her leadership, perspective and service to our university and students.