Texas Woman’s University (TWU) will present the 2026 Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award to award-winning veteran journalist Lee Cullum at the Dallas Leadership Luncheon, set for February 17, 2026, at the Hilton Anatole Hotel, Imperial Ballroom (2201 N. Stemmons Fwy., Dallas, TX 75207). The event marks the kickoff of TWU’s 125^th anniversary year. The event co-chairs are Lucy Billingsley, Lucy Burns, Sumner Billingsley and Lindsay Billingsley.

In addition to the Leadership Award presentation, the luncheon will also recognize the 2026 Virginia Chandler Dykes Scholars.  

Cullum will be interviewed by Lili Clark, senior associate at Lyda Hill Philanthropies and her granddaughter. 

“Lee embodies the Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award as her work has been about improving the community through her thoughtful storytelling, writing and reporting from different perspectives,” said Texas Woman’s Chancellor Carine Feyten. “She believes that education, especially of women including her granddaughters, are important for the future of our country. We look forward to celebrating her accomplishments.”

About Lee Cullum:

Lee Cullum is a senior fellow at the John G. Tower Center for Public Policy and International Affairs and the Dallas Institute for Humanities and Culture. She contributes to The Dallas Morning News and Patron Magazine and writes a column on Substack called La Vie en Orange. At one time she was a regular commentator on what is now the PBS NewsHour and “All Things Considered” on NPR as well as editor of the editorial page of the Dallas Times Herald. She has served on the board of the Council on Foreign Relations, the American Council on Germany, the Pacific Council on International Policy and chaired the Dallas Committee on Foreign Relations. She currently is a member of the Trilateral Commission.   

Cullum said, “This occasion marks a milestone in the  important life of an important university. That’s because women have never mattered more to communities across the country. They are as indispensable to every enterprise, private or professional, personal or public, as Rosie the Riveter was to the nation during World War II.” 

About the Luncheon:

Established in 2002, the Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award is presented annually at the Dallas Leadership Luncheon to a Dallas leader who has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to improving the quality of life in the community and to furthering the importance of education.

The award honors the contributions of TWU alumna, donor, and board of regents member Virginia Chandler Dykes (1930-2022) as an outstanding healthcare provider whose professional and civic achievements represent a lifetime committed to helping others. Recent award recipients include Nicole Small (2025), Abby and Todd Williams (2024), Lucy Billingsley (2023), Arcilia Acosta (2022), Cynt Marshall (2021), and Jennifer Staubach Gates (2020).Here’s more about Virginia Chandler Dykes.

Proceeds from the luncheon benefit Texas Woman’s graduate student scholarships.

Tables, tickets and sponsorships: Tickets are $250, and tables are $2,000. To learn more about the luncheon, purchase a sponsorship or ticket, or request a sponsorship brochure, contact Lauren Hendershot at 940.898.3870 or 940.898.3866, lhendershot@twu.edu or visittwu.edu/DallasLeadership

ABOUT TWU
Texas Woman’s University is the nation’s largest woman-focused university system with campuses in Denton, Dallas, and Houston. Founded in 1901, TWU has built a reputation on contributions in nursing, healthcare, education, the arts and sciences, and business. TWU’s inclusive culture prioritizes experiential learning, leadership, service, discovery, and health and well-being, and national media have recognized the university as a top college for student-parents, veterans, and social mobility. In 2023, TWU publicly launched Dream Big, a comprehensive fundraising effort to support innovative programs, capital projects, student scholarships, and faculty endowments. To date, the campaign has raised  To learn more about the campaign or the university, visitdreambig.twu.edu ortwu.edu, or connect with TWU onFacebook@TexasWomansUniversity,Instagram@txwomans,Twitter@txwomans, andLinkedIn@texaswomansuniversity.

Since 2015, the Center for Women Entrepreneurs (CWE) at the Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership at Texas Woman’s University has been helping transform “visions into ventures,” providing funding, business advisement, and training for more than 1,900 women-owned businesses across Texas to date.

To celebrate its milestone anniversary, CWE hosted an anniversary event on July 8 with a vendor showcase of 40 grant recipients.

Over the last decade, CWE has awarded more than $2.37 million in grant funding to 467 women entrepreneurs across Texas, supporting efforts to launch, grow, and scale businesses in urban centers and rural communities. Among the rich diversity of ventures supported by CWE are a number of intriguing enterprises—such as a pet gift shop, doula service, custom prosthetics designer, and even a mortuary —that collectively showcase the innovation and creativity of women-owned businesses across Texas. 

In addition to funding, CWE has conducted more than 300 training sessions to equip women business owners with the skills, strategies, and resources needed to sustain a successful enterprise. The Center has also received a number of accolades and awards, including the Educate Award (2022) from the Denton Chamber of Commerce, as well as University of the Year (2025), Corporate Supporter of the Year (2024) and BIPOC Corporate Champion awards (2024) from the DEC Network.

Overview of CWE Programs

AccelerateHER
This immersive program fast-tracks early-stage, women-owned startups into scalable businesses. Six entrepreneurs are selected to participate in each cohort, gaining access to expert-led education and resources through CWE and its statewide partners.

To date, the rotating program has served women-owned businesses in Denton, Dallas, Houston, Abilene, Mission, Austin, and Corpus Christi.

Veteran Woman Grant
Designed to boost economic development, this grant supports innovative projects by veteran woman-owned small businesses across Texas.

Texas Rural Woman Grant
This grant empowers rural women entrepreneurs to pursue new ideas and expand business opportunities in underserved communities.

StartHER Grant
Aimed at startups, the StartHER Grant helps women-owned businesses launch innovative new initiatives and build early-stage momentum.

"According to the Office of the Governor, Texas is home to 1.3 million women owned businesses,” said Shannon Mantaro, Executive Director and Chief Officer for the Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership.“Clearly, investing in women entrepreneurs is a smart move for our state’s economic development. Over the past decade, CWE has proven that with the right resources and relationships, women will build businesses that thrive. We’re proud of the thousands  of women we’ve partnered with, and we can’t wait to meet the next generation of Texas changemakers. If you’re ready to take your vision to the next level, CWE is ready to help.”

Investing in Visionaries

From Dallas to Houston, from Abilene to Longview, the stories behind CWE grant recipients across Texas are as vibrant and varied as Texas itself. A few examples of recently awarded CWE grants include: Embody Health (Keller), a women’s health clinic offering holistic, compassionate care; Clean Eatz (College Station), a franchise promoting wellness through balanced meals and fitness education; ATX Supper Club (Austin), a dining adventure community creating inclusive connections through beautiful meals; and Rose Soiree (Corpus Christi), a creative floral studio specializing in events and workshops.

Grants awarded prior to 2025 have supported a host of innovative businesses across the state, such as Centro de Consejeria Familiar (Arlington), providing culturally sensitive counseling to Latino families; Copano Oyster Company (Austin), promoting sustainable coastal practices; and Game Theory TX (Fort Worth), a scratch kitchen and board game bar focused on community. Other CWE-supported businesses include boutique storefronts, youth education enterprises, a baby supply vending machine company, and a natural personal care product brand for people with chronic skin conditions.

A Legacy of Leadership

CWE is a flagship program of the Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership at Texas Woman’s University, the nation’s largest woman-focused university system. The Institute’s three centers—the Center for Student Leadership, the Center for Women in Government, and the Center for Women Entrepreneurs—are united by a common mission: preparing women to lead.

Upcoming Funding Opportunity

Applications for the StartHER Grant open August 26 and close September 26. These grants support women-owned startups in launching new initiatives and driving early-stage growth. Other grant programs—including those for veterans and rural entrepreneurs—will open in phases throughout the year.

For full eligibility and deadlines, visit https://twu.edu/center-women-entrepreneurs/grant-dates/.

ABOUT THE JANE NELSON INSTITUTE FOR WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP

The Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership at Texas Woman’s University is dedicated to preparing women for successful careers in business and public service.

Its three specialized centers—Center for Student Leadership, Center for Women Entrepreneurs and Center for Women in Government—ensure women have the education to establish careers as successful executives, the skills for building entrepreneurial businesses and the framework needed to excel in public service.

ABOUT TWU

Texas Woman’s University is the nation’s largest woman-focused university system with campuses in Denton, Dallas, and Houston. Founded in 1901, TWU has built a reputation on contributions in nursing, healthcare, education, the arts and sciences, and business. TWU’s inclusive culture prioritizes experiential learning, leadership, service, discovery, and health and well-being, and national media have recognized the university as a top college for student-parents, veterans, and social mobility. In 2023, TWU publicly launched Dream Big, a fundraising effort that has raised more than $160 million to date to support programming, equipment, scholarships, and faculty. To learn more about the campaign or the university, visit dreambig.twu.eduor twu.edu, or connect with TWU on Facebook @TexasWomansUniversity, Instagram @txwomans, Twitter @txwomans, and LinkedIn @texaswomansuniversity.

With new Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux and other dignitaries in attendance on June 3^rd, Uptown Dallas, Inc. (UDI) leaders introduced the community to a new space focused on ensuring Uptown remains the most vibrant and safe live/work/play community in the city. Opening in July at McKinney and Pearl Street, Uptown Dallas Inc. Safety Headquarters will be a dedicated operations hub designed to elevate how the nonprofit manages safety and security across the district. The headquarters will be built out to connect, respond and work alongside its partners, businesses, the Dallas Police and the Uptown Dallas Safety team to keep Uptown thriving. 

Noelle LeVeaux, interim UDI executive director, said, “The Uptown Dallas, Inc. Safety HQ is a proactive investment in visibility, coordination and public safety, not just for those who live here, but for everyone who interacts with Uptown every day. From our security team to the city teams and officers we collaborate with, this space strengthens how we operate and how we partner.”

Strategically located on the opposite end of Uptown from UDI’s main office, this space extends the organization’s reach and gives more presence and extra eyes and ears on the ground. 

Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux remarked, “The Dallas Police Department is proud to stand alongside Uptown Dallas Inc. in this important step forward. The Safety HQ will help strengthen how we work together, whether it’s through on-site collaboration, better communication, or a stronger presence in the field. It’s an investment in safety, and more importantly, in the people and places that make Uptown what it is.” 

Councilmember Paul Ridley added, “Uptown continues to raise the bar, not only in how it grows, but in how it plans for the future. The Safety HQ is a smart, strategic move that demonstrates leadership, partnership, and a real commitment to creating a safer, more connected community. I’m proud to support this project and the people behind it.”

Ramsey March, Chairman of Uptown Dallas Inc. and Executive Managing Director at Stream Realty, said, “Since Uptown Dallas Inc. was formed in 1993, we’ve seen over $5 billion in investment flow into this district sparked by developers, business owners, and property stakeholders who believe in Uptown’s potential. The Safety HQ is a smart, strategic enhancement to that investment. It gives stakeholders peace of mind that this district continues to be cared for, not just aesthetically and economically, but operationally.” 

The new UDI Safety HQ space will undergo renovations and updates to be outfitted with the following: 

• UDI security team, based there full-time, giving them a dedicated, central workspace.
• An onsite, live dispatcher to handle calls and help coordinate fast, effective responses.
• At full capacity, the space will feature monitors displaying live video feeds from throughout the district.
• Space to encourage teams like the Dallas Police Department and Homeless Outreach to hold meetings, collaborate, and spend more time working in the area. 

Uptown Dallas, Inc.

Founded in 1993, Uptown Dallas, Inc. (UDI) is a public improvement district spanning one square mile. UDI aims to increase the quality of life for the 19,000 residents Uptown, hundreds of businesses and property owners, and more than 50,000 workers. On any given weekday, as many as 100,000 people pass through the district. The organization also has a safety team working to keep people safe along with its maintenance team responsible for enhancements such as street lighting and landscaping. UDI hosts Pilates in the Park and Movies in the Park (at Griggs Park) and sponsors other community-wide events. For more information on Uptown Dallas, Inc., visit https://uptowndallas.net/. 

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Photos: Courtesy of Monika Normand Photography

Lyric Stage presented the 16^th annual Schmidt & Jones Awards on May 6 at Moody Performance Hall with students giving riveting performances.

Scott Guenther, Lyric Stage’s managing and co-artistic director, said, “Developed in 2010, this award is named after renowned composer Harvey Schmidt and lyricist Tom Jones to honor excellence in high school musical theatre across Dallas-Fort Worth. These students are exceptionally talented.”

The winners:

Best Actor in a Lead Role

Grapevine High School, Sweeney Todd – Maxwell Nelson as Sweeney Todd

Best Actress in a Lead Role

Grapevine High School, Sweeney Todd – Roslyn Ackermann as Mrs. Lovett

Supporting Actor

Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, The Addams Family – Matthew Grand as Fester Addams

Supporting Actress

Grapevine Faith Christian School, Newsies – Sienna Dudding as Medda Larkin

Actor in a Minor Role

Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, The Addams Family – Brett Martin as Lurch

Actress in a Minor Role

Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, The Addams Family – Kimora Caldwell as Grandma Addams

Male Ensemble Performer

Lakeview Centennial High School, Little Shop – Manny Gonzalez as Multiple Characters

Female Ensemble Performer

Liberty Christian School, Oliver – Avery Graham as Rose Seller, Orphan, Dancer

Best Stage Manager

Denton Guyer High School – Hadestown – Emmerson Biddick

Best Choreography

Liberty Christian School – Oliver – Presley Anderson & Gigi Plisga

Best Lighting Design

Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, The Addams Family – Olivia Assay, Anissa Campos

Parish Episcopal School, Chicago – Cooper Hardeman

Best Scenic Design

Coppell High School, Matilda – Ashrrita Sathish, Tsering Sherpa

Best Costume Design

Cedar Hill High School, Something Rotten – Morgan Akins, Nyilah McDaniel, Jaden Devezin

Best Orchestra

Rockwall Heath High School, Les Miserables

Best Ensemble

Denton Guyer High School – Hadestown

Best Show

Grapevine High School, Sweeney Todd

A panel of judges, consisting of theatre educators and professional theatre artists, viewed dozens of productions of the accepted applicants from schools in Dallas, Tarrant and Collin counties. The panel made nominations and then voted to determine winners. The directors of participating schools also received written production evaluations.

The judging panel, adjudicating and awards are organized and led by the director of the Schmidt and Jones Awards, Amy Stevenson, who is well-known in Dallas-Fort Worth as both an artist and educator.

About Lyric Stage: Lyric Stage, a Dallas-based 501c3 not-for-profit professional musical theatre company, was established in 1993 with the mission of the development and preservation of the musical, a unique art form. In its thirty-year history, Lyric Stage has produced over 125 productions, which include 21 world-premiere musicals and 2 Off-Broadway shows. For more information, visit www.lyricstage.org

The runway came alive on the evening of Friday, May 2, at Texas Woman’s University’s annual Senior Fashion Showcase, held at the Blagg-Huey Library. Hosted by the Division of Fashion Design and Merchandising, the event spotlighted the creativity, collaboration, and talent of graduating students in both design and merchandising. The evening featured two major components: a curated pop-up retail market designed by merchandising students and a high-energy runway show presenting collections of original designs by senior design students.

This year’s theme, Chateau Bordeaux, was inspired by the long-awaited return of TWU Fashion’s study abroad experience in Paris. Thirty students will head to France this May, marking the program’s first international trip since the pandemic.

“It’s a class students can choose for an elective," said Anna Magie, PhD, professor and division head, fashion design and merchandising. "It's only a week long, but they see all of the fashion sites within a week. The Louvre has an exhibit this year they've never had before called Louvre Couture, an exhibit 200 years in the making.”

In addition to celebrating senior creativity, the event serves as a capstone for students across every year and discipline of the program. Seniors in design and merchandising presented their final collections and retail concepts, juniors managed event planning, sophomores operated the retail market, and first-year students provided volunteer support.

"All senior students in fashion design and merchandising showcased their work,” said Remy Odukomaiya, MFA, lecturer, fashion design and merchandising. “It's good for the department because it shows a more rounded view of what we do, that we don't only make garments. We are also in the business of fashion."

Magie added, “The showcase blends design and merchandising, working together as it will happen in industry. A lot of other schools just design in one program, merchandise in another, maybe even fashion marketing in another. But we're all intertwined here, so I think it helps students when they graduate.”

About TWU: Texas Woman’s University is the nation’s largest woman-focused university system with campuses in Denton, Dallas and Houston. Founded in 1901, TWU has built a reputation on contributions in nursing, healthcare, education, the arts and sciences, and business. TWU’s inclusive culture prioritizes experiential learning, leadership, service, discovery and health and wellbeing, and national media have recognized the university as a top college for student-parents, veterans and social mobility. In 2023, TWU publicly launched Dream Big, a $125 million fundraising effort to support programming, equipment, scholarships and faculty. To learn more about the campaign or the university, visit dreambig.twu.edu or twu.edu, or connect with TWU on Facebook @TexasWomansUniversity, Instagram @txwomans, Twitter @txwomans, and LinkedIn @texaswomansuniversity.