As Texas Woman’s University Dallas Campus President Monica Christopher settles into her new office, word has just arrived about the 2024 Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award that will be presented to public education advocates Abby and Todd Williams at the “Dallas Leadership Luncheon.”
Todd is the founding chairman and CEO of The Commit Partnership, the nation’s “largest education collective impact organization with over 200 institutions … educating more than 790,000 students with a focus on improving post-secondary completion and economic mobility levels across the North Texas region and state overall.”
Having founded Dallas-based United To Learn (U2L), Abby has overseen the “transformation of the relationship between community and schools” with a “focus on accelerating literacy student achievement across 75 Dallas ISD elementary schools, with plans to expand to all District Title 1 elementaries over the next two years.”
According to TWU Chancellor Carine Feyten, “The Dallas Leadership Luncheon is a favorite moment for us each year. Not only is it an opportunity to recognize outstanding Dallas leaders like Abby and Todd Williams, it’s an opportunity to shine a spotlight on our amazing graduate programs and the importance of providing access to graduate studies for students from all walks of life.”
Considered TWU’s signature event generating funds for TWU graduate student scholarships, the occasion pays homage to the late TWU alumna/donor/university board of regents member Virginia Chandler Dykes, who died in 2022.
Taking place on Thursday, March 21, at the Dallas Arts District Mansion, the luncheon is being chaired by 2015 Award recipient Ralph Hawkins.
Other past recipients have included Lucy Billingsley, Arcilia Acosta, Cynt Marshall and Jennifer Staubach Gates.
A portion of the event proceeds are allocated to support the Virginia Chandler Dykes Endowment Scholarship Endowment, while the remaining proceeds provide scholarship funding for graduate students in each of the five Colleges at TWU.
With tickets going for $175, sponsorships begin at $1,500.
* Photo provided by Texas Woman's University
Lynn Davenport says
Sweet charity? Commit uses its funding to employ its 60+ workforce – where a multitude earn six figure salaries for what amounts to political lobbying and forced programs. They have unfettered access to private student data through “data sharing agreements” with Texas school districts. They are funded by Gates Foundation and Ballmer and TEA. Dig deeper.