Texas Women in Higher Education

At Texas Tech University
West Texas Regional Meeting

Monday, April 17, 2023 | 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, SUB Raider Ballroom

Parking will be available in R11 (Band Parking Lot - South of the Student Union Building).

Register Your Vehicle for Free Event Parking

 

Speaker Information

Dr. Christine Self
Director, Family Outreach & Engagement, Parent & Family Relations, Texas Tech University

Christine Self, Ph.D. is the Director of Parent & Family Relations and an Instructor for Women's & Gender Studies at Texas Tech University. Her research interests are family engagement in higher education and gender equity in higher education. Christine is a proud 2nd-generation Red Raider who holds three degrees from the University, including a doctorate in Higher Education Research and a graduate certificate in Women's and Gender Studies.

Lynn Whitfield, M.A.
Archivist, Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library, Texas Tech University

B. Lynn Whitfield, M.A., serves as the University Archivist for Texas Tech University. She received her bachelor's degree in Art from Mercer University, focusing in the area of watercolor and mixed media, and her master's degree in Museum Science from Texas Tech University, with a minor in art history. Since 2004, she has held national archival certification through the Academy of Certified Archivists. She is co-editor of two books on popular culture – James Bond in World and Popular Culture: The Films are Not Enough (2010) and Python Beyond Python: Critical Engagements with Culture (2017) - and is working on a third book about the home management house program in Texas. Currently, she serves as the Associate Director of the West Texas Historical Association, the second oldest historical association in Texas; President of the Lubbock Heritage Society; and is an appointed member of Recertification Petition Team for the Academy of Certified Archivists.

Dr. Angela Lumpkin
Professor & Department Chair, Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management, Texas Tech University

Angela Lumpkin, Ph.D., is a professor and Chair of the Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management at Texas Tech University. Previously, she served as Dean of the School of Education at the University of Kansas, Distinguished Visiting Professor at the United States Military Academy, Dean of the School of Education at State University of West Georgia, Head of the Department of Physical Education at North Carolina State University, and professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she also served for three years as the head women's basketball coach. Dr. Lumpkin is the author of 26 books, including Introduction to Physical Education, Exercise Science, and Sport currently in its 11th edition, Practical Ethics in Sport Management, Sport Ethics: Applications for Fair Play and Modern Sport Ethics: A Reference Handbook. She is the author of 13 book chapters and over 85 peer-reviewed publications and has delivered over 200 professional presentations including 25 invited lectures and keynote addresses. She was the 2008-2009 Gene A. Budig Teaching Professor in the School of Education at the University of Kansas and named to the Texas Tech University Teaching Academy in 2016. She received the North American Society for Sport Management's Distinguished Educator Award in 2018. She received the President's Excellence in Teaching Award at Texas Tech University in 2019 and the Chancellor's Council Distinguished Teaching Award in 2022. She holds a B.S.E. from the University of Arkansas, M.A. and Ph.D. from Ohio State University, and a M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Dr. Andrea Romi
Clark and Lois Webster Associate Professor of Accounting, Rawls College of Business, Texas Tech University

Andrea Romi, Ph.D., holds the Webster Endowed Professorship in Business Administration, is an Associate Professor within the School of Accounting, and serves as the Co-Director of Inclusive Excellence for the Rawls College of Business at Texas Tech University. After receiving both her undergraduate and master's degrees in accounting from the University of Missouri, Andrea went on to earn her PhD from the University of Arkansas. Her research incorporates mixed methodological approaches and focuses on the area of critical social and environmental accounting, examining the role of accounting in the social and environmental phenomena facing the world. Andrea is a member of, and holds various positions with CSEAR, the Center for Social and Environmental Accounting Research, a world-recognized, global community of scholars engaging students, activists, practitioners, policy makers and other interested groups to generate and disseminate knowledge on social and environmental accounting and accountability.

Dr. Gerardine (Gerri) G. Botte
Professor and Whitacre Chair, Chemical Engineering Whitacre College of Engineering; Director, CASFER (NSF Engineering Research Center)

Gerardine (Gerri) Botte, Ph.D., is a Professor, the Whitacre Department Chair in Chemical Engineering at Texas Tech University (TTU) and the Founding Director of the National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center for Advancing Sustainable and Distributed Fertilizer Production, CASFER. She has over 24 years of experience in the development of electrochemical processes as they related to the intersection of energy, water, and food sustainability. She is a visionary and a recognized leader in electrochemical science and technology. She has served in leadership roles for both the International Society of Electrochemistry and the Electrochemical Society and is currently the Senior Vice President of the Electrochemical Society. In 2014, she was named a Fellow of the Electrochemical Society for her contributions and innovation in electrochemical processes and engineering. She became a Chapter Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors in 2012. Dr. Botte has 207 publications including peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, and 61 granted patents. Dr. Botte and members of her research group are working on the foundation of applying electrochemical engineering principles for advanced and sustainable manufacturing, process intensification, food/energy/water sustainability, and nanomaterials with expertise in electro-synthesis, batteries, electrolyzers, sensors, fuel cells, mathematical modeling, and electro-catalysis. Dr. Botte is also an entrepreneur, she has been involved in the commercialization of technologies, has founded and co-founded companies, and serves as board of director in several companies. She received her Ph.D. in 2000 (under the direction of Dr. Ralph E. White) and M.E. in 1998, both in Chemical Engineering, from the University of South Carolina. Prior to graduate school, Dr. Botte worked as a process engineer in a petrochemical plant; she was involved in the production of fertilizers and polymers. Dr. Botte received her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Universidad de Carabobo (Venezuela) in 1994.

Professor Wendy Tolson
Professor of Law; Director, Family Law and Housing Clinic; Director, Diversity, Texas Tech University

Wendy Tolson Ross, J.D., is a tenured Professor of Law and has taught at Texas Tech University for almost 18 years. She is the Director of the Family Law and Housing Clinic, and teaches Topics in Family Law, and Race and Racism. She also assisted with Bar Preparation at the Texas Tech School of Law for 7 years. Before joining the faculty at Texas Tech University, Professor Ross was an Instructor of Clinical Law at St. Mary's University for six years, and Acting Associate Director for Academic Excellence for two years. Prior to entering legal education, she worked at West Texas Legal Services for almost eight years as a staff attorney.

Professor Ross has served as a member and an officer on numerous boards and organizations. Some of these include: President of the Mexican American Bar Association, Secretary of the TTU/TTUHSC Black Faculty and Staff Association, and Parliamentarian of the TTU Faculty Senate, TTU Law School Diversity Equity & Inclusion Director and Chair of the TTU Law School Diversity Equity & Inclusion Committee. She has also been a member of numerous boards and organizations. These organizations include: Texas Tech University Mentor Tech, YWCA, State of Texas Court Reporter's Certification Board, State Bar of Texas Legal Services to the Poor In Civil Matters Committee, Women's Protective Services, South Plains Association of Government Dispute Resolution Committee, Juneteenth Committee, and the National Association of Colored People (NAACP).

Professor Ross has also received many honors and awards in her career. Some of these awards are: the TTU Inclusive Excellence Award, member of TTU President's Leadership Institute Inaugural class, Mentor of the Year Award and Match the Year Award from Mentor Tech, John Crews Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year Award and the George Woods NAACP Award for outstanding legal services.

Wendoli Flores, M.A.
Director, Prestigious External Student Awards, Texas Tech University

Wendoli Flores, M.A., serves as the director of the Office of Prestigious External Student Awards, dedicated to providing guidance and support for all high achieving students at Texas Tech University as they compete for national and international awards across all disciplines. The scholarships and fellowships are for creative, motivated, academically strong students who are leaders in and out of the classroom. In 2004 and 2011, Wendoli earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with international emphasis and a Master of Arts in Spanish Literature from Texas Tech University. She began her career at TTU in the Office of Institutional Advancement and served in her role from 2005 to 2009. During this time, she was awarded the TTU Quality Service Award. During her graduate studies, Wendoli served as a graduate instructor of Spanish. After earning her master's degree, she joined the Office of the Vice President for Research and worked alongside the VPR as an Executive Associate from 2011 to 2015. Wendoli has participated in several Leadership Women programs throughout her career. She is a graduate of the 2009 Power Pipeline leadership class and has served on the Power Pipeline Committee of the Board. In 2013, she graduated from the Leadership Texas program. Most recently, Wendoli participated in the 2019-20 President's Leadership Institute. In 2021, she was selected as a President's Award of Excellence recipient.

Outside of work, Wendoli enjoys quality time with her family. She and her husband Adam are the proud parents of three children, Adan (a first-year TTU student), Alexandria and Noah. She remains active in her church and enjoys reading about the saints and their spiritual journeys.

Sandra Addo, M.A.
Co-Director Diversity & Recruitment; Davis College of Agriculture, Texas Tech University

The first-born child of Ghanian immigrant parents, Sandra Addo, M.A., has navigated both language and cultural barriers on her path to success. Her journey into the higher education world stemmed from the challenges she encountered through her first-generation journey and her desire to uplift others struggling through the same obstacles.

A Red Raider through and through, Sandra received both her bachelors (Marketing) and masters (Strategic Communication) from Texas Tech University. Her masters research centered around the impact of media representation on underrepresented women, unpacking harmful stigmas and their impact on self-image and self-worth. She's used that research as a means for developing programming to combatting the negative effects of those harmful stigmas and giving women the chance to define themselves.

In her professional career, she's helped hundreds of first generation and continuing generation students navigate their way through their own educational journeys. On campus, she currently serves as the Program Manager for Diversity & Graduate Student Recruitment in Davis College. In her role in Davis College, she's worked to develop the inaugural Davis College Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee, charged with drafting a Strategic DEI plan for the college. Additionally, she's worked with a variety of colleagues to develop programming to advance the mission of inclusion and empowerment for students, staff, and faculty in the college.

Outside of the college, Sandra serves as President for the Staff Senate, serving as figurehead for elected staff senators and liaison between over 3000 staff members and university administration. Furthermore, she sits on the Board of Directors for the newly formed Texas Women's Alliance. In 2022, Sandra completed the Texas Tech University Presidential Leadership Institute and was awarded the Davis College Outstanding Staff Member. Her life mission is advocacy and empowerment for those who haven't yet found their voice.

Dr. Heather Greenhalgh-Spencer
Associate Dean, Graduate School, Texas Tech University

Heather Greenhalgh-Spencer, Ph.D., is an Associate Dean of the Graduate School at Texas Tech University. Her Associate Dean role focuses on Academic Programming Development and Evaluation. Additionally, she oversees ten graduate programs that are housed in TTU Graduate School. Prior to this role, she served as Associate Department Chair of the Curriculum Instruction Department. She has also served in the role of Program Coordinator and Director of the Curriculum and Instruction “general” Master's Degree and PhD degree programs. She also served as the Curriculum Director for the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. She has served, and continues to serve, as the Program Coordinator and Director of the program in Blended and Personalized Learning. Her research emerges at the intersection of Educational Technology, Pedagogical Innovation, Personalized Learning, Diversity and Equity Issues, and Global Studies. Greenhalgh-Spencer explores practices of using technology and pedagogical innovation to create engaged learning in both formal and informal learning spaces, and in both national and global contexts. She also examines issues of access to educational opportunity (specifically in technology-related contexts) and the STEM pipeline. Her work aims to generate and refine theory as well as guide best practices.

Kyla Olson, M.F.A.
Associate Professor of Practice, School of Theatre and Dance, Texas Tech University

Kyla Olson, M.F.A., is an Associate Professor of Practice in the School of Theatre and Dance at Texas Tech University. She currently serves as the Head of Dance and is the faculty advisor for Chi Tau Epsilon, a philanthropic dance student organization. Kyla proudly serves as a member of the School of Theatre & Dance's Anti-Racism & Inclusion Working Group. Her creative research includes work as a choreographer and director in concert dance, musical theatre, operas, and devised work. In August 2022, Kyla had the honor of creating choreography for Texas Tech University's Centennial Celebration, Eyes on the Horizon.

Kyla has worked extensively for Lubbock Moonlight Musicals as a choreographer since 2010. She has choreographed over 25 of their productions like White Christmas, The King and I, Fiddler on the Roof, Peter Pan, Little Shop of Horrors, Oklahoma!, Grease, and Hairspray. In 2013, Olson directed and choreographed their production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Kyla served as the Executive Director, as well as a choreographer and performer, for Flatlands Dance Theatre from 2010-2018.

Olson holds a BFA in Dance from West Texas A&M University and an MFA in Dance from Sam Houston State University. She has also presented original choreography and taught master classes across the state over the past decade, including teaching and presenting original choreography at the American College Dance Association festival and the National Dance Education Organization Conference. Kyla is also an ABT® Certified Teacher in Pre-Primary-Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum and has her 200-Hour Yoga Certification.

Carmen Evans
Student Government; Women and Gender Studies; Rawls College of Business, Texas Tech University

Carmen Evans grew up in Lubbock, Texas and is a Senior in the Rawls College of Business where she is an Accounting major with minors in Women's & Gender Studies and Political Science. Driven by her love for Texas Tech and the Lubbock community, Carmen stives to create a more equitable campus and to improve the experience of all Red Raiders. During her time as a Senator, she focused her efforts on making campus more equitable by working to augment the services surrounding Supplemental Instruction and advocating for the addition of gender-neutral restrooms on campus. As Journal Clerk, Carmen serves by promoting transparency between the students and the legislative branch Texas Tech Student Government and supporting other members within the organization. Outside of Student Government, Carmen works as a Student Building Manager at the Student Union Building and as Teaching Assistant for the Seminar in Business Leadership while also participating in other student organizations and programs. Carmen serves as the President of the Association of Latino Professionals for America and is a member of the Rawls Dean's Student Council.

Keynote Panelists:

Dr. Linda Kornasky
Chair, Angelo State University Gender Studies Committee, Anglo State University

Linda Kornasky, Ph.D., is one of the founders of the Gender Studies program at Angelo State University (member of the Texas Tech University System). The Angelo State Gender Studies program proudly celebrated its ten-year anniversary last year. She and the other founding members of the program were inspired and encouraged to create it by TTU's excellent Women and Gender Studies Program. Dr. Kornasky is Professor of English in the Natalie Zan Ryan Department of English and Modern Languages. Her teaching interests include women's literature and gender studies, and her research focuses on Texan women writers Katherine Anne Porter and Dorothy Scarborough, as well as other early twentieth-century women novelists.

Dr. Brandy Piña-Watson
Associate Professor of Counseling Psychology, Department of Psychological Sciences; Associate Director of Women and Gender Studies at Texas Tech University.

Brandy Piña-Watson, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Counseling Psychology in the Department of Psychological Sciences and the Associate Director of Women and Gender Studies at Texas Tech University. She received her Master's in Psychology from Texas A&M University Kingsville in 2008 and her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology in 2014 from Texas A&M University. Dr. Piña-Watson's scholarly work focuses on identifying individual, familial, cultural, and societal factors that promote resilience against the negative impact of stress on Latinx adolescent and emerging adult depression, suicidal ideation and behaviors, well-being, and academic outcomes. Her work primarily focuses on the Mexican descent population living within the United States. Dr. Piña-Watson's research agenda takes a holistic and resilience approach that acknowledges the complexity and intersection of various identities and contexts as they pertain to Latinx well-being and mental health disparities. Dr. Piña-Watson has received numerous awards for her scholarship and service, including Hispaña Inspiradora Award from the Hispanic Association of Women; the President's Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award, Phenomenal Woman Award, First-Year Student Advocate Award, and the Outstanding Research Mentor Award from Texas Tech University; as well as the Cynthia de las Fuentes Dissertation Award and the Distinguished Early Career Award from the National Latinx Psychological Association. Dr. Piña-Watson also has served as a fellow in the NIH Steps Toward Academic Research Program, the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education Faculty Fellows Program, the Council of National Psychological Associations for the Advancement of Ethnic Minority Interests Leadership Development Fellows Program representing the National Latinx Psychological Association, as well as in the Women Faculty Writing Program and Institute for Inclusive Excellence at Texas Tech University.

Dr. Linda Veazey
Chair/Associate Professor, Political Science; Coordinator for Women's and Gender Studies; pre-law advisor; Co-faculty director of the Model United Nations team; Midwestern State University

Linda Veazey, Ph.D. is the chair of Political Science and founder of the Women's and Gender Studies program at Midwestern State University. She holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Southern California and sat on the board of directors for Amnesty International USA for five years. Her research examines the how gender human rights are implemented globally and locally in law and policy. She is the author of A Woman's Right to Culture: Towards Gendered Cultural Rights and has published in the journals Judicature and The Journal of Human Rights Practice. She lives and teaches in Wichita Falls, Texas. On campus she serves in multiple roles including as a Title IX investigator and serves as the faculty advisor for Amnesty International, and the co-advisor of Model United Nations. She is active in the community with organizations like the League of Women Voters and serves as a foster parent.