By Rissa Potter, TWHE Board Member
Since 2007, TWHE has steadily increased in membership and enthusiasm through hosting an annual conference for senior women administrators in higher education across the state. The 2011 conference continued the momentum, with approximately 160 women attending the three-day event in Austin. Driven by the theme, “Women in the Driver’s Seat: Navigating the Political Road Ahead,” participants networked and heard from colleagues across the state while absorbing real-time activity at the Capitol as the biennial legislative session approached its concluding days.
The conference opened Sunday afternoon, April 3, featuring a legislative primer panel presentation with legislative and governmental relations professionals sharing insight into the Texas legislative process. Discussion included an overview of pertinent bills before the legislature and a summary of the appropriations process. Carol McDonald, President, Independent Colleges and University of Texas, Inc. moderated the panel with Ray Martinez, Chief of Staff/General Counsel with Senator Judith Zaffirini; Rochonda Farmer-Neal, Director of Government Relations, Baylor University; Laura Hartmann, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Governmental Relations and Academic Affairs, University of Texas System; and Linda Young, Special Assistant to the President for External Affairs, Austin Community College. We appreciate their time with us during their busiest time of year!
Monday morning began bright and early at the Capitol with an opportunity to hear from legislators directly involved in guiding higher education legislation. Their time with us is proof-positive of their continued role as champions of Texas higher education! Participating in the panel were the Honorable Judith Zaffirini, Chair, Senate Higher Education Committee and Member Senate Finance Committee; the Honorable Dan Branch, Chair, House Higher Education Committee; member Calendars, Elections, Redistricting; the Honorable Joaquin Castro, Vice Chair, House Higher Education Committee; member, Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence; and the Honorable Geanie Morrison, Vice Chair, Human Services; member Appropriations, and Former Chair, House Higher Education.
Following time to participate in a guided tour of the Capitol and convene at the hotel ballroom, TWHE conference participants were provided welcoming comments from Denise Trauth, President, Texas State University-San Marcos, TWHE Presidential Sponsor. Opening speaker was the Honorable Susan Combs, Comptroller, State of Texas. Personal stories and guidance were provided by Diana Natalicio, President, University of Texas-El Paso; Donetta Goodall, Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs and Student Success, Lone Star College System; and Kathy Wright, Senior Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships, & Interim Vice President for University Development, Baylor University.
The afternoon ended all too quickly, but not before attendees boarded buses to attend a fiesta-themed reception at the beautiful University of Texas System’s Bauer House, hosted by Chancellor Francisco and Graciela Cigarroa. An additional late-night networking opportunity greeted conferees back at the Omni, with conversations starting around which rich dessert item to select.
We met eagerly on Tuesday at breakfast, with Betty Young, President, Houston Community College District-Coleman College, TWHE Presidential Sponsor, conducting an informal discussion on issues facing higher education. If you were not awake before the morning keynote began, you certainly were on the edge of your seat only minutes into the presentation as Audrey Selden, Senior Associate Commissioner for Consumer Protection at the Texas Department of Insurance, directed attendees to stand and cheer while advancing their networking skills.
Six break-out sessions were offered, on topics ranging from accountability, to shared governance, to technological change. We reconvened a final time for lunch with remarks provided by Madlyn L. Hanes, Vice-President for Commonwealth Campuses, The Pennsylvania State University and Immediate Past Chair, Office of Women in Higher Education’s State Network Executive Board.
Amid promises of “staying in touch” and “let’s get together soon”, the 2011 TWHE conference attendees returned to their respective campuses, eager as always to encourage promotion of this worthwhile organization.