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University Woman Texas
Volume 77 l Issue 1 l October 2025
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AAUW Texas President’s Message
By Pam Wolfe
Once again, your AAUW Texas president responsibilities have shifted. I became the primary co-president on July 1, and Malinda Gaul will become the primary co-president on January 1.
You can still reach me at the common president email: aauwtxpres@gmail.com.
Strategic Plan
As most of you know, AAUW adopted a new strategic plan and asked state and branches to align with this new vision. At the state board meeting in July, we reviewed the AAUW Texas strategic plan and made significant changes to align Texas with the national vision. In addition to alignment, the goal was to support branches as they work to achieve one, more, or all five stars. You can view the new AAUW Texas strategic plan on the website.
AAUW Structure
Whether at the national, state or branch level, we become accustomed to what our board structures look like and forget that they haven’t always been this way.
About 25 years ago AAUW Texas under President Pat Ross (2004-2006) underwent a significant restructuring. Among other things, this is when the districts and district representatives, originally called district directors, were established. Two of your current co-presidents, Ann Berasley and I worked on that project along with Jackie Littleton from the Tyler Branch.
In those intervening years a lot has changed. Technology – what would we do without ZOOM, electronic payments, or email that sends a large document across the state in seconds? The AAUW membership – both in terms of fewer branches – now less than 25 active branches, fewer members, and more members hesitant to take on leadership roles. On top of that, AAUW’s strategic plan and vision – though not the mission.
Taking all this into consideration, the AAUW Texas board voted this summer to propose a new board structure to the membership. The proposal streamlines the board and aligns it more closely with national. While AAUW Texas is using the term “branch services” rather than advancement, this vice-president is a combination of membership and AAUW Funds. The public policy chair becomes a vice-president, keeping the total number of vice-presidents at three. The board anticipates a greater use of committees and encourages all branch members to consider serving on a committee, if not on the board itself.
The changes are proposed now rather than at the biennial meeting in April 2026, so that it can go into effect with the next set of elections and the nominating committee can begin its work. Every member received notice of the proposal and a ballot by email or by USPS if we have no email address. The membership voted overwhelmingly in favor of the changes. The new structure can be found on the website.
Pam Wolfe
President (July 1 - December 31)
AAUW Texas
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CALL FOR STATE BOARD NOMINATIONS
The recent bylaws changes were approved. The Executive Board now consists of:
· President
· Program Vice President
· Branch Services Vice President
· Public Policy Vice President
· Secretary
· Finance Chair
District Representatives (each of the three districts will vote for their District Representative).
All other board positions are appointed. The Communications Team is an off-board position.
THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE CONSISTES OF:
Marsi Liddell, Chair - Georgetown Branch
Please send nominations to her.
Barbara Cager, Alternate Chair - Tarrant County Branch
Brenda Van Derbur – South District Representative
Cherly Fuller – Central District Representative
Sara Wood – North District Representative
Charolotte Dunham – West District Representative
The Nomination Packet may be found at:
https://aauw-tx.aauw.net/files/2025/09/AAUW-Texas-Nomination-Packet-2025.docx
The updated Job Descriptions will be available no later than October 15, 2025.
https://aauw-tx.aauw.net/files/2025/09/AAUW-Texas-Job-Descriptions.docx
ALL NOMINATIONS ARE DUE NOVEMBER 15, 2025.
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CALL FOR BYLAW PROPOSALS
In the second year of the AAUW Texas Biennium, the state asks members/branches for State Bylaw Proposals. All submissions are due to the state by November 15, 2025. Proposals should be submitted via email at: AAUWTXPres@gmail.com.
All submissions should include the new text for bylaw and with rationalization for the change.
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Texas Legislative Update
It was a long summer for Texas legislators. The first special session of the 89th Texas Legislature began on July 21 with Governor Greg Abbott setting an 18-item agenda. While some senate bills advanced, the House had limited action due to lack of quorum. Both chambers adjourned on August 15. Governor Abbott immediately called a second special session.
This new session included all of the 18 original agenda items, plus camp safety following the July 4th flood tragedy. Bill numbers changed from the 1st to 2nd sessions causing confusion when the public wanted to weigh in on an issue. Governor Abbott expanded the agenda twice during the 2nd session ending up with 25 items. Could that much be accomplished within the 30-day window of a special session? Our legislators rushed through the legislative process on several major items, with very short hearings or no hearings at all.
The AAUW TX priority bills that we supported that passed:
- SB 9 Eliminate STAAR Test.
- SB 11 Protect Human Trafficking Victims.
Bills we opposed that passed:
- SB 7 passed after significant changes were made further restricting access to abortion pills.
- SB 8 Protect Women’s Spaces / HB 32 Bathroom Bill.
- SB 12 Expanding Attorney General’s power regarding election enforcement.
One priority bill we opposed, SB 13 Community Censorship Bill relating to the use by a political subdivision of public funds for lobbying activities, passed the Senate, but did not get out of committee in the House. We’ll likely see this bill again in future sessions. It would bar local governments such as, public school districts, cities, and counties from using taxpayer dollars to hire lobbyists. It would ban local governments from advocating for their jurisdiction’s issues at the Legislature. They would not be able to advocate concerning what’s best or what’s harmful to their public schools or communities. In contrast the legislation would NOT restrict lobbying efforts by private schools. It would not apply to charter schools, private schools receiving public funds through Education Savings Account vouchers, nor the associations that represent those schools.
Now it is time to turn our attention to the
November Constitutional Amendment Special
Election – November 4, 2025
The November 4, 2025 election will feature Texas state constitutional amendments. Texans will vote on 17 proposed amendments. Constitutional amendments are the only ballot propositions on the state level and will appear at the top of voters’ ballots, above any local races or measures.
Deadlines to keep in mind for the November 4 election:
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Monday, October 20, 2025: First day of early voting in person.
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Friday, October 31, 2025: Last day of early voting in person.
Important dates for those who vote by mail:
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Friday, October 24, 2025: Last day to apply for ballot by mail. Received, not postmarked.
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Tuesday, November 4, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.: Last day to Receive Ballot by Mail if carrier envelope is not postmarked, OR Wednesday, November 5, 2025 (next business day after Election Day) by 5:00 p.m. if carrier envelope is postmarked by 7:00 p.m. on November 4.
Your vote has more impact in this election since turn-out is expected to be low. Only 14% of eligible voters voted in the last Constitutional election.
The Texas amendment process is entirely legislative. Every single amendment must begin in the Texas Legislature, pass with a two-thirds vote in both chambers, and then be submitted to voters. The result is a state constitution that functions more like a super-sized law book than a foundational charter of governing principles. Once part of the constitution, an amendment is hard to remove.
Go to the polls prepared. Digital Voter Guides from the League of Women Voters are available at VOTE411.org. These guides provide helpful nonpartisan explanations with pros and cons for all of the constitutional amendment propositions. Another resource is The Texas Tribune. https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/22/texas-statewide-propositions-november-ballot-election/
Many of the propositions include significant tax cuts for property, homeowners and businesses. Most of us like tax cuts. Many of us want to support public schools. Some budget analysts and legislators are concerned that more tax cuts, especially those affecting school district taxes could be unsustainable and have a negative impact on how much public school funding is available in the future.
If you can, vote early. Set aside October 28th to vote. It is Vote Early Day started in 202O as a nonpartisan movement of businesses, nonprofits, and election administrators working to ensure all Americans have the tools to vote early. In 2024, 65% of voters voted early: 30% voting by mail and 35% of voters casting ballots.
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Five Star Spoilers
by Debbie Campbell and Margie Poole
Next state-wide Programs & Funds officer Zoom meeting: Tuesday,
November 11, at 7 pm*
Watch for the Zoom link the week of the meeting.
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Join Us on Zoom
Join us on Tuesday, November 11, at 7 pm to learn easy ways to get 1 (out of just 3 total) steps closer to your FY26 Advancement Star:
• Recruit at least one Legacy Circle
member from your branch in FY26
Jackie Littleton, who is on the national Legacy Circle Team, will share her expertise on checking this box.
Spoiler 1: Notice that you just need to recruit one person from your branch.
Spoiler 2: They won’t even need to talk to an attorney.
Jackie has been updating the long list of Legacy Circle Members in Texas. Wouldn’t it be nice if your branch’s current Legacy Circle members offered to help you expand this list?
Six Branches, Five Stars, But…
Recently, our State Co-President Pam Wolfe wrote, “Only [six Texas branches,] Austin, San Antonio, Northeast Tarrant County, North Harris County, West Harris County and Fort Bend County received all Five Stars for FY 25.”
Even more impressive, as Pam’s color-coded table shows below, a total of 13 Texas branches earned one or more stars. (Two other branches, Houston Branch and Southwest Dallas County Branch, turned in their report but did not qualify for any stars.) For reference, currently, Texas has slightly more than 20 branches.
What happened with Advancement (i.e., Funds and Membership), though? Notice that only 6 out of the 15 reporting branches achieved an Advancement star. However, every branch that won an Advancement star got all five stars. I think, if we keep our eye on how our branch’s Funds and Membership numbers compare with National’s FY26 Five Star requirements, we can improve this disparity.
Spoiler 3: Watch your email for easy ways to do that.
| *If you have questions about Funds or would like to receive meeting announcements for state-wide Funds officers, contact Funds Vice President (Life Member, Houston and West Harris County Branches). | | Northeast Tarrant County Branch Legacy Circle | |
We welcomed Jill Jaynes as our first 2025 Legacy Circle Member in May.
This is what Jill wrote re why she decided to join Legacy Circle. As I said at the time, Jill had been in our AAUW branch the least amount years than any other Legacy Circle Member!
I joined AAUW-NETC after attending the holiday brunch\auction in 2023. I was introduced to the organization through Sue Traver who, at the time, was the editor of the monthly newsletter. I loved the next several months, learning more about the organization and learning from the fascinating guest speakers we had at each branch meeting.
After retiring from a long career in HR, I struggled finding a non-profit organization that mirrored a lot of the work I had done in my 40 years as an executive with companies like Albertsons and RadioShack. Most of my career was concentrating on advancing women into management positions, creating mentorship programs and being the “employee advocate.” I really felt like the mission and advocacy of AAUW reflected that work.
With a mom who was an English teacher and a dad who was a Methodist minister, I also found a lot of similarities in my core values, which also aligned with AAUW.
After 6 months, I happily accepted the responsibility of Newsletter Editor for our branch, after Sue moved into the co-President’s role. I LOVE engaging in that way! I also love getting to know everyone better through our birthday celebrations, Confetti, and I look forward to joining more Interest groups.
Fast forward to the changes happening in today’s climate, I want to continue to “give back” to an organization and continue its work regarding equity, inclusion and advancement of women. That has led me to the decision to join Legacy Circle.
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We welcomed our second 2025 Legacy Circle member Amy Vozar at the August branch meeting.
Amy has been a member of our branch for about 10 years but had previously been a member in Midland, Texas. This is what Amy wrote about why she decided to join Legacy Circle.
I first joined AAUW in Midland, Texas back in October 1982. My neighbor invited me because while there were women of all ages, they had an active group of younger women and several interest groups that dealt with our children by providing support groups for the various ages. Of course, what I also discovered was that this was a group of highly educated and motivated women from many different backgrounds, interests, and professions. I was an active member of this branch until we were transferred to Bedford, Texas during the energy crisis in 1987.
I graduated in 1976 with a degree in Elementary Education from the University of Northern Colorado. I have always loved working with children, and most of my jobs and volunteering have been child oriented. I kept reinventing myself around children from teaching to being the director of the 3rd grade Heritage Program at the Old Bedford School until 2015.
Throughout these busy years, I had kept up with the local AAUW branch in the paper and came across an article about their activities with KEYS. I realized rejoining this fine group was the thing I needed to do, and getting involved in the KEYS Committee would be my next way of doing something for kids. So, I brought myself to a meeting in the spring of 2015 and joined AAUW once again.
I have found a wonderful, active group of women and made many friends. I enjoyed working and helping with all the KEYS activities and have especially loved volunteering with every STEAM event. Being involved with several of our interest groups helps me meet new people and keeps me engaged. The mission of supporting and empowering women through all our different ways is something that I feel very proud to be a part of. It’s why I have thought about and ultimately decided that I needed to join the Legacy Circle as my way of helping to keep this great organization going in their fight for education, economic security, and advocacy for all women. And in the end, I have found the benefit to myself, and in fact to all my fellow members, is the support and encouragement that we provide for each other.
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Legacy Circle members attending August 2025 AAUW NETC meeting.
Left to right back row:
Diane Siegel, Marilyn Matthews, Jill Jaynes, Meg Sprenkle, Ilze Kalnajs
Left to right front row:
Martha Ragsdale, Mary Ann Goetz, Gloria Long, Rosemary Jobe, Amy Vozar, Pat Lucas, Gayle Smith, Margaret Martin, Pat Cheong, Lynn Millner
Center front: Betty Chang
16 of our 31 AAUW NETC Legacy Circle members.
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Counterpart Zooms 7:00 pm
Everyone is invited to attend.
Contact aauwtxpres@gmail.com for the Zoom link.
October 16 (Thursday) – Public Policy Mini-Session
SEE ABOVE FOR REGISTRATION
Georgia Kimmel
November 10 (Monday) – Finance/Membership
Vickie Natale
November 11 (Tuesday) – Programs/Funds
Cheri Butler
Debbie Campbell
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NCCWSL 2025 Conference
May 28 - May 30, 2025
Michele Taylor, West Harris County Branch, Secretary
Texas State College/University Partners Representative
The AAUW Texas Branch awarded 14 SHARE Scholarships for students from 5 colleges to attend the 2025 National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL). NCCWSL is now being coordinated by NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. The students were chosen by their Academic Advisors and were accompanied to the conference by Michele Taylor and Glenda Higgins who are members of the West Harris County Branch. It was a pleasant experience to spend time with and get to know such a diverse group of young ladies from Texas A&M University, Texas Southern University, Texas Wesleyan University, Prairie View A&M University, and Del Mar College. I was honored to present a session on the Importance of Mentoring, and it was an actual presentation of Mentor/Mentee relationship. I invited four students (Alexandra Bennett, Katherine Hernandez, Kerianna Chambers and Kenadi Walker) to assist in making the session come alive by being my co-presenters.
The NCCWSL Conference was very inspiring and the students were mature and professional throughout the weekend. The students came away from the conference with increased confidence, motivation, knowledge, and inspiration to embark upon new opportunities that will enhance their future careers. The students submitted reports expressing the impact the conference had on their outlook for personal and professional life. Below are excerpts from each student’s report that conveys their experiences.
Maira Athar, Texas A&M University. Attending the 2025 National Conference for College Women Student Leaders was a once in a lifetime experience that gave me both practical tools and new ways of thinking about leadership, career planning, and personal finance that I can apply throughout my career to achieve financial literacy and independence. This ties directly into my role as director of finance for our AAUW campus chapter for the 2025-2026 academic year. NCCWSL created the perfect environment to not just “connect” with peers but have genuine meaningful shared experiences and memories. The TerpZone and touring the city allowed us to create time for fun with real connections. We are planning a financial literacy workshop on budgeting and salary negotiation using a breakout session manual. We are also proposing a mentorship network that matches students’ academic and leadership interests.
Alexandra Bennett, Texas Wesleyan. The breakout session “Transitioning from College to Corporate Girly’’ helped me recognize I am equipped to transition from my upcoming college graduation to the upcoming work world. Additionally, I had the opportunity to help lead a presentation based on the importance of mentorship and being a mentee. This experience was encouraging because I am usually shy. It was empowering to take charge and lead the room in such an important presentation. I thank AAUW for my growth, the new challenges, and networking opportunities. This was a wonderful experience that was life changing.
Kaila Cavazos-Guerra, Del Mar College. I am returning to my college community with a renewed sense of purpose and a wealth of knowledge and inspiration. I’m committed to implementing what I’ve learned and creating opportunities for others to lead, grow, and thrive. Whether through organizing events, mentoring peers, or advocating for policy changes on campus, I’m motivated to make a tangible impact. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to attend NCCWSL. It was not only enjoyable and enriching but also deeply meaningful. This experience has fueled my determination to lead with courage, authenticity, and compassion—and I’m excited to see where this journey will take me next.
Keriana Chambers, Prairie View A&M University, I had the amazing chance to attend the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL). It was powerful and had a profound effect on me, influencing how I view mentorship, leadership, and financial well-being. I have gained a great deal of knowledge, motivation, and a fresh feeling of purpose from this experience. I learned practical leadership skills, such as how to advocate for others and yourself, lead with confidence, and handle difficulties with dignity and purpose. The worship and empowerment workshops focused on leadership and personal development, including my leadership identity, my spiritual, mental, and emotional development. I valued the discussions on managing student debt, establishing credit, and long-term financial security. Since financial independence is also a type of empowerment, we were urged to take deliberate and informed charge of our financial future. I left the conference resolved to both seek advice and become a mentor myself. At NCCWSL, I met incredible ladies, while networking with students, professionals, and advocates. I am extremely appreciative of AAUW's sponsorship and belief in the development of female leaders.
Savannah Dod, Texas A&M University. My experience at NCCWSL was life-changing, to say the least. Not only was this my first solo trip, but it was also the first time I had ever been to a conference. This experience allowed me to navigate being in an unfamiliar environment, as well as increased my confidence when I was networking with others. More importantly, being surrounded by so many brilliant, brave, courageous, strong, and inspiring women truly made me feel proud to find myself in such an empowering space. As a first-generation American college student, attending NCCWSL with so many other aspiring leaders from around the world felt so surreal, and it was the first time in my college experience where I felt like I had made it. As the AAUW Philanthropy executive this upcoming semester, hearing the women leaders talk about their experience motivated me to be the best leader that others can look up to and respect. I am so grateful I had this opportunity to share with the other Texas A&M AAUW members and the women I got to connect with at NCCWSL. I will never forget my overall experience at this incredible conference.
Katherine Hernandez, Texas Wesleyan University. I learned from some truly inspiring women and heard powerful stories that shifted my perspective. Jhenai Chandler, Gloria L. Blackwell, Michele Taylor, and Daria J. Willis left a lasting impact on me. My favorite session was "Start Smart Salary Negotiation" by Deborah McCall, AAUW demonstrated the importance of advocating for yourself when being interviewed for a job. I was excited to assist Dr. Michele Taylor in her presentation about the impact of mentorship. It was an impactful experience, and I am grateful for such incredible mentorship during the process. One of the best parts was connecting with many amazing college women nationwide and worldwide. The energy was full of curiosity, encouragement, and genuine support. I made a close connection with Joselyn, a student from Utah and we have become good friends. As the Vice President of the AAUW Club at Texas Wesleyan University, I plan to create a workshop and to collaborate with career services to host a dinner to bring awareness about the gender pay gap and salary negotiation tips. I am inspired with passion to grow into the best version of myself.
Linda Ibarra, Del Mar College. The NCCWSL conference was both informative and educational. I learned new ideas to address and improve my leadership skills. I would have liked to attend all breakout sessions. It was impressed upon me that Leadership is empowerment and getting involved is a pathway to my future. I am currently a member and an officer of our active AAUW student organization. I am grateful and honored that we have AAUW at Del Mar College.
Siri Krothapalli, Texas A&M University. As I aspire to go into medicine as an OB/GYN, this conference confirmed that I was on the right tract. In order to be an advocate for my patients, I need to be a feminist and have to be an advocate for all women before I can ensure that I am able to reap the rewards of the change that is implemented.
Elsie Nunez, Texas Wesleyan University. Attending NCCWSL was an inspiring experience that deepened my understanding of leadership and personal growth. I was able to connect and network with various individuals throughout the conference, which made the experience unforgettable. This conference has empowered me to apply what I’ve learned to my career path, by fostering meaningful connections and embracing new opportunities.
Raja Dharshini Saravanan, Texas A&M University. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to attend the NCCWSL conference. I learned about personal finance and salary negotiation, which I found beneficial due to the lack of financial literacy about different types of credits, how to budget, and saving money. Listening to inspiring stories from successful women of color was immensely empowering and motivating to work hard for positive change to achieve equity, diversity, and equal opportunity in the workplace. I look forward to bringing the skills and experiences I learned at the conference to the Texas A&M AAUW Branch to create a positive impact on my fellow members. Again, I want to express my gratitude towards AAUW and North Harris County for sponsoring my travel to the conference.
The following students also were sponsored by AAUW Texas Branch and the college or local AAUW Branch to attend the NCCWSL 2025 conference at the University of Maryland.
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Anai Austin, Del Mar College, Business Administration & Entrepreneurship
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Wynter McBride, Texas Southern University, Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Scholar
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Allison Shackelford, Texas Southern University, Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Scholar
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Kenadi Walker, Texas Southern University, Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Scholar
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NASPA Coordinator and NCCWSL Participants
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Main Session
Keynote Speaker
| Michele Taylor and Texas AAUW Students | | |
Michele Taylor
Mentoring Session
Alex Bennett and Michele Taylor – Co-Presenters
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Kerianna Chambers, Michele Taylor, Kenadi Walker
Co-Presenters
Mentoring Session
| | AAUW CEO Gloria Blackwell and SHARE Scholarship Recipients | | |
NCCWSL Participants
Touring Washington, DC
| | NCCWSL Participants Socializing | | |
Elected Officers
Ann Berasley
Pam Wolfe
Malinda Gaul
Cheri Butler
Vacant
Debbie Campbell
Vickie Natale
Linda Welsh
Elected District Representatives
Brenda Van Derbur
Cheryl Fuller
Sara Wood
Charlotte Dunham
Standing Committees
Vacant
Georgia Kimmel
Appointed Positions
Michele Taylor
Sara Wood
Vacant
Communications Team
Malinda Gaul
Janani Janakiraman
Jerrilyn Woodard-Entrekin
Contact at:https://aauw-tx.aauw.net/about/leadership/
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President
President
President
Program VP
Membership VP
AAUW Funds VP
Finance Officer
Secretary
South District
Central District
North District
West District
Bylaws/Parliamentarian
Public Policy
C/U Partners
Branch Services
JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion)
UWT Editor/Constant Contact
Website
Facebook
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