Advancing gender equity for women and girls through research, education and advocacy

American Association of University Women Austin, TX Branch

FY 25-26 Vol. 2 September 2025 Newsletter

It's almost Fall, y'all. Please join us for our first program meeting of the year, coming up on Saturday, September 13, 2025. We will again be at Balcones Country Club at 8600 Balcones Club Drive, Austin. Social time begins at 10AM, followed by the program at 10:30 and lunch at 11:45. See your evite for more information. Program information follows below.

September Interest Group Activity

Art Tour

When: Wednesday, September 3, 10:00 am

Where: Blanton Museum of Art, 200 E. MLK Blvd, Austin

Contact: Pat Beal: patrbeal@gmail.com  512.762.9924                 

               Devon Austin: devonaustin@msn.com 562.225.7681

Bridge Group

When: Sept. 11 & Sept. 25, 1:00 pm

Where: Lamar Senior Activity Center, 2874 Shoal Crest Ave

Contact: Elaine Penn, epenn9915@gmail.com, 512.970.5051

Central Book Group

When:  Monday, September 8, 10:30 am

Book:   How to Read a Book, Author Monica Wood

Where: la Madeleine, 5493 Brodie Ln., Austin

Contact: Linda Quintanilla: quintalin@gmail.com, 713.202.8525

(FULL, but taking names of those interested)

Contemporary Literature

When: Monday, September 1, 7:00 pm

Book:   Four Points of the Compass; The Unexpected History of Direction

Where: Zoom meeting (link will be sent to you)

Contact: Mary Ellen Scribner: maryescribner@gmail.com

Creative Stitchery

When:  Wednesday, September 17, 10:00 am

Project: Coasters

Where:  Hosted by Resa Dunn, 4320 Canyonside Trail, and Mary Ellen Scribner

Contact: Beverly Locklin: bklocklin@outlook.com, 512.633.2902

Culture and Cuisine

When:  Thursday, September 11, 6:00 pm

Theme: Cajun Cuisine

Where:  Home of Joyce Pulich, 2300 Westway Circle, Austin

Contact: Ann Gibbs agibbs5200@gmail.com, 512.250.1203

Hiking Group

When:   Saturday, Sept 20, 8:00 am

Where:  Nalle Bunny Run Wildlife Preserve, 4615 Bunny Run, Austin

  Leader: Roberta Coffin

Contacts: Kate DiPronio: ktkee523@gmail.com, 512.924.9061

                 Gayle Kanies: gayle.kanies@gmail.com, 512.587.7747

Friday Morning Book Review

When:     First Fridays, 10:00 am. (No meeting in September)

Location:  Hyde Park Church of Christ, 310 West Avenue B

Contact:   Judy Reinhart, jareinhart@att.net, 512.345.5936

Mahjong 

When:  Thursday, September 18, 1:00 – 4:00 pm

Location: Lamar Senior Activity Center, 2874 Shoal Crest Ave., Austin

Contact: Connie Munoz, comunoz1@yahoo.com 361.813.8012

Bring your 2025 updated mahjong card 

We join other ladies that play every Thursday and help fill other tables if needed

Mystery Book Group

When: Tuesday, September 23, 11:00 am

Theme: What I Read Last Summer

Location: BJ Brewhouse, The Shops at Arbor Walk, 10515 MoPac Expy, Austin

Contact: Pam Wolfe, piwolfe@yahoo.com, 512-925- 7865 

Out-to-Lunch

When: Tuesday, September 16, 11:15 am

Where: Chinatown

Contact: Elaine Penn: epenn9915@gmail.com, 512.970.5051

PEARS

When: Saturday, September 27, 5:30 pm

Where: Vinaigrette Restaurant, 2201 College Ave, Austin

Contact: Millie Stecker: milli1251@gmail.com, 512-468-1088

Southwest Book Group (2^nd Mondays)

When: Monday, September 8, 10:30 -12:30 pm

Book: Patriot (NF) (PP 496) Author, Alexei Navalny

Facilitator: Cece Schubert

Host: Mary Braunagel Brown

 Contact: Brenda Hahne, bwhahne@gmail.com, 832.233.4245

(FULL, but taking names of those interested)

Wine Tasters

When: Sunday, September 21, 5:00 pm

Theme: Tailgate Party

Where: Ann Gibbs, 5200 Rambling Range, Austin

Contact: Elaine Penn, epenn9915@gmail.com, 512.970.5051

Public Policy Update: Info to help you Realize, Remember, and React

from Anita Knight

Planned Parenhood of Greater Texas is offering virtual events this fall that might be of interest to you. Follow the links below to learn about the topics and how to register.

https://www.weareplannedparenthood.org/a/ppgt-unfiltered-who-pays-politics-public-funding

https://www.weareplannedparenthood.org/a/ppgt-unfiltered-more-medicine-trans-rights-and-repro-justice

https://www.weareplannedparenthood.org/a/ppgt-unfiltered-legislation-and-liberation

https://www.weareplannedparenthood.org/a/ppgt-unfiltered-truth-about-need-later-term-abortion

https://www.weareplannedparenthood.org/a/ppgt-unfiltered-young-silenced-and-needing-care

We also encourage you to contact your legislator about the need to formally acknowledge the already-passed Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) that many of us have worked for over decades now. It's never too late!

Reports from our 2024-2025 Fellowship Recipients

Whitney Lewis

 During her fellowship year, Whitney successfully defended her dissertation and concluded her graduate studies in chemistry at UT-Austin. Over the course of the year, she made substantial progress in her research leading to three publications in peer-reviewed papers -- Nature Protocols; ACS Chemical and Biomedical Imaging; and Chemical Science. Her research also served as the basis for one provisional patent and two full patent applications. Beyond research, the AAUW Fellowship supported Whitney’s transition from academia to industry with her subsequent employment at Kymera Therapeutics, a biotechnology company based in Boston. She has been particularly excited to contribute to regulatory document development, project management, and regulatory intelligence initiatives at the company. Whitney adds that she is deeply grateful to the AAUW Austin Branch and the Fellowship Selection Committee for investing in her professional and personal development.

Ariel Chasen

Ariel reported that the AAUW fellowship played a critical role in allowing her to complete her dissertation examining disability, accessibility, and inclusion in postsecondary STEM education in laboratory and field-based learning environments. With this support, she was able to focus on the analysis and writing phases of her dissertation, including chapters on the relationship between scientific and disabled identities among undergraduate STEM students, analysis of instructor and student perspectives on accessi-bility in lab courses, and a guide for inclusive methods in biology education research. Importantly, the fellowship supported her mission of improving equity in science education by amplifying the voices of disabled students and producing research-based tools to guide more inclusive practices in field and lab settings. Ariel appreciates the branch’s belief in her work and support for women scholars in Austin. The fellowship helped make her achievement possible.

Ying Peng

Ying wrote that the fellowship was instrumental in supporting her academic and professional development as she pursued a PhD in Pharmaceutical Science at UT-Austin. She used the fellowship to support her tuition and fees, research, and professional development which allowed her to focus full-time on her research and academic goals. She sees the AAUW fellowship as both a recognition of her past accomplishments and encouragement to serve as a role model for her peers and aspiring women scientists. With this support, Ying successfully completed her dissertation and passed her oral defense on the “Detection, Synthesis, and Repair of 3′-DNA-Histone Cross-links.” She received her PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the end of 2024. Additionally, Ying presented her research at the P&G Poster Competition and gave an oral presentation of her dissertation work at the Discover BMB conference. Ying sincerely thanks AAUW for this invaluable support.

Our Exemplary 2025-2026 Fellows

Vicki Deng is a Ph.D. candidate in Molecular Bioscience researching “Bioinspired Materials and Cellular Innovation: Lessons from a Giant Single-Celled Algae.” As a first-generation college and Ph.D. student from an immigrant family, she has experienced firsthand the barriers underrepresented individuals face in STEM. Mentorship has been key to her success, and she is committed to paying it forward. She plans to apply her interdisciplinary expertise to develop bioinspired solutions for climate change and food scarcity.

Paula Lezama is a candidate in the Latin American Studies department working on her dissertation titled “Conocencia: Women’s Demonic Lifeways and Autonomous Social Reproduction in the Colombian Black Pacific.” Paula uses qualitative and quantitative methods to understand rural Afro-descendant women’s experiences and involvement with grass roots initiatives focused on the global fight for racial justice and gender equity. She hopes to pursue a dual career path as a faculty member in a research university while continuing her advocacy work.

Carolyn Watkins, a doctoral candidate in the Chemical Engineering department, is completing her dissertation on: “Engineering Sequence-defined Peptomers for Targeted Chemotherapeutic Codelivery.” Her groundbreaking project has the potential to greatly improve current drug delivery mechanisms for small molecule chemotherapeutics to limit off-target toxicity and associated side effects. Differing from combination therapies for cancer patients, Carolyn’s new technology enables more targeted delivery to improve drug bioavailability and reduce side effects. Carolyn plans to pursue a career in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry, hopefully in cancer research. 

Pictured from left: Paula Lezama, Carolyn Watkins, and Vicki Deng (with Marsha Endahl-Kramer)

Fundraising News [It’s only 3 months until the holidays…!]

The branch fundraising team is sponsoring a holiday sale at the Winter Social on Sunday, December 7. We ask that members contribute items to sell, similar to those that were donated for our previous online auctions. Potential donated items include but are not limited to: baked goods; home-made candy; hand stitched items; spa baskets; purses; jewelry; art work; wine, etc. The items will be displayed on tables at the social and successful buyers can take them home that day. If you have an item to donate, please contact Brenda Hahne or Joyce Pulich at their emails below with a brief description of the item and a proposed selling price. We look forward to providing a fun shopping experience that supports AAUW National’s Greatest Needs Fund (GNF). At our recent Summer Social, Kate DiPronio was the lucky winner of the handmade quilt, enabling us to contribute $305 to the GNF, thanks to all who participated.

And while we’re at it, please remember to collect your spare change and bring it to branch meetings – the proceeds stay with the branch. Handmade cards will be available for sale at branch meetings to support the Greatest Needs Fund, and we will again wrap gifts for tips at Book People during December. Stay tuned for more fundraising events in 2026!

bwhahne@gmail.com joycepulich@sbcglobal.net

Meet Our Newest Branch Members

Lauren Grossman

Lauren Grossman and her three siblings were born in Corpus Christi, Texas where her father owned a pharmacy/gift shop/soda fountain and gave Lauren her first job at the age of 10. The family later moved to Houston and after high school Lauren studied at the University of Houston, attaining a BA in Journalism. Her career interests took her from copywriting to public relations, with unplanned “time off” during the gas crisis. After several advertising jobs in Austin and scheduling meeting rooms at UT, she was hired as an events coordinator at Austin’s new convention center in 1992. After nearly 22 years, she retired from the City and took a job with the Texas Municipal League managing six small associations. She officially retired in 2024 and has loved not having to wake up to an alarm clock. She also loves reading, horses (volunteering at a stable that has rescue horses and therapeutic riding), and Krav Maga, although back problems have intervened. Lauren was introduced to AAUW in Austin by her old friend Carol Ahlgren and currently resides in Cedar Park. We know we will find plenty to keep her busy here with AAUW!

Shawn Dubiel

Considering herself to be "mid-century modern," Shawn grew up in Bartlesville, Oklahoma as a bit of a rarity due to her interest in STEM and her female gender. After bouncing through a couple of majors in college, she decided that Architecture was the best fit. She received a BSED (Environmental Design) in 1980 in order to receive a higher hourly rate for student teaching while she completed her Bachelor of Architecture in 1981 from the University of Oklahoma. With the exception of five fun years in New York where she met her husband Paul, Shawn has lived and worked in Austin since graduation. She and her husband have two daughters: Claire, a UT grad in Computer Science who lives in Austin, and Leah, a UT grad in Mechanical Engineering who lives in Seattle. With Paul still employed at UT, Shawn has resigned herself to being outnumbered by Longhorns. Employed as a principal at STG Design, where she has worked since 1988, Shawn’s tasks include overseeing quality reviews for all interior architecture projects out of their Austin, Nashville, and Phoenix offices, as well as providing training for code requirements and architectural standards. Semi-retired at the end of 2024, Shawn is gradually chipping away at work responsibilities with the goal of a total hand-off in 2026. With her extra time, Shawn has enjoyed reading, travel, and more time with friends. She volunteers at Austin Pets Alive! at their thrift stores, and tries to avoid her to-do list of cleaning out closets and yard work. When her friend Kate DiPronio invited her to check out what AAUW has to offer, Shawn said she couldn’t contain her curiosity and decided it was time to join us. With other friends also involved with our group, Shawn is looking forward to getting more involved with us, and we promise to help.

Karen Juhl

Growing up in Chicago, Karen benefited from an excellent public school education in the ‘burbs. At the age of 9 she traveled internationally for the first time, creating a lifelong passion to see the world. After high school, Karen earned an Associate of Liberal Arts degree from Delta College in Michigan and a BS in Psychology from Michigan State. After a brief stint working in the mental health field, she earned an MS in Finance from the University of Houston – Clear Lake in 1986. Thus began a 30+ year career in accounting and finance, taking her from the oil & gas industry in Houston to the tech fields of software and internet companies in Austin as Controller and Director of Finance for several public and private companies. 

Karen Juhl, continued

She has been an avid traveler -- she once circumnavigated the globe and also lived in both London and Dublin where her companies had offices. For the last 20 years Karen and her sister and brother-in-law have been owners of Tamarinda, an online glycerin soap company. Now officially retired, Karen takes classes, travels, plays bridge and dabbles in painting and other crafts. Knowing a few members and to maintain a social life in retirement, she has now joined AAUW. We heartily welcome her to our group and will try to keep her happily engaged with us.

Pam Fuller Doan

Pam joined the West Harris County branch of AAUW in Houston in 2015. She was invited to book discussion groups by her dear AAUW friend from yoga, Dana Cutts, and joined at the summer social. Pam's favorite activities with the WHC branch were the annual Expanding Your Horizons seminar for girls in grades 6-8; their Contemporary Literature discussion group; and the Outstanding Literature discussion group. She served as directory/yearbook editor and publisher for four years. After graduating from Tarleton University with a degree in education, Pam taught middle school in Cleburne, Texas for over twenty years, making many lifelong friends. She especially enjoyed teaching with colleagues that she had taught years before as middle-schoolers and who had now returned as certified teachers! Pam and her husband of 44 years, Don, recently relocated to Round Rock in order to be closer to their younger son and his wife. Retirement has meant that she has lots of time to read, walk their dog, Richard, and work with the Good Water chapter of Texas Master Naturalists. Pam reveals that she is currently obsessed with knitting fairies and small chameleons. Our stitchery group, book groups, and yearbook editors in the Austin branch are taking note of your talents and interests, Pam. We look forward to having you with us. 

Four of our new branch members, from above left to below right: Lauren Grossman, Shawn Dubiel, Pam Fuller Doan, and Karen Juhl

LAST CHANCE TO ORDER A PRINT COPY OF THE YEARBOOK!!!

We have received several important notifications from AAUW National, including the news that the total portion of our annual membership dues paid to them is now fully tax-deductible. (This does not apply to state and local dues, however.)

If you have made any changes to your contact information (address, phone, name, etc.), please log into the AAUW website and make any corrections needed.

The deadline for submitting items for the October Newsletter is 9/15/25

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