Texas Woman’s University Honors Nicole Small and Virginia Chandler Dykes

Texas Woman’s University (TWU) hosted another successful Dallas Leadership Luncheon on March 6 at The Arts District Mansion, where the university recognized Nicole Small as the 2025 Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award recipient. A signature fundraiser for TWU, the event supports scholarships for graduate students while celebrating leaders who have made a significant impact on education and the quality of life in the Dallas community. The presenting event sponsor was Luther King Capital Management. 

Nicole Small and Dr. Carine Feyten

The highlight of the luncheon was a moderated conversation with Small, who is the CEO of LH Capital, Inc. and Lyda Hill Philanthropies, and education philanthropist Abby Williams, who with her husband Todd Williams received the 2024 TWU Leadership Award. The event also featured the announcement of $77,000 in scholarship awards presented to the 32 graduate students selected for the 2025 class of Virginia Chandler Dykes Scholars. Six of those were recognized: Abi Rainey (College of Arts and Sciences), Bradaisea Ridge-Law (Merrilee Alexander Kick College of Business and Entrepreneurship), Dr. Savitha Sundar (College of Health Sciences/Occupational Therapy), Jenny Reynolds (College of Health Sciences), Kiara Whitney (Houston J. and Florence A. Doswell College of Nursing), and Christiana Parra (College of Professional Education). 

Carol Glendenning, Barbara Glendenning, Don Glendenning, Leigh Glendenning Roberts (TWU alumna)

Luncheon speakers were the program emcee, Lisa Rampy, Vice President of University Advancement and Alumni Engagement; Shannon Mantaro, Executive Director of the Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership, the luncheon sponsor; Ralph Hawkins, event chair and a past Leadership Award recipient; and TWU Chancellor and President Dr. Carine M. Feyten. 

Chuck Chandler, Patricia Crocker, Dr. Ron Chandler

The TWU Dallas Leadership Award is named in honor of the late Virginia Chandler Dykes, a TWU alumna and TWU Board of Regents member who was a noted healthcare leader and champion for education. Dykes’ sons Dr. Ron Chandler and Chuck Chandler attended, as was Virginia’s longtime friend, Patricia Crocker. 

Since 2002, the event has raised $2.42 million for graduate student scholarships.  Returning as the event’s presenting sponsor was Luther King Capital Management. 

Dr. Monica Williams, Dr. Carine Feyten, Abby Williams, Nicole Small, Monica Christopher

Additional thanks to these sponsors

Luncheon Sponsor: Texas Woman’s University's Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership

VIP Reception Sponsor: Billingsley Company

Pioneer Platinum Sponsor: Lyda Hill Philanthropies

Pioneer Investors: Sue S. Bancroft, Carol & Don Glendenning & Leigh Glendenning Roberts 

Pioneer Premier Partners: Children’s Health, Haynes Boone, The Hersh Foundation, The Hirsch Family Foundation, Nicole and Justin Small/Justin and Nicole Small Fund, Valeo Partners  

Learn more about the Dallas Leadership Luncheon at twu.edu/DallasLeadership

Announcing the 2016 Visionary Woman by Juliette Fowler Communities





Honorary Chair Barbara Bradfield, honoree Virginia Chandler Dykes, CEO Sabrina Porter, and luncheon chair Elaine Kellam





Virginia Chandler Dykes has been named the 2016 Visionary Woman by Juliette Fowler Communities and will be honored at the 4^th Annual Visionary Women Luncheon, Tuesday, May 3, 2016, at the Omni Dallas Hotel, from 12:00 – 1:15 p.m.  Additionally, the luncheon will present the Juliette Fowler Faith and Service Award to Hannah Canterbury, a TCU senior social work major.  The Dallas Junior Forum will receive the inaugural Erika McKenzie Volunteer award, named after Fowler’s first volunteer coordinator.

 

The luncheon celebrates the vision of Juliette Peak Fowler, Dallas’ first female philanthropist, and honors individuals who embody her compassionate spirit and who use their visionary leadership and remarkable gifts to make a difference in the lives of others in our community. Luncheon chair is Elaine Kellam and honorary chair is Barbara Bradfield.  WFAA’s Shelley Slater will emcee the luncheon.

 

Virginia Chandler Dykes’ passion for her lifelong work as an occupational therapist, coupled with her servant’s heart and desire to improve life for others, has created a legacy of leadership, mentorship and philanthropy in the Dallas community and beyond.   She is nationally known for her work in rehabilitation, adult and adolescent psychiatry, eating disorders, hand splinting, and acute physical disabilities as well as her ongoing commitment to provide scholarship assistance to occupational therapy students.  Her work with Texas Woman’s University and her namesake luncheon – honoring Dallas leaders for the past 14 years –has raised over $550,000 and awarded more than 100 scholarships to students in all four colleges of TWU. Dykes is also known for her leadership in organizations such as The Dallas Opera, the Dallas Arboretum Women’s Council and the Fort Worth Opera.

 

“We are thrilled to honor Virginia as our 2016 Visionary Woman,” said Sabrina Porter, president and chief executive officer, Juliette Fowler Communities.  “Virginia’s passion for occupational therapy, education and the arts is perfectly aligned with our mission. Our residents and staff have benefited from her work and her support of students in social work, therapy and nursing.  Her life’s work mirrors ours and has encouraged self-sufficiency, independence and fulfillment.”

 

Luncheon tickets are $150.  Sponsorships are available. Contact Coleman Rabourn, colemanr@fowlercommunities.org, 214-515-1342.