Clinical Professor of
Clinical Professor of NursingSuzanne Scheller piloted the Powerof Nursing program at the NeldaC. Stark College of Nursing on TWU’sHouston campus. The program’ssuccess led to its integration into theuniversity’s undergraduate nursingcurriculum, making it the first of itskind. Enrollment doubled within justone semester.“The nursing profession urgentlyneeds self-care tools to build resilienceand foster community,” says Scheller.“The Power of Nursing programprovides exactly that and is part of asuite of innovative programs offeredby the Remen Institute for the Studyof Health and Illness. These programsequip healthcare professionals with thetools to avoid burnout and rediscoverpurpose in their work.”PICKLEBALL RXIt’s not every day a classroom isconverted into a pickleball court, butthat’s exactly what happened in 2024to advance an innovative occupationaltherapy (OT) approach for patients atthe Mike A. Myers Stroke Center on theTWU Dallas campus.Former OT doctoral candidateNatalie Mackie, now a licensedtherapist, created an adaptive pickleballprogram as part of her capstone projectto provide treatment to people whohave suffered strokes or traumaticbrain injuries.With the help of Asha Vas, Professorand Associate Director of the Mike A.Myers Stroke Center, Mackie fashioneda classroom to make it easier forpatients to maneuver through the courtwhile working on their motor skills.“What does pickleball mean tosomeone?” asks Vas. “Pickleballmeans a part of their leisure activity,a part of their motor wellness, apart of their social wellness. Theoccupational therapist looks at theperson holistically. Within our scope ofpractice, leisure is one of the importantactivities of daily living.”GUT HEALTHWhat do unripe bananas and leftoverrice have in common? They help loweryour blood sugar and improve your guthealth.There’s a growing body of researchthat demonstrates foods containingresistant starches, which are harder forenzymes to break down, are beneficialfor people with high blood sugar. Someof this research is led by AssociateProfessor of Nutrition and FoodSciences Mindy Patterson, who saysthese starches occur in foods such asgreen bananas, beans, peas, and evenleftover rice.As they pass through the smallintestine, resistant starches aredifficult to break down into sugarsbecause digestive enzymes have atough time penetrating the starch,resulting in less sugar produced andabsorbed into the blood. Reheated ricetightens starch molecules and makesthem even tougher to break down, saysPatterson.As the starches pass through thelarge intestine, gut microbes feed offthe resistant starches, a process thatproduces compounds that furtherlower blood sugar. “So we know thatresistant starches can help lower bloodsugar throughout the digestive tract,”says Patterson, whose research on guthealth has spanned 12 years at TWU.The findings have been publishedin medical journals and more widelyreadpublications such as “NationalGeographic” and “The New York Times,”and the implications behind the scienceare significant for people who havediabetes. It’s just another exampleof TWU’s innovative research that’shelping make life better for the peoplewe serve.Shooting for the Moonfrom TWU’s Houston CampusSPACE CITY, H-TOWN OR BAYOU CITYNo matter what you call Houston, it’s BIG.The nation’s fourth-largest city and oneof the top 50 cities in the world, H-Townis also a tapestry of cultures with 145languages spoken in the metro area.Another big destination in Houston isthe Texas Medical Center (TMC) — thelargest medical complex in the world.Since 1960, Texas Woman’s Universityhas been a TMC member institution,partner and collaborator, educatingnursing and healthcare professionals aswell as producing critical research aimedat improving health and wellbeing.A HISTORIC STEPLast Fall, Monica G. Williams, Ph.D.stepped into the inaugural positionof president of the Houston campus.Williams is a seasoned higher educationleader with an impressive background inbuilding partnerships and fundraising.She joined TWU’s leadership ranks,as the institution works to positionitself as an even more impactful partnerin the future of Houston and Texas. Thetiming couldn’t be better, as the TMCitself is increasing its footprint in thelife and health sciences.“Dr. Williams is a born leader withstrong connections in Houston and adeep understanding of the Houstonculture and workforce needs,” saysTexas Woman’s Chancellor andPresident Carine M. Feyten. “But it isher experience that sets her in highesteem with our campus for what weneed right now.”Williams has an extraordinaryrecord of achievement in philanthropy,stewarding grants and gifts, and hasestablished relationships with Houstonstakeholders in the business, industry,nonprofit and civic sectors.She served nine years as foundationpresident and vice president ofadvancement at the University of> MONICA G.WILLIAMS, PH.D.TWU HoustonPresidentNorth Texas at Dallas and has also heldfundraising leadership positions at theU.S. Fund for UNICEF, Houston WorksUSA, Rice University, Prairie ViewA&M University and Texas SouthernUniversity.As president, Williams providesstrategic leadership for the campus,which is in an ideal position tocollaborate with 60 other institutionsin the TMC.“Texas Woman’s has a distinct rolein producing outstanding professionalsin healthcare and business for theHouston region,” says Williams.“Our aim is to build on a legacy ofexcellence by producing more talentedprofessionals who will make ourcommunity and the state of Texasstronger.”Williams was the second presidentnamed to a TWU campus in 2024.Monica Christopher was named Dallascampus president in February.4 TEXAS WOMAN’STEXAS WOMAN’S 5
