STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Two Tarleton State University professors were among the recent recipients of the Texas Women in Higher Education (TWHE) 2025 Leadership Development Grants.
Dr. Shannon Hankhouse and Prairie Endres-Parnell were each awarded $500 grants designed to support women in higher education around the state as they pursue opportunities for both advancement and professional growth.
“Having two recipients of the TWHE Leadership Development Grants can create ripple effects of positive change beginning here at Tarleton and moving into our recipients’ broader professional communities,” said Dr. Lora Helvie-Mason, a TWHE Institutional Representative for Tarleton State. “Dr. Hankhouse and Instructor Endres-Parnell show innovation and strategic commitment to their efforts through such a grant award. I am sure their efforts will drive innovation that strengthens our community and cannot wait to hear how their experiences unfold.”
Dr. Hankhouse is the Executive Director of External Operations Waco/Bryan and an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at Tarleton State University. She will utilize grant funding to attend the 2025 Texas Council of Women School Executives Annual Conference. Goals for attending the conference include enhancing her leadership skills, engaging with innovative practices in higher education, and networking with fellow educators and leaders.
Endres-Parnell, a Senior Instructor at Tarleton State University, will attend the annual International Society for Educational Biography Conference (ISEB) in St. Louis and the annual National Communication Association Conference in New Orleans. During the ISEB Conference, Endres-Parnell will present on the impact of teaching intercultural communication.
TWHE is a Texas nonprofit organization dedicated to developing, advancing and supporting women employed at colleges and universities across the state. Any individual who is committed to supporting and advancing women in higher education is welcome to participate in the Texas Women in Higher Education activities.
The 2025 TWHE annual conference is March 30-April 1 in Houston.
A founding member of The Texas A&M System, Tarleton State University is breaking records — in enrollment, research, scholarship, athletics, philanthropy and engagement — while transforming the lives of approximately 18,000 students in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Bryan and online. For 125 years, Tarleton State has been committed to accessible higher education opportunities for all while helping students grow academically, socially and professionally through programs that emphasize real world learning and address regional, state and national needs.