The Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership (JNIWL) has announced the opening of the Center for Leadership Research and Workforce Development at Texas Woman’s University (TWU). This new initiative aims to position TWU as a national leader in women’s leadership research while revolutionizing career skills education for students.
The Center’s objectives are twofold: to advance scholarly research on current leadership trends and to develop evidence-based methods for teaching essential skills required in today’s workforce, such as critical thinking, communication, emotional intelligence, AI literacy, and ethical reasoning. Shannon Mantaro, JNIWL’s executive director and chief officer, described the initiative as “a comprehensive approach to leadership development.”
The research conducted at the center will examine areas such as rural entrepreneurship, educational leadership, and participation in local government. A comprehensive database of leadership resources will be created, along with a tracker to monitor representation in Texas municipal and county positions.
The Center will enhance the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) studies, offering educational opportunities for faculty to engage in leadership pedagogy. Angela Bauer, Texas Woman’s executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, noted, “This creates exponential impact; instead of reaching students through separate programs, we’re changing how leadership skills are taught in every classroom.”
The center, envisioned as a hub for scholarly activity, will partner with regional employers to understand workforce needs and validate leadership education methods. It will also provide professional development for faculty, encouraging contributions to scholarly publications and conference presentations.
In conjunction with the launch, existing student leadership programs like the President’s Leadership Council and Legacy Leaders will transition to the Scholar Programs Office, allowing the new Center to concentrate on research and educational innovation.