When three TWU Facilities Management and Construction (FMC) employees started looking for a master of business administration program that would help them achieve their educational goals, each decided their best option was close to home.

Zachary Canales (project manager, planning and design), earned his MBA in general business from Texas Woman’s in December 2020. Connie Hicks (facilities generalist, business and support services) and Pamela Temple (warehouse services supervisor) expect to graduate from the university in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

“I’m committed to TWU,” Canales said. “I work here and feel our programs are some of the best value for the area. TWU also offers a great mix of culture and value to their students, which drove my decision to attend school here.”

For Hicks, the ever-changing world of business led her to seek an MBA in general business, and the environment at Texas Woman’s was a key factor in her choosing the university.

“I wanted to remain competitive and challenge myself to improve on my contributions to my work teams,” she said. “In my search for a university that would respect my needs to be safe, empowered, and challenged academically, I found TWU could offer these services to me at a competitive tuition rate.

“Additionally, as a military family, we appreciate the commitment TWU has made to veterans who aspire to reach their academic goals,” Hicks said. “Most importantly, as a first-generation college student raised by strong women, I knew TWU would empower and support me as I completed my MBA.”

Temple began pursuing an MBA several years ago, but was unable to complete the program.

“Ever since then, I have wanted to go back to school to get it,” she said. “When Dennis Hoebee became my director, he encouraged me to get my MBA from TWU. He had gone through the program here and told me what a great program it is. He also told me that if I wanted to move up into a higher-level position, an MBA would help.”

Temple expects to complete TWU’s MBA - Women in Leadership program in May 2022 and plans to continue in her current role until a project manager or director position opens up in FMC.

“I want to be ready when those opportunities arise,” she said. “We have few executive women in facilities management in this country, and I want to help change that.”

Hicks, who expects to graduate this December, said “a global pandemic threatened to shift that date, but I have been regularly supported by the TWU Community through it all.” She also plans to continue working at the university with a goal of advancing to a leadership position.

Canales hopes to use his newly earned degree to apply for promotions as they become available in his department, but says achieving the degree was about more than career advancement.

“It has always been one of my life goals to earn my master’s, so completing it was a huge personal accomplishment,” he said. “I’m a lifelong learner, so any opportunity to learn and grow is an opportunity worth seizing.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: Hicks used TWU's Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) to help pay for her studies. If you’re a Texas Woman’s employee who is thinking about pursuing a degree here, or have a dependent who is, TAP allows certain tuition and fees to be waived for your TWU classes. The deadline for summer applications is May 3. The fall deadline is Aug. 9. Find out more.

Zach Canales

Connie Hicks

Pamela Temple