Frontal view of the JKW administration building with American flags raised.

WAN Founding

September 9, 2019 at 12:00AM

Founding Officers:

  • Dr. Pam Matthews, Co-chair
    • Professor, Associate Dean of Liberal Arts
  • Dr. Sherry Yennello, Co-Chair
    • Professor, Associate Dean for Diversity, College of Science
  • Kristin Harper, Secretary/Treasurer
    • Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Programs


Several events the first two years featured leading women administrators talking about their experiences that led them to be successful. They mentioned who had helped mentor them and what made those mentors special. Meetings were generally held off campus at a member’s home.

Interviewed administrators were Jill Pollock, Associate Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer , Dr. Karan Watson, Dean of Faculties, Dr. Christine Stanley, Executive Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, College of Education and Human Development, and Dr. Anne Reber, Director of Disability Services.

The group held a luncheon, 1/28/2008, in the newly reopened University Club. The event offered an opportunity to make new connections with guided discussion topics at each table to discuss challenges they face as administrators.

In 2008/2009, the group moved to more structured, presentation-style meetings held on-campus. These programs brought in speakers from around campus to increase education on different areas of the university. These programs were “Mysteries of the Universe-Ity” facilitated by Merna Jacobsen, Director of the Women’s Resource Center and Student Affairs Organizational and Staff Development; “Show Me the Money! Budgeting and Financial Operations at TAMU” led by Deborah Wright, Director of Budget and Analytical Services, and Terry Spang, Assistant Provost; “Texas A&M University’s Sustainability Program” presented by Kelly Wellman, Sustainability Officer, and “The 2009 Texas Legislative Session” led by Courtney Trolinger, Vice President for Governmental Affairs. Co-Chair Pam Matthews borrowed a session model from the American Association of Colleges and Universities and led a program titled “Who Are We? A (Borrowed) Poetry Slam for Women Administrators.”

WAN also partners with Women’s Faculty Network and the Dean of Faculties office to encourage attendance at lunches with administrative speakers, such as the November 11, 2008 event with special guest, Dr. Patricia Rankin, Associate Vice Chancellor for Faculty Diversity and Development, University of Colorado, Boulder.