Texas Woman’s University (TWU) will present the 2026 Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award to award-winning veteran journalist Lee Cullum at the Dallas Leadership Luncheon, set for February 17, 2026, at the Hilton Anatole Hotel, Imperial Ballroom (2201 N. Stemmons Fwy., Dallas, TX 75207). The event marks the kickoff of TWU’s 125th anniversary year. The event co-chairs are Lucy Billingsley, Lucy Burns, Sumner Billingsley and Lindsay Billingsley.
In addition to the Leadership Award presentation, the luncheon will also recognize the 2026 Virginia Chandler Dykes Scholars.
Cullum will be interviewed by Lili Clark, senior associate at Lyda Hill Philanthropies and her granddaughter.
“Lee embodies the Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award as her work has been about improving the community through her thoughtful storytelling, writing and reporting from different perspectives,” said Texas Woman’s Chancellor Carine Feyten. “She believes that education, especially of women including her granddaughters, are important for the future of our country. We look forward to celebrating her accomplishments.”
About Lee Cullum:
Lee Cullum is a senior fellow at the John G. Tower Center for Public Policy and International Affairs and the Dallas Institute for Humanities and Culture. She contributes to The Dallas Morning News and Patron Magazine and writes a column on Substack called La Vie en Orange. At one time she was a regular commentator on what is now the PBS NewsHour and “All Things Considered” on NPR as well as editor of the editorial page of the Dallas Times Herald. She has served on the board of the Council on Foreign Relations, the American Council on Germany, the Pacific Council on International Policy and chaired the Dallas Committee on Foreign Relations. She currently is a member of the Trilateral Commission.
Cullum said, “This occasion marks a milestone in the important life of an important university. That’s because women have never mattered more to communities across the country. They are as indispensable to every enterprise, private or professional, personal or public, as Rosie the Riveter was to the nation during World War II.”
About the Luncheon:
Established in 2002, the Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award is presented annually at the Dallas Leadership Luncheon to a Dallas leader who has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to improving the quality of life in the community and to furthering the importance of education.
The award honors the contributions of TWU alumna, donor, and board of regents member Virginia Chandler Dykes (1930-2022) as an outstanding healthcare provider whose professional and civic achievements represent a lifetime committed to helping others. Recent award recipients include Nicole Small (2025), Abby and Todd Williams (2024), Lucy Billingsley (2023), Arcilia Acosta (2022), Cynt Marshall (2021), and Jennifer Staubach Gates (2020).Here’s more about Virginia Chandler Dykes.
Proceeds from the luncheon benefit Texas Woman’s graduate student scholarships.
Tables, tickets and sponsorships: Tickets are $250, and tables are $2,000. To learn more about the luncheon, purchase a sponsorship or ticket, or request a sponsorship brochure, contact Lauren Hendershot at 940.898.3870 or 940.898.3866, lhendershot@twu.edu or visittwu.edu/DallasLeadership
ABOUT TWU
Texas Woman’s University is the nation’s largest woman-focused university system with campuses in Denton, Dallas, and Houston. Founded in 1901, TWU has built a reputation on contributions in nursing, healthcare, education, the arts and sciences, and business. TWU’s inclusive culture prioritizes experiential learning, leadership, service, discovery, and health and well-being, and national media have recognized the university as a top college for student-parents, veterans, and social mobility. In 2023, TWU publicly launched Dream Big, a comprehensive fundraising effort to support innovative programs, capital projects, student scholarships, and faculty endowments. To date, the campaign has raised To learn more about the campaign or the university, visitdreambig.twu.edu ortwu.edu, or connect with TWU onFacebook@TexasWomansUniversity,Instagram@txwomans,Twitter@txwomans, andLinkedIn@texaswomansuniversity.