Celebrating Legacy and Leadership: TSU honors women icons who are defining history
Written by Erin Slaughter on March 20, 2025
By Erin Slaughter, KTSU2 multimedia journalist and director
Texas Southern University (TSU) kicked off its Women’s History Month celebration on March 19 by honoring trailblazing women who have helped shape not only the legacy of the university but also the cultural and civic fabric of the greater Houston area.
The President’s Lounge in the Sterling Student Center was filled with appreciation and admiration as TSU honored women whose legacies continue to resonate, even in their absence.
“It has been said that women should know their place. The great Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee knew her place—it was on the floor of Congress in Washington, D.C., fighting for justice and equality for all,” said TSU theatre professor Thomas Melancon, who performed alongside his students in tribute to Women’s History Month.
TSU Provost Dr. Carl Goodman and School of Communication assistant dean and journalism professor Serbino Sandifer-Walker set the stage for an afternoon for powerful storytelling, introducing a lineup of distinguished speakers and panelists who have reshaped their communities and, in many cases, the world.
The first panel featured four formidable women who have broken barriers in their respective fields.
The panel included trailblazing women like Judge Alice Bonner, Harris County’s first Black female judge; Judge TaKasha Francis, the first Black woman on the 152nd Civil District Court; Teneshia Hudspeth, Harris County’s first Black female clerk; and Monica Williams, the first Black woman to lead Texas Woman’s University’s Houston campus.”
Judge Francis reflected on the significance of her role and the importance of paving the way for future generations of women.
“When I show up, things should be different because I show up in a good way, and my life’s passion is being true to that,” Francis said.
“My legacy is going to be transforming everything I touch for the better and inspiring those I come in contact with to live out their lives with the same commitment to transformation—lifting others as we climb,” Francis added.
Judge Takasha Francis
The second panel, moderated by TSU alumna and KHOU 11 reporter Katiera Winfrey, was just as inspiring, with speakers sharing their personal stories of perseverance, activism, and leadership.
The second panel included Dr. Koren Bedeau, a communication scientist; Robin Cole, activist, and founder of the Sugar Land 95; Rachel Hemphill Dickson, associate executive director of the Ensemble Theatre; Dr. Cherry Gooden, former TSU associate professor and chairperson of the Department of Curriculum & Instruction; and Jacqueline Brannon-Giles, a mathematician guru.
While the first panel focused on mentorship and giving back, the second panel underscored the importance of preserving history and ensuring that future generations don’t repeat past cycles.
Cole, a passionate activist in her community, shared what led her to fight for the rights of others.
“The Sugar Land 95 represents 95 African American people whose remains were discovered in Sugar Land in 2018 while Fort Bend ISD was building a new school,” she
said.
“After finding one body, they kept digging and found 94 others. These were not just bodies—they were people, Americans, most of whom were born after 1865. They were not property. They mattered,” Cole added.
Through her work founding the Society of Justice and Equality for the People of Sugar Land, Cole has dedicated herself to identifying the victims and reuniting their remains with their families.
“My legacy is never allowing anyone to be forgotten. We are the voice for the voiceless,” Cole said.
“Thanks to our work, we were able to locate 15 families, so they knew their loved ones mattered,” Cole said.
Like the first panelists, the second group emphasized the importance of mentorship, activism, and paying it forward.
The final activity was a presentation by Dr. Bedeau, where she highlighted the groundbreaking contributions of women academics and the importance of their roles in education and beyond.
Each panelist spoke passionately about the need to continue uplifting and empowering the next generation of women.
The panelists’ inspiring stories served as a reminder to TSU faculty, staff, and students, that women have long been leaders of change, fighting for justice, equality, and the empowerment of future generations.
As the event concluded, one TSU journalism student, Katilyn McElroy reflected on its powerful impact on her.
“As I sat and listened to these amazing women, I realized that just as they fought for my future, my education, and my opportunities, my job now is to fight for the generations coming after me,” She said.
Katilyn McElroy, TSU student
“I have big shoes to fill, but I know that the best way forward is to follow their examples—leading with integrity, love, and passion,” She added.
The Women’s History Month celebration at TSU reminded all in attendance that the legacies of trailblazing women continue to inspire, uplift, and guide future generations. Their stories and commitment to empowerment further reminded the audience to live with purpose, advocate for justice, and lead by example.
