The History of the Faye C. Goostree Women’s Symposium at TXWES

The symposium started over 40 years ago to help inspire young women to take on leadership roles in their communities.

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The annual Faye C. Goostree Women’s Symposium first started in October 1982. The inaugural symposium lasted over six hours and included three sessions with different women leaders from around Fort Worth and concluded with a formal dinner. The theme was “Women in Leadership Roles.”

Faye C. Goostree endowed Texas Wesleyan with the women’s symposium. She was a longtime leader and community advocate in Fort Worth, serving in many roles, such as a board member of the United Way of Metropolitan Tarrant County and member of the United Methodist Women. She also initiated Fort Worth’s Meals on Wheels program.

Goostree was passionate about her church and helping young women become community leaders. Her own philosophy led her life’s work, saying “Everyone has something to give and responsibility to develop and share it with others.”

Now in its 41st year, the symposium strives to fulfill the legacy of Mrs. Goostree by providing an opportunity for women to learn from female leaders who have impacted their communities. It is held annually in March, Women’s History Month, and includes a luncheon. It continues to be a platform for women to discuss their experiences and challenges. The symposium is a great opportunity for the Fort Worth community to come together to learn, discuss and celebrate the progress of gender equality.

Texas Wesleyan invites all members of campus and the Fort Worth community to attend, including students and faculty of neighboring Polytechnic Heights High School and the Young Women’s Leadership Academy.

Each year, the Goostree Symposium Committee meets to plan the event and lunch. The 2023 symposium was on March 2 with former Texas Sen. Wendy Davis as the keynote speaker. Previous speakers have included Kay Granger ’65 HON ’92, congresswoman; Dr. Sally Knox, breast cancer surgeon and author; Julie Murphy ’10, author; Beverly Powell, state senator; and Opal Lee, community activist and educator.

“Faye C. Goostree inspired a lot of women who at that time weren’t taking roles that women are now,” said Elizabeth A.M. Howard, Eunice & James L. West Library director and chair of the Goostree Symposium Committee.

“I think that’s important that we still have the symposium today because we still need to inspire everybody.”

Thank you for giving back to our students. Thank you for believing in both our students’ dreams and the power of a TXWES education to make them come true. Thank you for being a part of tangible life change.

We are so grateful for donors and alumni like you. No matter what adversity our students face, knowing you are behind them encourages and inspires. We hope you choose to continue your support into this academic year to help even more Rams start and finish their education. TXWES.EDU/MYGIFT