An accomplished businesswoman and community leader, Kathleen Mason, CEO, Tuesday Morning Corporation, has been named the 2010 recipient of the Eighth Annual Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award, presented by Bank of Texas and Texas Woman’s University. The announcement was made at a private reception in the home of Geraldine “Tincy” and Vance Miller. Tincy Miller was the 2004 recipient of this award. Texas Woman’s University Chancellor and President Dr. Ann Stuart will present the award to Kathleen Mason at the luncheon event Feb. 25, 2010, at the Belo Mansion and Pavilion, 2101 Ross Ave. Sis Carr is the honorary chair of this luncheon.

“Texas Woman’s University is so pleased to honor such an outstanding individual, businesswoman and community leader,” said TWU Chancellor and President Dr. Ann Stuart.

Established in 2002, the Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award is given annually to Dallas leaders with a life-long commitment to improving the quality of life in the community and to furthering the importance of education. The award recognizes the life work of Virginia Chandler Dykes as an outstanding health care provider, whose professional and civic achievements represent a lifetime committed to helping others. Past award recipients are Caroline Rose Hunt, 2009; T. Boone Pickens, 2008; Lindalyn Adams, 2007; Dr. and Mrs. Kern Wildenthal, 2006; Gretchen Minyard Williams and J.L. “Sonny” Williams, 2005; Geraldine “Tincy” Miller, 2004; and Susan and Charles Cooper, 2003.

“I was honored merely to be considered for this award,” said Kathleen Mason. “It is especially meaningful, as my long-time mentor in this business was president of her class when it was Texas Woman’s College. It is gratifying to be in the company of the distinguished previous recipients and to be recognized by the academic leadership community of Texas Woman’s University.”

Kathleen Mason is a retail executive with more than 25 years successful merchandising, marketing and management experience in department, chain and specialty stores. She is currently President and CEO of Tuesday Morning Corporation, North America’s largest operator of first quality, deep discount and closeout home furnishings and gift stores.

Previously, she was President of HomeGoods, Inc., which sells off-price, brand names for the home. The company is a subsidiary of TJX Companies that also owns TJMaxx and Marshalls. Kathleen spent 10 years at Cherry & Webb, a well-known New England regional chain specializing in women’s apparel and cosmetics, where she was Executive Vice President before becoming President, Chairman and CEO in 1992 and leading the company to five profitable years.

Mason is on the advisory board for The Notre Dame School of Dallas for developmentally disabled children. She supports Go Red For Women and the American Heart Association, Crystal Charity, and numerous charities, the majority of which benefit women and children. She served for many years as Overseer for the New England Conservatory of Music.

A graduate of Pennsylvania State University, she began her career with the Kaufmanns Division of the May Company where she became one of the youngest vice president/divisional merchandise managers in the company history. She also has held senior management positions with May Department Stores, Mervyn’s division of Target, and The Limited Stores.

Her affiliations include: The Executive Committee, an international organization of CEO’s, The Committee of 200, Executive Women’s Roundtable, Charter 100, CERT, the Board of the Dallas Regional Chamber, and the International Women’s Forum. Kathleen is a Director of Genesco, Inc., manufacturer of Johnston & Murphy and Dockers Shoes; the Office Depot; and a former Director of The Men’s Wearhouse; and Hot Topic.

Mason’s awards include Entrepreneur of the 2003 Year for the Southwest, the Luminary Award for Corporate Innovation by the Committee of 200 and The Association for Corporate Growth named Tuesday Morning as the winner of the 2004-2005 Corporate Growth Award. She was recognized in 2008 by the Dallas Business Journal as one of the Top 25 Most Influential Women in business in the DFW metroplex.

This award’s namesake, Virginia Chandler Dykes, is known internationally for her work in occupational therapy. Locally, she is known for her leadership in many cultural and charitable organizations. In 2005 she was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry to serve on the Texas Woman’s University Board of Regents.

Mrs. Dykes completed the graduate occupational therapy program at TWU in 1954 after earning her bachelor of arts in art and psychology from Southern Methodist University. She was the director of the Occupational and Recreational Therapy Department at Baylor University Medical Center for 25 years. She also founded the Boomerang Club, the first support group for stroke patients and their families. In 2002, she established The Virginia Chandler Dykes endowed scholarship fund at TWU for occupational therapy students, which includes all four colleges: College of Health Sciences (Occupational Therapy), Nursing, Professional Education (COPE), and Arts and Sciences. Mrs. Dykes and her husband Roland also helped to establish the Fanny B. Vanderkooi Endowed Lectureship for the School of Occupational Therapy at TWU, which has grown to be one of the premier continuing education offerings in Texas. She is also well known for her leadership in organizations such as The Dallas Opera, the Dallas Arboretum’s Women’s Council and the Fort Worth Opera.

The 2010 Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award Luncheon Advisory Committee members are: Ebby Halliday Acers, Joel Allison, Lana and Barry Andrews, Norm Bagwell, Barbara Bradfield, Mary M. Brinegar, April Box Chamberlain, Arlene and John Dayton, John Falldine, Louise Gartner, Suzy Gekiere, Douglas D. Hawthorne, Vester T. Hughes, Amy Turner Leon, Sharon McCullough, Bill Patterson, Dee Collins Torbert, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wyly.

The following four graduate students from all four colleges will be honored at the luncheon as recipients of scholarship funds: Kalyn Myers Briggs, College of Health Sciences (Occupational Therapy), sponsored by Edgemere Dallas; Kimberly Bookout, MSN, RN, CPNP, CWON, College of Nursing, sponsored by CIGNA; Marlene M. Montgomery, College of Professional Education (COPE), sponsored by Geraldine “Tincy” Miller; and Ilana Morgan, College of Arts and Sciences, sponsored by Sis Carr.

For more information, contact Karen K. Martin, MBA, CFRE, Director of Development, Texas Woman's University, 214.689.6737 or KMartin9@mail.twu.edu.

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Texas Woman’s University occupies a notable position in higher education as the nation’s largest university primarily for women. Its campuses in Denton, Dallas and Houston are joined by an e-learning campus offering innovative online degree programs in business, education and general studies. Seven consecutive years of growth have produced a record enrollment of 13,358. TWU serves the citizens of Texas in many important ways, including: graduating more new nurses and health care professionals than any other university in Texas; easing the teacher shortage by placing highly qualified professionals in the classroom; offering a liberal arts-based curriculum that prepares students for success in a global society; conducting research that impacts the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity, osteoporosis, stroke and diabetes. For more information, visit www.twu.edu <http://www.twu.edu/> or call (940) TWU-2000.

KATHLEEN MASON, CEO OF TUESDAY MORNING, RECEIVES TWU’S EIGHTH
VIRGINIA CHANDLER DYKES LEADERSHIP AWARD

An accomplished businesswoman and community leader, Kathleen Mason, CEO, Tuesday Morning Corporation, received the Eighth Annual Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award, presented by Bank of Texas and Texas Woman’s University on Feb. 25. The award was presented by Texas Woman’s University Chancellor and President Dr. Ann Stuart. Sis Carr was honorary chair of this luncheon.

“Texas Woman’s University is so pleased to honor such an outstanding individual, businesswoman and community leader,” said TWU Chancellor and President Dr. Ann Stuart.

Established in 2002, the Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award is given annually to Dallas leaders with a life-long commitment to improving the quality of life in the community and to furthering the importance of education. The award recognizes the life work of Virginia Chandler Dykes as an outstanding health care provider, whose professional and civic achievements represent a lifetime committed to helping others. Past award recipients are Caroline Rose Hunt, 2009; T. Boone Pickens, 2008; Lindalyn Adams, 2007; Dr. and Mrs. Kern Wildenthal, 2006; Gretchen Minyard Williams and J.L. “Sonny” Williams, 2005; Geraldine “Tincy” Miller, 2004; and Susan and Charles Cooper, 2003.

“I was honored merely to be considered for this award,” said Kathleen Mason. “It is especially meaningful, as my long-time mentor in this business was president of her class when it was Texas Woman’s College. It is gratifying to be in the company of the distinguished previous recipients and to be recognized by the academic leadership community of Texas Woman’s University.”

Kathleen Mason is a retail executive with more than 25 years successful merchandising, marketing and management experience in department, chain and specialty stores. She is currently President and CEO of Tuesday Morning Corporation, North America’s largest operator of first quality, deep discount and closeout home furnishings and gift stores.