(Marlene Phillips with Cohort 5 Alum, Sarah Mae Jennings.)
Marlene Phillips and the Center for Women in Government at the Jane Nelson Institute for Women's Leadership at Texas Woman's University make attending LBJWCS possible for dozens of Texas applicants.
Tell us more about your own background and what led you to TWU!
Since I was young I've admired trailblazing women - Elizabeth Blackwell, Jane Addams, Francis Perkins, Clara Barton, Geraldine Ferraro, Shirley Chisholm and the list goes on. After a stint on Capitol Hill working for Congressman Ralph Hall, I got my dream job of working at the American Red Cross. I felt I was literally walking in Clara Barton's footsteps every day. Giving meaning to my life through service to others is a compulsion that has carried me through tough days in disaster response at the Red Cross, to HIV/AIDS prevention work with Peace Corps in Namibia, on to the Foreign Service with all the ways that Officers support American interests abroad, and now to Texas Woman's University. Here at TWU, I am full of gratitude for the opportunities I have to educate, engage, and empower women into greater public service roles, and I'm doing it in the name of another trailblazing woman, I admire - Jane Nelson.
How did this partnership between TWU and LBJWCS begin?
The partnership between the Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership (JNIWL) and LBJWCS goes all the way back to the beginning with the establishment of LBJWCS. Nancy Bocskor, the former Director of what was then called the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy at the JNIWL, knew Amy Kroll, the LBJWCS founder and its first executive director. Nancy provided advice and financial support from the JNIWL to help launch the first cohort of LBJWCS. Though Nancy moved on from the JNIWL, she created the foundations that endure today. Since 2020 and seven cohorts, the JNIWL through its Center for Women in Government has covered the cost of LBJWCS for 288 Texans.
What makes the LBJ Women's Campaign School unique, and why do you believe programs like this are important for women in politics?
The LBJ Women’s Campaign School is unique in its structure which leads to lasting connections among its cohort members and alumni. It’s no secret that winning an election requires a lot of support and a relatively large network. Building a strong personal and professional network is particularly important for women who are seeking elected office because traditional supports like those from political parties are not made available to women in the same way and timeline as they are for men. Other campaign schools are short and intense. Those short programs leave no time for participants to build relationships with fellow participants nor to learn from the experiences of others in the cohort. LBJWCS is a six month program that intentionally creates opportunities for shared learning and meaningful connection. We’ve heard time and again from alumni how their LBJWCS “family” made the difference in their election outcomes. LBJWCS is simply vitally important!
What would you say to someone who is considering applying to the LBJ Women's Campaign School but isn't sure if they're ready?
“Growth and fear go hand in hand; do it! Don’t think about the program as a whole. Take it one step and one day at a time. Before you know it; you’ll be done and basking in the glow of your accomplishment.
Hundreds of women are making a huge impact in their communities because of the confidence and skills they gained through LBJWCS. Our democracy needs you as an elected representative, a career public servant, or as an advocate. Don’t put off the positive impact that you can make.”
What do applicants need to know before they apply for a reimbursement award?
It’s a joy to support each cohort member’s educational and experiential attainment through LBJWCS!
First they need to know that we are here to help, and second it’s a bit of a process. Please don’t wait until the last minute to apply because that restricts our ability to help.
Applicants will apply for admission to the program through the University of Texas’s LBJ School AND they will apply for the reimbursement funding through Texas Woman’s University’s Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership. It’s a two part process. This is a good exercise for anyone truly interested in running for office or managing a campaign. Both processes allow applicants to flex their time management, record keeping, and administration skills!
Let me just emphasize that supporting the LBJWCS is a priority initiative for me and the CWG team. We want to make the application process as easy and as accessible as possible. So if there are any questions or challenges, please just reach out.
Apply for the CWG Reimbursement Funding Award: https://twu.edu/center-women-government/lbj-womens-campaign-school/