Last Wednesday, Chancellor Carine M. Feyten announced that celebrated psychologist and psychometrician Dr. Richard W. Woodcock has presented a pioneering donation of $10 million dollars, the largest donation in the history of Texas Woman’s University. The proceeds of this endowment will fund the new Woodcock Institute for Advancement of Neurocognitive Research to be located on the TWU Denton campus. Woodcock is the senior author of the Woodcock-Johnson Test of Cognitive Abilities and Achievement meant to evaluate cognitive abilities and achievement in oral language skills for both children and adults between the ages of two and early 90’s. An additional $1 million dollars in annual royalties from the administering the tests along with interest generated from the donation will continue to fund the growth of the institute.
This new institute will be led by TWU professor emeritus and former chair of the university’s psychology and philosophy department, Daniel C. Miller. Feyten credits the decision of Woodcock to locate the new institute at TWU to Dr. Miller citing a long-standing relationship between the two colleagues. According to a university press release, Feyten said Miller will pave the way for the growth and creation of the institute beginning Sept. 1st. Woodcock also intends to join TWU as a research professor, conducting guest lectures and collaborating with professors across campus and expanding all over Texas and beyond. The institute provides significant opportunity for graduate students from various fields including nursing and psychology under supervision of faculty to evaluate children with different needs based on these cognitive tests. This institute will extend its services to the Denton community.
The Lasso will continue to follow this important addition in TWU history as updates arise.
By: Katie Olson | Editor-in-Chief
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