The Power of Prayer in My Leadership Journey

One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned —especially as the President of Texas Wesleyan University , a faith-based university—is I don’t walk this path alone. The decisions to make, challenges facing education, and opportunities given—I often rely on the power of prayer to help determine the best decisions.

My faith journey began early, thanks to my parents. They didn’t just speak about faith—they lived it. I am grateful to my parents for introducing me to my faith - every day it shapes who I am as a woman, wife, parent, daughter, sister, friend and colleague.

Reading that list made me smile and share this with my girls. Somehow, each one had come true. Today, I do attend meaningful events supporting causes close to my heart. I have served at higher education institutions in multiple states. I have been blessed with a beautiful family including two daughters. That piece of paper reminded me of a bigger truth: God had been guiding me, even as a child—hearing my prayers, shaping my heart, and preparing me for many roles in life.

It may seem like a small thing—a child’s wish list tucked inside a Bible—but for me, it is a symbol of the power of prayer. A testament to what happens when we invite God into our hearts. Prayer isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about trusting the all-knowing God.

As a mother and a leader, I want to instill that same value in my own girls—that their prayers matter, that God is listening, and that His plans for their lives are good. I want them to know, like I did through my parents, that faith is not something you turn to only in hard times—it’s a way of life. And I carry that same hope for the students at TXWES: that they, too, can know the peace, strength, and clarity that comes from a prayerful relationship with God.

One of the Scriptures that continues to guide me is Romans 8:28:

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

At Texas Wesleyan, I have the incredible privilege of serving a community with deep Methodist heritage. My hope is that as our RAMily connects with one another, they experience a campus grounded in compassion, shaped by commitment to what is best for students, and strengthened by the courage to lead with purpose. My own heart was formed long ago—nurtured by praying parents, a well-worn childhood Bible, and a dream rooted in connection, family, and service.