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Four Tyler women were among 101 Texas Women of Distinction honored as the American Association of University Women celebrated 100 years of advancement for women in Texas at the Biennial Convention, April 25-27 in Dallas, AAUW spokesperson Jackie Littleton said.

Dr. Vickie Geisel, Sharon Himsl, Dr. Dorothy Scott and Chris Selman were nominated by the Tyler Branch of AAUW and the League of Women Voters for the honor. They joined nationally-known Texas women such as Ann Richards and the Barbara Jordan, as well as women whose achievements are not so well known outside of their own communities.

Dr. Geisel has served as dean of College Preparatory Studies and Support Services at Tyler Junior College and has chaired the Expanding Your Horizons event for middle school girls, sponsored by Tyler AAUW and TJC, since its inception.

The recipient of many awards in the field of education, Dr. Geisel’s objective is “to use my education and community college experience to advance the lives and education of girls and women, and to promote equal access to a college education for at-risk students,” she said.

After visiting refugee camps in war-torn countries, Sharon Himsl saw that young people who had endured the horrors of war urgently needed peace-building skills and that they would be highly receptive to learning ways of preventing future violent conflict, Ms. Littleton said.

“She developed a prototype for a neutrally located summer peace camp where young people could study conflict transformation,” she said.

A distinguished educator at the high school, community college and university levels, Dr. Dorothy Scott has been a role model and mentor of female students and a leader in local and state professional and service organizations such as AAUW. She has received numerous awards including the Distinguished Service Award from AAUW Texas in 1989.

Chris Selman is the only life member of the Tyler/Smith County League of Women Voters. A citizen activist, Mrs. Selman has been involved in programs for voting rights, jobs, welfare, and education. At age 91, she continues as an active, important force in the League and other local community organizations.

The Tyler Branch was awarded a Tyler Star Award for its sponsorship of Expanding Your Horizons, Great Decision Foreign Policy Discussion series, the Academic Rodeo spelling bee, and contributions to local scholarships and other educational projects, Ms. Littleton said.