March 18-19, 2026, Abilene, Texas:
“I like when things happen organically,” said Emily Jacques, Director of Donor Events & Stewardship at McMurry University, when she contacted me last fall, out-of-the-blue, to see if I would present at the university’s 2026 Women’s Leadership Luncheon, held annually in March in Abilene, Texas.
She recalled our meeting several years ago at the Pink Adobe Restaurant in Santa Fe, where we struck up a conversation about art, storytelling, and education. Rather than the usual route of relying on a speaker agency, she gambled on me, someone she’d met years ago, by chance, and only once.
Over two days, I visited with McMurry University’s Studio Art and Art History students, shared George’s paintings and story with 5th graders from Abilene Independent School District, and delivered a personal testimony to 340 university supporters during a luncheon benefiting scholarships for young women. Additional highlights include the engaging, dynamic students I met as part of the university’s programming, the creative paintings by 5th graders inspired by animals from All Kind Animal Initiative, and a generous 40 minutes with an attentive, gracious audience during the luncheon.
After hundreds of presentations inspired by George Rodrigue’s life and art, I broke new ground with a focus on my own story and my internal uneasiness surrounding my identity, equality, and yes, leadership. From the stage, I felt not only the intense focus of the audience, but also a connection that linked us. Yes, I was doing the talking, but they replied to me with an unspoken and inescapable communication.
The exchange was powerful, and not only was I deeply moved, the experience marks a shift for me as a speaker. And as a woman.
Thank you to Emily Jacques, McMurry President Dr. Lynne Murray, and all who joined us recently in Abilene. I am grateful for the experience; I wish you success and joy on your individual journeys; and I hope to see you again!
Wendy
“The people we met at McMurry were a bunch of real nice folks, and furthermore, they are excellent at their job. Out of all the institutions we’ve dealt with for Wendy’s Life & Legacy Foundation, to their credit, they run a tight and organized ship!
“My wife at the Women’s Leadership Luncheon delivered a heartfelt and meaningful experience through her speaking and storytelling skills. I’m proud to say that she improves with every engagement she makes. To Emily Jacques’s credit, she wisely chose to take a chance on Wendy as the keynote speaker as opposed to selecting from a computer list of possible speaking candidates. This was Wendy’s best yet, and I love her!”
