Cultivating Leadership
Leadership Women Welcomes Three TTUHSC El Paso Employees Into 2023 Leadership Texas Cohort
The state-wide women’s leadership program complements the university’s mission to develop leaders who make a positive impact on the community
Three Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso leaders are representing the university and expanding their influence after being accepted into the 2023 Leadership Texas cohort.
Paola Flores, executive associate in the Office of Institutional Advancement; Cyd Goldfarb, senior director of admissions and recruitment for the Hunt School of Dental Medicine, and Iskra Jacobo, managing director of datacenter operations for Information Technology, were among 85 women accepted into the prestigious program, presented by Leadership Women, Inc., a Dallas-based nonprofit.
Leadership Women selected women across the state for their professional, cultural, geographic and ethnic diversity, as well as their desire to collaborate with leaders from a broad spectrum of disciplines and interests.
“I think the value of having female leaders involved in the community can be significant for every aspect of the decision-making process,” said Jacobo. “Women ensure a broader range of experiences and perspectives, empowering other women through communication and prioritization of gender-specific issues, which can enhance institutional performance.”
Leadership Texas is the longest-running women’s leadership program in the country, providing networking opportunities for the past 40 years to women at all decision-making levels in political, economic and public life. The 2023 Leadership Texas cohort includes women leaders who represent a broad spectrum of professions, forming an invaluable network across the state and beyond.
This year, the 2023 cohort has visited Dallas and College Station. During the February visit to Dallas, they visited the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas to discuss the importance of a strong financial system and a healthy economy. Following that, they toured CitySquare, a nonprofit organization offering services addressing hunger, health, housing and hope. While in College Station in May, the cohort toured Disaster City, a 52-acre training facility for emergency responders, and the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum.
Goldfarb said the visits were carefully crafted, full of interaction and participant involvement, allowing the cohort of women to develop their leadership skills, raise awareness about organization issues, listen to different perspectives and apply practical strategies day-to-day.
“I believe in the idea that we all have the capacity to learn from others as well as teach others,” said Goldfarb. “This shared experience of Leadership Texas allows for women from all walks of life and from all over Texas to engage with each other. For me personally, these experiences have provided me an opportunity to expand my perspective along with broadening my leadership style.”
In September, the cohort will tour and engage with Leadership Women program graduates in El Paso, including at TTUHSC El Paso, and will graduate from Leadership Women. It’s a notable time, as the university celebrates its 10th anniversary, something Jacobo said is special for her.
“El Paso has a unique and vibrant identity, a blend of the Mexican and American cultures. I’m very grateful about our city being included as one of the three host cities for this year’s cohort,” she said. “Our institution has not only played a vital role in the community for the past 10 years, but we also have inspirational women in leadership positions across medicine, science, education, research and student organizations.”
TTUHSC El Paso builds those positions by remaining at the forefront of growing women leaders who will impact the community, ensuring women are represented in every type of environment and have a seat at the table in diverse industries.
“Being selected to represent TTUHSC El Paso as a woman leader allows me to embrace my leadership potential and apply what I learn immediately after returning to campus,” Jacobo said.
About Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso
TTUHSC El Paso is the only health sciences center on the U.S.-Mexico border and serves 108 counties in West Texas that have been historically underserved. It’s a designated Title V Hispanic-Serving Institution, preparing the next generation of health care heroes, 48% of whom identify as Hispanic and are often first-generation students.
Established as an independent university in the Texas Tech University System in 2013, TTUHSC El Paso is celebrating 10 years as a proudly diverse and uniquely innovative destination for education and research. According to a 2022 analysis, TTUHSC El Paso contributes $634.4 million annually to our Borderplex region’s economy.
With a mission of eliminating health care barriers and creating life-changing educational opportunities for Borderplex residents, TTUHSC El Paso has graduated over 2,000 doctors, nurses and researchers over the past decade, and will add dentists to its alumni beginning in 2025. For more information, visit ttuhscepimpact.org.