2023 Bender of Twigs

I'm pleased to have been asked to join in celebrating the accomplishments of Dr. Twyla Hill as she is recognized as one of WSU's Bender of Twigs honorees. Over the years, she has been a wonderful colleague, mentor, department advocate, and friend.

Twyla joined the Department of Sociology in 1998 after completing her doctoral program at University of California-Irvine and was promoted to full professor in 2011. Since then, she has been recognized for her ongoing contributions to the university and the profession of sociology through two successful professor incentive reviews.

Her engagement with countless students over the years includes both traditional teaching commitments in the classroom and a variety of activities that promote student growth outside of the classroom environment.

Twyla's own research scholarship intersects health equities, aging, and family relationships – topics with interdisciplinary reach and that hold the potential for impacting policy and practice. She has published a multitude of research articles and technical reports, written a single-authored book, “Family Caregiving in Aging Populations”; and has made more than 65 professional presentations since joining WSU. She has received numerous internal and external grants, including funding through WSU's Convergence Science Initiative, serving as principal investigator with the only all-female research team awarded. This collective across the social and health sciences and engineering has resulted in the Institute for Health Equity Advances and is doing amazing work.

In addition, Twyla has been involved in innovative research enterprises, such as her collaboration with sociology alumni, Cheyla Clawson, the director for the School of Performing Arts at WSU. Their Sharing Matrilineal Pathways scholarship was showcased as part of the Ulrich Museum's Solving for X events and corresponding exhibitions, and their paper, “Choreographing Matrilineal Memories by Combining Oral History Interviews and Dance,” on which Twyla took lead, was awarded the Professional Issues in Aging Award through the National Council on Family Relations.

And these are just a sampling of Dr. Hill's contributions to the Wichita State community. I appreciate that Twyla is always willing to take the time to brainstorm ideas, give statistical advice, and work across the hall to answer student questions or lend an eagle eye. For these reasons and many more, I hope you join me in congratulating Twyla for 25 years of service at WSU.