To wake them up for the early morning class, I created a short playlist and it included Beyonce’s Rule the World and the spoken word Feminist Interlude.

It helped to spark an intriguing discussion among students. When I asked if Beyonce was a feminist, some said yes and some said no. One gentleman bravely said that she was “too sexual to be a feminist”. I couldn’t have planned it more perfectly! I asked the class what a feminist was supposed to look like and laughingly said “an older white woman like me?” There were actually a number of positive responses.

How can people question whether or not Beyonce is a feminist? Why should this even be a topic of debate? I’m lost. I find her commitment to the cause exciting and hope that she is leading a new generation of women and men to embrace the term.

Since she was a part of Destiny’s Child, Mrs. Carter has performed songs that speak to female empowerment. Her Rule the World song that is currently generating discussion is exceptionally strong. Seriously here are a couple of the lyrics “Who runs the world? GIRLS” and “Our persuasion can build a nation” How can we even question that these lyrics don’t inspire young women.

As I said, this is not her first dive into the feminist discussion. Last year, she published an essay in the Shriver Report by Maria Shriver. Click here to read it.

In my humble opinion, this dynamic young women proves the EXACT point of feminism. You can be beautiful and sexual, married, a mother, have a successful career and support equality for all women.

Thank you Beyonce! Thank you for speaking out and empowering women across the globe!

I love the start of a new semester and a new school year. We get to make all new resolutions and the students come ready to conquer the world. It will be an exciting semester for me to teach Women in Politics with female candidates all over ballots this year and a few females talking presidential politics as well.

It’s also back to politics. As families get the kids back to school, they will slowly tune back in to politics. Most consider Labor Day the official kick-off of the political season and that is probably still accurate. However, in the world of permanent campaigns, it is really the final stretch for the candidates.

We’ll keep our eye on happenings in Texas and Harris County with an occasional glance across the country, when appropriate. It has been a volatile summer on many levels. Will issues such as Ferguson stir more voters to the polls? Will significant areas of international unrest cause more Americans to pay attention to their divided home government who can’t agree on solutions?

Wendy Davis, Democratic Candidate for Governor, has already launched attack ads on her opponent who seems to be basically ignoring her presence. Abbott’s strategy worked well for Rick Perry in the past. He is clearly operating on the theory that recognizing your opponent empowers them.

Meanwhile, the Lt. Governor’s race seems to have captured more attention than Governor. After an embattled and bitter Republican primary, Dan Patrick has taken the summer to shore up his base and refill his campaign coffers. Leticia Van de Putte, the Democratic nominee, has been making tracks all across Texas and trying to inspire lackluster voters that the election matters.

In Harris County, we have a heated race for District Attorney between two female candidates – incumbent Devon Anderson (R) and challenger Kim Ogg (D). They have already garnered media attention and the race proves to be one of the most interesting battles in a county that splits its votes.

Harris County is one of the few in the state that remains in play as a “swing” county. We should see lots of action this year.

So happy back to school to all and back to more traffic, too. Welcome to a heated Texas political season!

This immediately set off a flurry of activity among potential Republican candidates.  Some announced immediately, like Senator Glenn Hegar.  Others are considering running, including the inimitable Tom Craddick, former Speaker of the Texas House and one of its longest serving members. Other names bandied about include Senator Tommy Williams and Rep. Harvey Hildebran.  Former Tea Party candidate for Governor, Debra Medina, has also announced her commitment to run.  This blogger hasn’t seen any indication of Democrats announcing for the office, only Republicans.

Susan Combs has had a long career in Texas Politics and Texans have liked having a woman as Comptroller.  For the last several years, she has been the only female among the 6 single office state wide elected officials.  There is a woman on the Texas Railroad Commission and a few women among the state wide judicial offices.  However, there is no question that among state offices, Combs has been the ranking female.

I teach Women in Politics at the University of Houston.  As a part of my ongoing research for that ever-changing course, I study women elected officials across the U.S. and beyond.  Americans truly like to put women in charge of money.  Two-thirds of elected budget positions in the U.S. are held by females.  Studies indicate that voters “trust” women more to manage money.

In Texas, we once had a State Treasurer.  This position launched Ann Richards and Kay Bailey Hutchison to higher offices.  Both of them held the position prior to being elected Governor and U.S. Senator.   Another woman, Martha Whitehead, took over the office.  The office was abolished in 1995 by Texas voters.

In 1998, Carole Keeton Rylander Strayhorn, was elected State Comptroller and a female has held the office since then.  Strayhorn served from 1998 through 2006 when she ran for Governor.  Combs was elected to the open position in 2006.

Yet, among the candidate names we hear being bandied, there is only one female – Debra Medina.  She will run as an outsider.  Will the party apparatus get behind her?

And where is the pipeline for women candidates?  With the retirement of Hutchison as U.S. Senator and the retirement of Combs,  female officeholders in Texas are dwindling rapidly.

If the Democrats were smart, they ought to find a strong female candidate with budget experience and run her for State Comptroller.  They don’t really have much of a chance in a statewide election but a strong female would be better than most.

Thanks to Susan Combs for carrying the torch statewide.

Each semester is a new adventure. During the last ten years, I have been privileged to teach different courses and meet many amazing, wonderful students. Due to my increased work and life responsibilities, I have only taught one class for the last few semesters.

That class is Women in Politics – 3390. Admittedly, I love this class and the students who enroll in it. The hunger to learn about women’s history of engagement in the political process and the honor to teach it are mutually beneficial to me and the students.

Each semester, society engages in some new activity that also presents endless fodder for the subject matter’s current events discussions and women in the political process. This year, the opportunities for discussion are endless. We’ll be able to focus on individual women seeking political office as well as the mere topic of women as it plays out during the Presidential election. This is that rare semester that comes only once every 4 years where I will have the opportunity to teach as the nation selects its leader.

My absolute favorite thing about teaching at the University of Houston is the students. One of the most diverse campuses in the nation, UH students reflect society’s rapidly changing demographics. The mix of students enrolled in the class always teach me as much as I teach them – about cultural differences around the world, about amazing women who have overcome the odds, and about what is like to be the first generation in your family to break expectations and attend college.

My passion for teaching this class allows me to share with students the importance of having good mentors. As a result, many students reach out once they have graduated and we stay in touch for a long time. Many former students land jobs in the public affairs arena and I then have an opportunity to work with them as professionals. Four of my former students are on the staffs of Council Members at City Hall and I see and talk with them frequently.

During a recent vacation, I connected with a former student in Chicago and his charming girlfriend. He had just finished law school in Illinois and we have always stayed in touch. My son and I joined he and his girlfriend at their favorite pizza place. I posted a picture on Facebook. When I came home, people asked me about it. My response, “Yes, I stay in touch with students who want to stay in touch. I’m so proud to see them succeeding in the world and share their joy!”

Countless letters of recommendations have been sent to law schools and graduate programs and innumerable calls and emails have provided advice on political engagements, jobs and much more.

I can’t wait to meet the class of Fall 2012 today and start our adventure together!

This post is not a debate about whether the battles are right or wrong or the policy issues that led us here. This is about the men and women that serve our country today and those who have served before.

As an Adjunct Professor at the University of Houston, I have the distinct pleasure of teaching 40-45 students per semester. I always have veterans among the group and occasionally, even active military soldiers. These students, both men and women, inspire me in ways I never anticipate. This semester, I have at least 5 students who are veterans.

Over the years, these veterans have taught me so much about war and service to our country. My respect for their personal sacrifices grows with each person I meet.

I recently learned that veterans returning from the wars of the last decade are not easily getting jobs and their homeless rate is increasing to levels of deep concern. While they do not experience the level of personal attacks that Vietnam Vets suffered, they are also not receiving the respect of previous soldiers.

People – wake up! These veterans are smart, dedicated and hard-working. They have gained experiences that advance their maturity far beyond their years and they want to reintegrate into our society and live normal lives again. I find that the veterans I have been privileged to teach make some of the best students.

Now, we have a President and a majority of Presidential candidates that never served their country in the military. The volunteer military of the last 30+ years should make us value our soldiers even more.

Lastly, I would like to pay tribute to my most favorite veteran of all – my Dad. A peace-time Vet, he never saw action on the battle field. Yet, he is proudest of the time he served our country and shares the experiences with my son frequently. To listen to them converse, one would think Dad left the Air Force just yesterday. We are so proud to have him with us still and proud of his service to our country.

Today, I pause from the craziness of busy schedules and commitments to salute our Veterans. Thank you!

The first day of the Fall semester is always one of my favorites. Everyone is excited, energetic (well, mostly) and ready to conquer the new school year. Of course, I teach at 8:30 in the morning and the students aren’t always fully awake. A few will be late as they are trying to figure out parking and traffic patterns.

But for me, the joy is in meeting my students. The fact is that I learn so much from them. Most teachers will tell you this is true. In my case, the term “teacher” means discussion leader and interactive partner. While I share and impart knowledge, the students provide me with perspective.

The best thing of all about teaching at the University of Houston is the diversity of my classes. As I set up my grade sheet, I studied the names of my students. Truly, the future of Houston is enrolled in this class. Today I will begin putting faces to the names but I already know that I have a very diverse class – diverse in racial backgrounds, diverse in gender and diverse in experiences.

I just consider myself so blessed to be a part of this great University and to work with the future leadership of our city!

Over the next few months, I will periodically share interesting discussions from our class.

Over the years, space policy has fascinated me. Until a couple of years ago, I taught a course at UH entitled “Science and Technology Public Policy”. NASA and the public policy of taking risks was one of the main tenets of the course. This allowed me to legitimize my fascination and share my love for the space program with students for many years. Unfortunately, much like the space program, the class became a victim of budget cuts.

NASA and space exploration are truly one of the best examinations of how government must sometimes take risks in order to advance research and improve lives.

As vividly as I remember the moon landing, I also remember a couple of shuttle explosions. These events terrified the public and would always put the space program at risk. Truth be known, no astronaut would want their death to cause America to end space exploration. We would plough through Congressional hearings and public outrage and then get the program back on track.

Space funding and research have contributed so much to our society that we don’t even value. From cordless tools to freeze-dried foods to advances in medicine, the actions of our space program have made all lives better. Click here to read more about NASA’s contributions.

This week has actually been tough on me. It’s not that I’m married to the shuttle program, per se. In fact, I thought it had outlived its purpose. It is that there is nothing on the horizon. When will we go back into space? How will scientific advances continue? Will we fall behind other countries? We have absolutely dominated space research and advances. Without some change, we will default our leadership to other parts of the world.

Not to worry though, there are only a few thousand rocket scientists out of work. I hope they are up for adventure because I’m sure they will be learning about global opportunities soon enough.

Alas, dear shuttle, you have brought great joy to our lives and gut-wrenching sadness. Most of all, you have contributed to a functioning space station and helped advance science beyond our imaginations. Thank you.

And thank you to all the dedicated NASA employees. May you find a way to continue to apply your brilliance.

This question is very popular at the moment. Many states are making changes to abortion laws, rape definitions and punishments and more. More subtle changes are occurring in the health care system where support for women’s health issues has become weaker and weaker.

I have been pondering the question. As I am blessed to teach Women in Politics, I have the opportunity to teach younger women about our history and treatment of women throughout the years. I also have the privilege of spending time with the next generation of power woman and celebrate the people they have become.

One of the current challenges is that women are essentially victims of our own success. We so fought and battled to change institutions and systems that younger women today have no institutional memory of discrimination. They dominate colleges, medical and law schools. They feel empowered to do whatever they want to pursue and see no obstacles to achieving their goals.

However, they will ultimately experience the salary discrepancy that still penetrates the workplace as they grow in their careers. Men still make about 25 – 30 cents more for every dollar women earn. They will also learn that networking is as equally important as hard work. When their male counterpart makes partner at the firm and he does half as much, they will be shocked. They will learn that lunches, schmoozing and playing golf all help to bring in business.

At some point, they are likely to pause in their careers and have children. They will then learn that this may have a significant impact on their career while their partner continues with smooth sailing.

Along the way, they will begin to recognize that we are not yet equal. We have come a long way baby, but we have a long way still to go.

Tune in today to hear more of the discussion………..

As most of you may know, I teach Women in Politics at the University of Houston. I like to call the first portion of the class “Her” story. Due to the knowledge base of my students, now an entire generation who have been schooled under standardized testing, I spend a significant part of my class focusing on women’s history.

In fact, I had planned to write today about the simple joy I experience from introducing the students to amazing women from history and then leading them up to 1920 when American women secured the right to vote.

Just to share more of this experience – I find that a handful of students may have heard of Susan B. Anthony. “His” story has painted her as the “leading suffragist”. I don’t want to minimize her role in any way but there were many others along the path. A handful of students may have heard of Sojourner Truth, most from special study during Black History month or a rare history teacher. None of them have heard of Alice Paul, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and certainly not the Grimke sisters. Although, this semester I had a rare group of students who had taken a great history class at UH where they had met some of these women.

I assure you that most of these women do not appear in the Texas revised “his”story standards.

As I end my lecture by showing Iron-Jawed Angels, the movie that traces the radical arm of the suffragist movement, I shed tears. The emotion of a well-produced HBO documentary helps convey the lengths women went to win their right to participate in the American political system.

It is touching to watch the students as they see the characters they have come to enjoy during the movie suddenly be arrested and sent to a workhouse prison. The ladies then embark on hunger strikes and protests and are mistreated for their actions.

I always wrap this section of the course with the question “Did you have any idea this is what people went through so you could have the right to vote?” NO! They do not.

Hopefully, the course creates voters for life!

This semester, I’m privileged to teach Women In Politics to 45+ inquiring young minds. I can’t wait to start sharing “herstory” with the class.

The best thing about teaching at the University of Houston is the amazing diversity of the school. In reviewing my student roster last night, I tried saying many of the names over and over to myself.

Ultimately, I have learned that no amount of practice will help me to pronounce the names correctly so I will have the students introduce themselves to me and then begin the process of matching names to faces. I like to tell my friends, “if you want to see the future of Houston, visit my class.”

The roster alone tells me that I will have a class filled with many multi-cultural backgrounds among my students. As I get to know the students throughout the semester, I will learn more about their heritage and life experiences.

For this is a class that sparks discussion. Indeed, I insist upon it, to the degree that I created a class participation grade. Students are encouraged to share their opinions and participate in spirited discussions.

At the beginning of the semester, I will struggle to get them to speak up but a few brave ones will talk with me. By the end of the semester, it will be my job to moderate as they will all have much to contribute. If this is not the case, then I have failed.

We will embark on “her”story by meeting women from the 1300’s and traveling forward to Clinton and Palin. We’ll also discuss issues and the ways that women govern and campaign. Fortunately, current events always intervene to help create discussion for this class. Topics of the day are critical to understanding the role of women in society.

Wish me luck as I set out to share knowledge with a new class of eager students and you might want to wish them luck, too!