Top 6 women to attend Texas Tech University

Written by Stratton Sims
Alpha Media Intern

As a tribute to the world-known holiday, we put together a list of the top six women to attend
Texas Tech University for International Women’s Day.
International Women’s Day (IWT) is marked to celebrate economic, political and social
achievements made by women, while also calling for greater equality.
6. Emily Jones McCoy – Sports Reporter, Texas Rangers Baseball Club
Emily Jones McCoy attended Texas Tech from 1995-1998, earning her Bachelor’s degree in
broadcast journalism. After stepping away from KCBD-TV in Lubbock in 2004, McCoy would
join FOX Sports Southwest as a sideline reporter in college football.
McCoy would also serve as a pre- and post-game reporter and anchor for FOX Sports Southwest,
as she would cover the Texas Rangers, Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars.
In 2014, she would sign a contract with the Texas Rangers organization, designating her as a
reporter for the club.
5. Lieutenant General Wendy M. Masiello – Director of the Defense Contract Management
Agency, United States Air Force
After graduating in 1980 with a Bachelor’s degree of Business Administration in Marketing from
Texas Tech, and a distinguished graduate of the ROTC program at the university, Wendy M.
Masiello would work her way up in the ranks within the United States Air Force where she now
serves as Lieutenant General.
General Masiello is currently the Director of the Defense Contract Management Agency, a
Department of Defense agency that executes worldwide contract management responsibilities
overseeing more than 20,000 contractors and over $2 trillion in contract values.
From 2004-05, General Masiello would be deployed to Iraq as Principal Assistant for
Contracting Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, where she was responsible for contracting and
acquisition support to forces in both countries, security transportation in Afghanistan and
humanitarian relief following the Pakistan earthquake.
Lieutenant General Wendy M. Masiello has earned nine major awards or decorations during her
service, including a Distinguished Service Medal, a Bronze Star Medal and a Global War on
Terrorism Service Medal.

4. Elizabeth Watson – Houston Police, Chief of Police
Serving as Houston’s first and only female police chief, Elizabeth Watson graduated Texas Tech
with a degree in Psychology in 1971 before joining the Houston police force in 1972. Watson
(40) would take over the force after former Chief of Police Lee P. Brown left to be the Police
Commissioner of New York City in 1990.
During her time in the force, Watson was also a detective and lieutenant while also becoming the
first female Captain of the Houston Police in 1984 and first female Deputy Chief in 1987.
Watson’s leadership as Chief of Police in Houston was seen as a major event, as she earned the
highest ranking position within the force for one of the largest departments in the United States
at the time.

3. Mrs. Lucille S. Graves – Student at Texas Tech
Although she already held a Bachelor’s degree to her name, Lucille S. Graves would enroll and
attend a summer session at Texas Technological College in 1961, making her the first African
American student to enroll at the then-called college.
Graves’ attendance and “persistent petitioning” at what is now known as Texas Tech University,
helped serve as a stepping stone for other African Americans to attend Texas Tech, as 17 African
American students would be admitted in the fall after her first semester.
In a “Women Who Shaped Texas Tech” exhibit, Graves’ is credited for the peaceful, non-violent
integration at the traditionally white college with her enrollment.
In 1954, she founded the Mary and Mac Private School serving as a preschool for African
American students which had aspirations for students to become recognized members of society
while also giving an alternative from public schools during a time where private schools
dedicated to African American were rare.

2. Karen Tandy – Former Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Agency
Graduating from Texas Tech as well the Texas Tech School of Law in 1977, Karen Tandy served
as the administrator of the Drug Enforcement Agency after being appointed by President George
W. Bush, making her the first female overseeing the DEA.

Before becoming appointed administrator of the DEA in 2003, Tandy served as a federal
prosecutor in various positions under the U.S. Department of Justice such as Associate Deputy
Attorney General, Director of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force, and as a
U.S. Attorney in Virginia and Washington.
Tandy currently serves as Vice Chair on the Homeland Security Advisory Council, a council
which provides the Secretary real-time, real-world, and independent advice to support decision-
making across the spectrum of homeland security operations, according to the Homeland
Security Advisory Council's webpage.
1. Anita Carmona-Harrison – Lubbock ISD
Current resident to Lubbock, Anita Carmona-Harrison is recognized as the first Latina to
complete and graduate from the entire Lubbock School System (K-12), as well as graduating
from Texas Tech in 1967.
With a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, Carmona-Harrison would be a leading
advocate in breaking the language barrier within Lubbock ISD schools, championing bilingual
education in the district and developing the first curriculum guide for bilingual kindergarten in
1969, according to the district.
In August of 2021, Anita Carmona-Harrison Elementary School would open to the public in
Lubbock, becoming the only agricultural STEM elementary campus in Lubbock ISD.
Carmona-Harrison taught for more than 30 years in the Lubbock school district.