Helen Chandler

Helen Chandler teaches first year writing and world literature. She began her career as an executive-correspondence writer at Fidelity Investments where she went on to hold various leadership positions, including Vice President of Institutional Relationship Management. She is also a certified non-profit manager and has been active as a board member in non-profit organizations. Most notable is her work as grants chair with the Dallas Women's Foundation, now the Texas Women's Foundation. While serving as grants chair, Helen led an initiative to create a grants category for emerging organizations and was co-leader of the nation's first lesbian donor-fund, resulting in funding allocations to Dallas area organizations serving the needs of LGBTQ youth. Helen writes poetry and one-act plays. Her most recent poem "Lunchroom Ladies" has been chosen for publication in the 2021 edition of SMU's PonyExpress(ions). She received degrees from Texas A&M, College Station, and SMU, Dallas, and holds an executive leadership certificate from Babson College, Wellesley, MA.