Provided
Twenty-one West Texas A&M University faculty members have been recognized for outstanding performance by being awarded tenure and/or promotion for the 2022-23 academic year.
This total includes 17 faculty members awarded tenure and promotion to associate professor and four promotions in academic rank to professor.
Extensive reviews and recommendations by faculty colleagues at the department, college and university levels inform the decisions, which culminate with final approval by President Walter V. Wendler and The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. The Regents officially approved promotion and tenure at their May 19 meeting.
WT’s recommendations were announced at the annual spring address, which also included recognition of the retirements of seven WT faculty members.
Promotion and tenure is a privilege reserved for faculty members who have demonstrated professional accomplishments in instructional responsibilities, intellectual contributions and service.
“We are proud of our colleagues who are celebrating this well-deserved career milestone,” said Dr. Neil Terry, executive vice president and provost. “We have confidence that these faculty members will continue to contribute at a level of excellence that is critical to WT’s mission.”
The faculty members recognized include:
Award of tenure and promotion to rank of associate professor:
Christopher Baird, associate professor of physics
Stephen Karaganis, associate professor of biology
Liang Chen, associate professor of computer information systems and McCray Professor of Business Analytics
Anne-Christine Barthel, associate professor of economics
Brandli Stitzel, associate professor of economics
Anitha Subburaj, associate professor of electrical engineering and McFather Professor of Engineering, Computer Science and Mathematics
Vinitha Subburaj, associate professor of computer science
Laura Bell, associate professor of political science
Kenneth Denton, associate professor of psychology
Danney Rasco, associate professor of psychology
Malvika Behl, associate professor of school counseling
Brigette Whaley, associate professor of education
Callie Hisek, associate professor of theatre and Royal R. Brantley Professor in Theatre Studies
Mary Liz Brooks, associate professor of mass communication and Dr. Jenny Lind Porter Professor of Communication
Li Chen, associate professor of mass communication
James Barger, associate professor of music
Kimberly Hieb, associate professor of music
Promotion to professor:
David Lust, professor of animal science
Helen Reyes, professor of nursing
Nicholas Scales, professor of music
Edward Truitt, professor of dance
Retiring faculty members include:
Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences: Dr. J. Rex Lee, associate lecturer of biology
Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business: Dr. James K. Owens, professor of finance and Hodges Professor of Corporate Government
Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences: Dr. Elsa Diego Medrano, associate professor of education; and Dr. J. Keith Price, professor of sociology and criminal justice
Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities: Dr. Byron Pearson, professor of history; Dr. Jean Stuntz, professor of history
College of Nursing and Health Sciences: Laura Waight, instructor of nursing
Nurturing excellent faculty is an important principle of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.
That plan is fueled by the historic, $125 million One West comprehensive fundraising campaign. To date, the five-year campaign — which publicly launched Sept. 23 — has raised about $110 million.
-West Texas A&M University