WT Faculty Honored for Institutional Service at Year-End Event

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, [email protected]

CANYON, Texas - Several West Texas A&M University faculty members were recognized for outstanding service to the University at a year-end gathering.

"Outstanding faculty and staff members are the most critical assets of a great university," said Dr. Neil Terry, provost and executive vice president of academic affairs. "Winning a University award is a special moment in one's professional career, made even more meaningful by knowing they have earned the highest level of respect from their peers, the dean, the administration, and others."

The faculty winners represent each of WT's six Colleges. Each year faculty members also are recognized in the six academic colleges for accomplishments in the core areas of teaching, research and service.

University-wide recognition demonstrates one of the highest levels of respect a faculty member can achieve based on the nomination and selection process, including input from peers, administrators, students and other campus stakeholders.

Spring commencement ceremonies are scheduled for May 15 and 16.

Dr. Jeremy Lewis, professor of low brass in the School of Music in WT's Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities , and Dr. Anirban Pal, assistant professor of engineering in the College of Engineering , were presented the Instructional Responsibilities Excellence Award.

Lewis, who joined WT in 2008, earned degrees from Texas Christian University, Indiana University, and Texas Tech University. He has performed with orchestras throughout the United States.

"His strong commitment to teaching innovation through national and international conference participation, integration of emerging technologies via an AI-focused pilot program, and the implementation of critical thinking and peer feedback frameworks yielded a highly engaged studio culture in which students feel supported, motivated, and accountable," said Dr. Dan Peterson, dean of the Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities.

Pal earned degrees in mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology-Kharagpur and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he also pursued post-doctoral studies. He joined WT in 2019 and teaches engineering and programming fundamentals.

"Dr. Pal exemplifies what innovative engineering education should be," said Dr. Emily Hunt, dean of the College of Engineering. "He doesn't just teach concepts; he builds environments where students actively engage with high-performance computing, real-world problem solving, and interdisciplinary thinking. His approach challenges students to think deeper, work smarter, and leave the classroom prepared to lead in a rapidly evolving technological landscape."

Dr. Elizabeth Rogers, assistant professor of counseling in the Department of Education in the Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Studies , earned the Professional Service Award.

Rogers, who joined WT in 2022, earned degrees from Angelo State University and Texas Tech University. A licensed professional counselor and certified school counselor, she has served as president of the Texas School Counseling Association. She

"Dr. Rogers demonstrates exemplary professional service through her sustained, meaningful contributions to the counseling profession and to numerous departmental and University initiatives," said Dr. Betty Coneway, head of the Department of Education and the Dr. Geneva Schaeffer Professor of Education and Social Sciences. "We are proud to recognize her for her engaged leadership and impactful professional contributions."

Dr. Keshav Shrestha, assistant professor of physics in the Department of Chemistry and Physics in the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences , and Dr. Michelle Bartlett, professor of sports and exercise science in the Department of Sports and Exercise Science in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences , won the Intellectual Contributions Excellence Award.

Shrestha, who joined WT in 2020, earned degrees from Tribuhvan University and the University of Houston and did post-doctoral research at Idaho National Laboratory and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. He teaches algebra- and calculus-based physics courses and has seen his research published in several prestigious journals.

"Dr. Shrestha's research contributions in 2025 have been outstanding, with 10 peer-reviewed publications, multiple invited presentations at international conferences, and significant collaboration and engagement with across the country," said Dr. Jason Yarbrough, head of the Departments of Chemistry and Physics and Life, Earth and Environmental Sciences . "But what makes his work especially meaningful is the level of undergraduate student research and authorship in his group. His exceptional ability to pair scholarly excellence with meaningful student mentorship distinguishes him as an exemplary scholar-educator."

Bartlett joined WT in 2009 after earning degrees from Syracuse University and West Virginia University. She teaches undergraduate sport sociology, exercise psychology, sport psychology, psychology of injury and graduate sport psychology and sociological analysis of sport.

"Dr. Bartlett has long set the benchmark for research excellence within our department and the College," said Dr. Blake Price, department head and assistant professor of sports and exercise science. "She has significantly elevated the University's visibility through her impactful contributions to the field of sport and performance psychology. She played a pivotal role in establishing the graduate sport psychology track-one of only five programs in Texas that can lead to Certified Mental Performance Consultant certification-and continues to support a wide range of undergraduate and graduate research projects and committees."

Dr. Andrew Li, the Williams Professor of Management in the Department of Management, Marketing and General Business in the Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business , won the Distinguished Graduate Faculty Award. He teaches organizational behavior, human resources management, and cross-cultural management.

Li joined WT in 2008 after earning degrees from Shantou University, the University of Northern Iowa and the University of Arizona. He teaches organizational behavior, human resources management and cross-cultural management.

"Dr. Li represents the very best of our graduate faculty," said Dr. Amjad Abdullat, dean of the Engler College of Business. "He has built a strong research record with publications in highly regarded journals, and he's deeply committed to mentoring our graduate students. That's exactly what the Distinguished Graduate Faculty Award is meant to recognize. It's one of the University's highest honors, and we're proud to see Dr. Li receive this well-deserved recognition."

Awardees, who were celebrated May 1, were given $3,000 honorariums.

Dr. Brandon Bang, associate professor of criminal justice in the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice in the Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences, was given special recognition as leader of the new Faculty Advisory Council.

Dr. Trenton Kelly, assistant professor of engineering in the College of Engineering, was presented the inaugural Geneva Schaeffer Digital Teaching Excellence Award.

In addition to Lewis and Pal, college faculty award winners for instructional responsibilities also include Bang; Dr. Dan Posey, clinical professor in the Department of Agricultural Sciences in the Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences; Andrea Blakely, instructor of management in the Department of Management, Marketing and General Business; and Dr. Austin Wiseman, the NWTH Health System / Eunice King Professorship of Nursing in the Laura and Joe Street School of Nursing in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

In addition to Shrestha and Bartlett, college faculty award winners for intellectual contributions also include Li; Dr. Yong Yang, associate professor of mathematics in the College of Engineering; Dr. Vince Nix, assistant professor of education in the Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences; and Dr. Li Chen, associate professor of media communication in the Department of Communication in the Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities.

In addition to Rogers, college faculty award winners for professional service include Dr. Trent Schwartz, assistant professor of animal science in the Department of Agricultural Sciences; Dr. Mary Liz Brooks, the Barbara Petty Professor of Business Communication in the Department of Computer Information and Decision Management in the Engler College of Business; Dr. Audrey Meador, the Clair Mayes Professor of Mathematics in the College of Engineering; Dr. Bryan Vizzini, professor of history in the Department of History in the Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities; and Landon Brown, instructor of speech and hearing sciences in the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Nurturing excellent faculty and staff 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 One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which raised more than $200 million dollars, the largest such campaign in Texas Panhandle history.

About West Texas A&M University

West Texas A&M University is a Regional Research University in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers multiple options for students to graduate and succeed: 66 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 44 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor's and master's degree, a specialist degree and two doctoral degrees. WT recently earned a Carnegie Foundation classification as a Research College and University. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 16 men's and women's athletics programs.

Photo: Several West Texas A&M University faculty members were recognized for outstanding service to the University by the Office of Academic Affairs. Top award winners were, from left, Dr. Jeremy Lewis, Dr. Andrew Li, Dr. Elizabeth Rogers, Dr. Keshav Shrestha, Dr. Michelle Bartlett and Dr. Anirban Pal.

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