WT News & Notes | August 2026

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

CANYON, Texas - Here's a roundup of the latest news and accomplishments of West Texas A&M University students, faculty and staff.

WT Veteran Services Wins Statewide Award

For a third year, Texas Veterans Commission has awarded WT's Office of Military and Veteran Services a gold Veterans Education Excellence Recognition Award.

The award recognizes the University's commitment toward ensuring the academic success of veterans and the military community.

The state legislature established the VEERA program in 2013 to recognize public colleges and universities; awards have been presented since 2021.

The award will be accepted at The Texas A&M University System Military-Affiliated Symposium from Oct. 5 to 6 in Frisco by Amy Criss, director of military and veteran services.

"It is an honor to accept the VEERA award for a third year," Criss said. "This is a reflection of WT's commitment to serving those who have served our country and motivates us to continue to help veterans and their families thrive at WT. We are proud that our students feel supported and valued during their time here."

Military and Veterans Services provides support for active-duty service members, veterans and families of either, offering access to a variety of educational benefits programs for them and their dependents.

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Hunt Wins Western Literature Award

Dr. Alex Hunt, Regents Professor of English in West Texas A&M University's Department of English, Philosophy and Modern Languages, recently was named winner of a prestigious award from the Western Literature Association.

Hunt was given the 2026 Delbert and Edith Wylder Award, presented to longtime WLA members for "exceptional contributions to the association," according to WLA.

"The WLA is delighted to present the award this year to Alex Hunt for his dedicated service to our organization, for his exceptional organization of the 2019 conference in Estes Park, and for his multifaceted contributions to our field throughout his career," wrote Jada Ach, awards committee chair.

Hunt was presented the award at the association's 2026 conference, held Aug. 26 to 29 in Eugene, Oregon.

"I am honored to receive the Wylder Award," said Hunt, founder and associate director of WT's Center for the Study of the American West. "Because the Wylder is the WLA's highest expression of its appreciation of a member, and because the WLA has been my career-long steadfast scholarly association, it means a great deal to me."

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Vestal Appointed Teaching Excellence Center Director

Dr. Mallory Vestal is the new director of West Texas A&M University's Teaching Excellence Center.

The center was established in 2009 as a resource to support teaching and learning across the University through workshops, seminars, discussion and review of quality materials. It also provides consulting services and peer observation opportunities for enhancing teaching.

"Our campus is filled with remarkable educators who bring innovation, passion and expertise into their classrooms and disciplines," Vestal said. "My goal is to foster a culture where excellence is recognized, shared and continually pursued. By celebrating the accomplishments of our colleagues, we elevate the quality of education for our students and inspire each other to push the boundaries of what is possible in teaching and learning."

Vestal continues to serve as the Plug Piehl Professor of Agriculture and assistant department head of the Department of Agricultural Sciences in the Paul Engler College of Agricultural and Natural Sciences.

The director position last was held by Dr. Bryan Vizzini, who now serves as head of the Department of History in the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities.

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WT Band Sorority Earns National Accolade

West Texas A&M University's chapter of Tau Beta Sigma national honorary band sorority recently earned a national commendation.

The Xi chapter of the sorority was recognized for its "exceptional commitment, leadership and engagement" and for distinguishing itself "through an extraordinary commitment."

"We know that this level of engagement does not happen by accident," wrote Allison Leeman, national president, and Monika Monk, national vice president for membership and expansion. "It is the result of members who are invested in one another, leaders who cultivate excellence, and a chapter culture that embraces opportunities to learn, serve and grow."

"The Xi Chapter is an invaluable part of our band program," said Dr. Russ Teweleit, chapter co-sponsor and WT's Father Anthony C. Neusch Professor of Band. "They do so much to support our students, our bands and the music department, and they really live out the ideals of Tau Beta Sigma through their leadership and service. I'm proud of the work they do and thrilled to see them receive this well-deserved recognition on a national level."

"This recognition is especially meaningful because it celebrates not just what this chapter has accomplished, but the culture of commitment, leadership and excellence that WT band students have built together," said Brianne Barger, co-sponsor.

The chapter was established in 1949, the 14th national chapter of the sorority, which serves college bands, promotes women in music, and supports excellence within the collegiate band community.

It supports the Prairie Thunder Band Program in the School of Music in the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities.

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Kimbell Makes Finals of National Teaching Competition

Joanna Kimbell, the Don Patterson Professor of Business Law in West Texas A&M University's Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business, recently was a finalist in a national teaching competition.

Kimbell competed in the Charles M. Hewitt Master Teacher Competition at the 2026 Academy of Legal Studies in Business conference in late July.

ALSB is an association of teachers and scholars in the fields of business law, legal environment and law-related courses outside of professional law schools. The competition highlights the best classroom teaching, particularly the incorporation of new or evolving course subject matter, cultural contexts, pedagogy, and technology. The goal is deeper engagement of students in the learning process and of faculty in their guild.

Kimbell's "Negotiate Against the Machine" is an artificial intelligence-powered role-play exercise that teaches conflict styles and what negotiating with an artificial opponent reveals about real-world dispute resolution, among other skills.

Kimbell joined the Engler College of Business in 2015. She teaches business law, law and economics, and conflict resolution and negotiation. Her research focuses on internet law, contract law and business strategy.

"One of the things I enjoy most about teaching is finding new ways to move students from understanding a concept to applying it," Kimbell said. "'Negotiate Against the Machine' gives students a chance to experiment with negotiation and conflict styles in a low-stakes environment then examine what working with an artificial opponent can teach them about negotiating with real people."

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WT Researcher Presents Findings in Improving Health Messaging

Dr. Li Chen, associate professor of media communication in the Department of Communication in the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities at West Texas A&M University, recently presented results from a study in efficient health messaging.

Chen and coauthor Dr. Ge Zhu from William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, presented their results in "Improving HPV Vaccine Uptake Among Young Adult Males: A Construal Level Theory-Based Experiment" at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication on Aug. 5.

Chen and Zhu's study focuses on young adult males because HPV poses significant health risks to men and sexually active men play an important role in HPV transmissions, but HPV vaccination uptake among adult men remains considerably lower than among women. In the study, they attempted to identify the messaging strategies that can improve uptake among this social group.

The study suggests that messaging focusing on both immediate and long-term benefits are persuasive, Chen said.

"The findings suggest that to encourage young adult males who do not think they fact high HPV infection risks to get the HPV vaccines, health educators should either emphasize that vaccination benefits oneself immediately or emphasize that vaccination benefits both oneself and his partner in the long run," Chen said.

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Retired WT Faculty Update Essential Energy Textbook

Kenneth Starcher, a retired West Texas A&M University engineering instructor, and Dr. Vaughn C. Nelson, a retired WT physics professor and former dean, recently completed the fourth edition of an energy textbook.

The revised edition of "Wind Energy: Renewable Energy and the Environment" was published in May through CRC Press.

The book explores the wind industry from its inception to today. The new edition offers three new chapters on climate change, energy storage and observations, as well as a solutions manual for instructors.

Starcher, a WT alum, and Nelson co-founded WT's Alternative Energy Institute. Nelson, who served as dean of the Graduate School, Research and Information Technology until 2001, was named a professor emeritus in 2005.

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: 65 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 41 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor's and master's degree, a specialist degree and three 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.

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