WT Honors Top Staff Members for 2025-2026

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

CANYON, Texas - A West Texas A&M University staff member whose singular vision "elevates the University's most visible moments" was presented WT's highest staff honor at a June 30 event.

Lisa Hoff Davis, director of University events, was presented the Clarence E. Thompson Staff Excellence Award during WT's All-Staff Service Awards, held June 30 in Legacy Hall inside the Jack B. Kelley Student Center on the Canyon campus.

"I'm honored," Hoff Davis said. "I'm honored to be chosen for this award, but mostly, I'm honored to be able to do the work that I do. I love working for our leadership and for the University at large. This is the best job I've ever had."

In addition, Amy Criss, director of military and veteran services, was named the WT Employee of the Year following a vote by faculty and fellow staff members amid a field of 11 other employees of the month.

Hoff Davis, who joined WT in 2017, plays a central role in planning some of the University's most significant events, including those for distinguished alumni events, faculty and staff, the President's office, major donors and the community.

Highlights include the bookends of the One West comprehensive fundraising campaign: a kickoff event on the floor of Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium, featuring research demonstrations from each of WT's six Colleges, and a finale in which the record-breaking $208.7 million fundraising total was announced.

"Each of these requires not only logistical precision but also a deep understanding of the University's mission and its diverse audiences," wrote supervisor Tyson Willis in a nomination letter. "Lisa plans and implements University events with remarkable consistency which reflect the excellence and prestige of the institution. Her ability to coordinate across departments, anticipate challenges, and create meaningful experiences ensures events run seamlessly while leaving a lasting positive impression."

The Thompson Award is named for a former mayor of Canyon who worked at WT for decades, ultimately serving as vice president for business and finance.

Hoff Davis is a prime example of WT's commitment to its students and mission, speakers said, as are the winners of two staff excellence awards: Krystal Cznesnowski, Clery compliance office for the University Police Department, and Dayna Schertler, senior director of student health and wellness.

Cznesnowski, who began working at WT in 2021, was lauded for making "significant and substantive improvements that have transformed WT's Clery compliance program into a model of thoroughness, engagement and innovation," wrote University Police Chief Shawn Burns.

"Krystal's dedication, innovation and collaborative spirit have resulted in a robust, transparent and highly effective Clery compliance program that protects and informs the entire campus community," Burns wrote.

Schertler, who returned to WT in 2014 after originally starting work here in 1996 as a counselor and part-time instructor, was saluted for her commitment "to creating a team that supports the holistic wellbeing of students," wrote nominator Amber Black, assistant vice president of student affairs.

"Because of the work Dayna does on our campus, her work is often confidential in nature, so her work sometimes goes unnoticed by others," Black said. "I cannot tell you the number of lives she has likely saved on our campus, and former students often mention years later that Dayna helped them during a particularly painful time in college."

In addition to being named the April employee of the month at WT, Criss was presented the Faculty/Staff Military-Connected Excellence Award by the Texas A&M System Veteran & Military Services office. She helped secure WT two gold Veterans Education Excellence Recognition Awards, among other recognition for military and veteran services.

In addition to Criss, employees of the month for the 2025-2026 academic year were Emily Key-Domme, Graduate School; Gregg Lawler, Academic Success; Krista Posey, Lock Shop; Kendra Braughton, Accounting and Business; Becky Warren, Counseling Services: Chelsea Kuehler, Cornette Library; Janna Johnson, Human Resources; Daulton Eastin, Cornette Library; Cindy Grabbe, Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences: Kimberly Hanna, Graduate School; and Clarissa Streater, Civil Rights and Title IX.

Also recognized at the luncheon were all employees who have worked at WT for significant numbers of years:

• 35 years: Dr. James Gibbs, Student Medical Services; Shawna Kennedy-Witthar, Cornette Library; and Roy York, SSC
• 30 years: Shawn Burns, University Police; and Emil Shipman, SSC
• 20 years: Chance Haugen, Student Affairs; Meredith Jameson, Athletics; Dana Melcher, Financial Aid; Cindy Riggs, SSC; and Christina Stockton, Child Development Center
• 15 years: Cory Hall, Athletics
• 10 years: Lauren Cazarez, Business Office; Dr. Brooke DePue, Institutional Research; Keely Doyle, Mathematics; Ashley Eller, Informational Technology; Jerry Faltinek, University Police; Mary Freas, Sports and Exercise Sciences; Aaron Goodale, University Police; Renee Ingersoll, Registrar; Janna Johnson, Human Resources; Kat Kane, Career and Professional Development; Luke Kaspar, Athletics; Sedrick Knowlton, Admissions; Caitlin Lamberson, Information Technology; Charley Marsh, Information Technology; Mevlyn Moudy, Residential Living; Brandy Pacheco, Provost Office; Nikki Patterson, Philanthropy and External Relations; Krista Posey, Lock Shop; Richard Smith, Research and Compliance; Teri Simpson, Student Accessibility; and Chinhda Sysombath, Philanthropy and External Relations
• Five years: Brianne Barger, Communication; Destiny Blundell, Registrar; Krystal Czesnowski, University Police; Caitlin Eastin, Human Resources; Itzel Anett Enriquez, Study Abroad and Distinguished Scholars; Jeffrey Farris, Cornette Library; Jordyn Gallagher, University Police; Tamra Gallagher, University Police; Jessica Hanke, Extended Studies; Zane Hunt, University Police; Andy Kraus, Information Technology; Evelyn Montoya, Student Affairs; Kelly Carper Polden, Philanthropy and External Relations; Ray Rigoni, Education; Clarissa Streater, Civil Rights and Title IX; and Amy Wardlow, Cornette Library

Staff members who retired in 2026 also were recognized: Tina Good, Chari Hill, Karla Johnson, Kent Johnson, Shelly McCune, Sherri McIlroy, Kirk Moore, Loretta Moore, Luanne Rickwartz, Randy Rikel, Mark Scroggins, Marilyn Shuman, Melissa Picon Simons, Paul Sweetgall and Melody Youngblood.

Also celebrated were outgoing and incoming members of the WT Staff Council, as were employees who completed degrees in the past year: John Bassett, Kendra Braughton, Magen Brazile, Tyler Burch, Megan Groff, Christian Guerrero, Shannon Ham, Michelle Howington, Janna Johnson, Andy Kraus, Courtney Leal, Frederick Leighton III, Katie McBride, Jasmin Montoya-Moore, Ashlyn Olguin, Dr. Victoria Salas, Vanessa Vidana and Rachel Williams.

A commitment to excellence among faculty and staff is a key component 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: West Texas A&M University President Walter V. Wendler congratulates, from left, Lisa Hoff Davis, winner of the Clarence E. Thompson Staff Excellence Award; Krystal Cznesnowski and Dayna Schertler, winners of staff excellence awards.

-WT-