Endowed Chairs and Professorships

In This Section

Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences
Endowed Chairs and Professorships

Endowed Chairs and Professorships in the college strengthen the University’s foundation of academic excellence by expanding opportunities for exceptional faculty members by providing additional resources for teaching, meaningful scholarship, and professional development. Endowed Chairs and Professorships provide the University with a valuable tool for recruiting and retaining exceptional faculty members. Funds generated from the endowment allow the University to reward scholarly excellence and encourage research while enhancing program growth and development.

For information concerning the establishment of an endowed Chair or Professorship, please contact Dr. Gary Bigham gbigham@wtamu.edu, 806-651-2603.

Teel Bivins Professor of American Politics

Dr. Reed Welch

The Teel Bivins Professor of Political Science was established in 2008, and its overwhelming support enabled the University to establish the Teel Bivins Professorship of American Politics in 2011. The professorship was funded through gifts from family, friends and colleagues of the late Ambassador Bivins and the Mary E. Bivins Foundation.

Teel Bivins Professor of Political Science

Dr. Dave Rausch

The Teel Bivins Professorship of Political Science was announced in 2008 to pay tribute to Ambassador Teel Bivins of Amarillo for his visionary leadership and the many significant contributions he made in the field of political science. The professorship was established through gifts from Bivins’ family, friends and colleagues and the Mary E. Bivins Foundation.

Lanna Hatton Professor of Learning Disabilities

Dr. Michelle Simmons

The Lanna Hatton Professor of Learning Disabilities was established in 2020 by Bob and Lanna Hatton. The professorship seeks to improve the quality of educational programs at West Texas A&M University.

Lanna and Bob Hatton Rural Leadership Professorship

Dr. Brad Johnson

The Lanna and Bob Hatton Rural Community Leadership Professorship was established in 2024 by Bob and Lanna Hatton. The professorship seeks to improve the quality of life in the Panhandle of Texas by strengthening rural education research and teacher preparation.

Sylvia Nugent Professorship of Education

Dr. Beth Garcia

The Nugent Endowed Professorship of Education was established in 2021 to honor Sylvia Nugent. Mrs. Nugent’s career highlights include political consulting, fundraising, chief of staff, and related for key political leaders, including Mac Thornberry (27-year partnership) and Four Price. The purpose of the professorship is to enhance student engagement opportunities, critical thinking, and innovation by supporting the teaching, research, and service activities of an exceptional faculty member in the Department of Education at West Texas A&M University.

John G. O'Brien Distinguished Chair in Education

Dr. Shanna Peeples

The John G. O’Brien Distinguished Chair in Education was established in 2008 by members of the John G. O’Brien family, the Amarillo Area Foundation and the Don and Sybil Harrington Foundation. The chair honors O’Brien, who instilled in his family a profound dedication to strengthening public school education in the Texas Panhandle. It establishes a collaborative enterprise between WTAMU and the Amarillo Independent School District to create and implement a state-of-the-art professional development school model for teacher preparation.

Helen Piehl Professor of Education

Dr. Ashley Campbell

The Helen Piehl Professorship of Education was established in December 2008 as a Centennial Leadership Gift from Helen Piehl, the 2007-2008 WTAMU Foundation president.

Bill Piehl Professor of Education and Social Sciences

Dr. Mikyung Shin

The Bil Piehl Professorship of Education and Socia Science was established in 2021 by Helen and Puff Piehlf to directly or indirectly benefit students with learning differences through teaching, research, and service.

Myrna Raffkind Professor of Global Education

Dr. Eddie Henderson

The Raffkind Professorship was established in 2022 by Friends of the College of Education & Social Science to honor Myrna Raffkind. The purpose of the professorship is to advance the mobility of students and scholars who go to another part of the world to study, research, and teach.

Geneva Schaeffer Professor of Education and Social Sciences

Dr. Betty Coneway

The Geneva Schaeffer Professor of Education and Social Services was established by distinguished WTAMU alumna and philanthropist Geneva Schaeffer in 2010 to stimulate academic excellence and enhance scholarship, research and instruction for faculty in the College of Education and Social Sciences.