Gary Bigham, Ed.D.
Professor of Education
Senior Lead Faculty
Ed.D. Director EC-12
Office: Old Main 205C
Email: gbigham@wtamu.edu
Phone: 806-651-3622
Professional Profile
Dr. Bigham joined the College of Education and Social Sciences in 2008. He received his B.S. in agricultural education in 1988, his M.Ed. with emphasis in both agricultural education and educational administration in 1991, and his Ed.D. in educational leadership in 1999, all from Texas Tech University. Prior to his arrival at WTAMU, Dr. Bigham gained twenty years of practical field experience in Texas public schools, including nine years of teaching, six years as a principal, and five years as a superintendent. Dr. Bigham has also served as an interim superintendent and a superintendent search consultant.
Teaching and Related Service
Dr. Bigham teaches doctoral-level courses in the Educational Leadership program. He teaches all of the superintendent certification courses and works with doctoral candidates in conducting research on educational leaders, and currently serves as the director of the superintendent certification program and the interim director of the Ed.D. in educational leadership.
Dr. Bigham has presented his research at local, regional, state, national, and international conferences, events, and workshops. He has also presented professional development workshops for teachers, administrators, and school board members. He coordinates the the annual school board workshop for Texas panhandle school board members and superintendent. This is a colloaborative effort involving WTAMU, the Texas Association of School Boards, and the Region 16 Education Service Center.
Dr. Bigham currently chairs the university's Institutional Review Board (IRB) and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Additionally, Dr. Bigham serves on the university's learning management system advisory group. Dr. Bigham's past service is inclusive of membership on the Graduate Council, the Faculty Senate, and various other committees at the department, college, and university levels. Dr. Bigham also devotes service to professional organizations in educational leadership and community youth organizations in agriculture.
Research and Creative Activity
Dr. Bigham's combined total publications and presentations during his WTAMU tenure exceed 60 in number, targeting scholars and practitioners ranging in scope from local to international. As a result of Dr. Bigham's scholarly activity, he has been awarded the Faculty Excellence in Scholarly Activity Award twice by the College of Education and Social Sciences, and he has received the university's Intellectual Contributions Award.
Dr. Bigham's research focuses primarily on issues of importance to Educational Leadership, with emphasis on public school leadership in rural schools at both mid-management (campus) and executive (district) levels.