WT Faculty Earn Grants for Professional Development

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — Ten West Texas A&M University faculty members earned more than more than $25,000 in grants through the University’s Office of Academic Affairs.

The development grants will finance travel and professional development for the faculty members.

More than $14,000 in additional funds were awarded this year.

“The purpose of the awards is to improve teaching and the educational experience for WT students,” said Dr. Bryan Vizzini, professor of history and director of WT’s Teaching Excellence Center. “We are looking for what these grants can ultimately help faculty bring back to the classroom, department, college and University.”

Faculty members earning grants include:

• Dr. Carolyn Baum, assistant professor of communication studies and director of the Attebury Honors Program, to attend the National Collegiate Honors Council;
• Sarah Beckham-Turner, assistant professor of voice, to attend the Acoustic Vocal Pedagogy Workshop at the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor;
• Dr. Priscella Correa, Baptist Community Services Professor of Nursing, Alee Friemel, Northwest Texas Healthcare System/Eunice King Professor of Nursing, and Dr. Collette Loftin, Nancy and John Kritser Professor of Nursing and interim department head, to attend the National League of Nursing Education Summit;
• Dr. Vanessa Fiaud, associate professor of sports and exercise science, to volunteer at the 2024 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games;
• Dr. Traci Fredman, assistant professor of speech and hearing sciences, to attend the Zero to Three Conference in Long Beach, California;
• Dr. Sohee Kim, assistant professor of criminal justice, to attend the summer 2024 conference of the Korean Society of Criminology at Endicott College;
• Lisa Robinson, instructor of nursing, and Kerrie Young, instructor of nursing, to attend the SimGHOSTS simulation seminars in Indianapolis; and
• Dr. Sarah Rushing, assistant professor of piano, to attend the 2024 Group Piano/Piano Pedagogy Forum in Cincinnati.

Faculty members represent three of WT’s six Colleges: the Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences, the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities, and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Dr. Brock Blaser, professor of plant science and assistant department head of the Department of Agricultural Sciences, and Dr. Rick Haasl, assistant professor of sports and exercise science and associate dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, also earned an academic administrative development grant to attend the Harvard Management Development Program, which provides discussions, interactive presentations and immersive experiences.

Grants were awarded during an all-faculty meeting May 2, before WT’s May 11 spring commencement ceremonies.

Recruiting, retaining and rewarding exceptional faculty members 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 historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign’s new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised nearly $160 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of about 10,000 and offers 59 undergraduate degree programs and more than 40 graduate degrees, including two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

 
Photo: Winners of West Texas A&M University faculty development grants for 2024 include, from left, Dr. Carolyn Baum, Dr. Traci Fredman, Kerri Young, Dr. Collette Loftin, Dr. Priscella Correa, Dr. Vanessa Fiaud, Sarah Beckham-Turner and Dr. Sarah Rushing.

—WT—