WT’s Hunt Named to National Engineering Research Board

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

CANYON, Texas — Dr. Emily Hunt, dean of West Texas A&M University’s College of Engineering, has been elected to the board of the national Engineering Research Council.

“This opportunity is deeply meaningful—not just to me personally, but to West Texas A&M University and the broader community we serve,” Hunt said. “As dean of a college rooted in a rural region, I see this role as a chance to bring forward the voices, challenges, and innovations that too often go unheard in national research conversations.”

The American Society for Engineering Education’s ERC is composed of representatives from engineering college, industrial and government fields to provide a forum for discussion about research activities of ASEE members, and to improve the effectiveness of research operations at ERC institutions, among other objectives.

Hunt will serve on ERC’s executive board alongside representatives from such universities as the University of Colorado–Boulder, Pennsylvania State University–Harrisburg, Michigan State University and others.

“For regional universities like WT, engineering research isn’t about prestige—it’s about purpose,” Hunt said. It’s about improving lives in real, tangible ways. Our research is focused on addressing the unique needs of rural communities—particularly in critical areas like water sustainability, energy access, and resilient infrastructure. These are not abstract challenges for us; they are daily realities that affect families, farmers, and entire communities across the Texas Panhandle and beyond.

“Being on the ERC Board allows me to advocate for policies and practices that recognize the value of institutions like ours,” Hunt continued. “We may not have the size or scale of a major research university, but we bring something equally important: agility, community connection, and a deep commitment to applied, impactful research. I believe regional universities are uniquely positioned to lead in innovation that serves underserved populations—especially in the context of environmental stress, resource limitations, and infrastructure gaps that are all too common in rural America.”

Hunt’s appointment to the ERC board follows WT’s recent classification as a Research College and University by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

“Dr. Hunt’s appointment to the Engineering Research Council exemplifies the kind of leadership and innovation that led to WT’s recent Carnegie RCU classification,” said Dr. Angela Spaulding, vice president for research and compliance and dean of the Graduate School. “Her work reflects the University’s commitment to research that directly serves the needs of regional communities and reinforces our standing as a purpose-driven, regionally engaged research institution. Dr. Hunt’s leadership on the national stage helps ensure that the research happening at regional institutions is recognized and valued in shaping the future of engineering research.”

Hunt joined WT in 2005 after earning her bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Texas Tech University. She is the author of “Nanostructured Metallic Alloys: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications” and the children’s book “Engineering Elephants.” She also is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Society of Women Engineers, Materials Research Society and the American Society of Engineering Education.

Fostering locally responsive research is a key maxim 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 more than $165 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT, a Regional Research University, is redefining excellence 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, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers 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. 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.

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