Allen, Meador Named to Endowed Professorships in WT’s College of Engineering

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

CANYON, Texas — Two faculty members in West Texas A&M University’s College of Engineering have been named to endowed professorships as the fall semester opens.

Dr. Benton Allen, a WT graduate who joined the faculty in 2024, is the new Bell Professor of Engineering. Dr. Audrey Meador, a WT alum who joined the WT faculty in 2012, is the new Clair Mayes Professor of Mathematics.

The WT College of Engineering offers programs in mechanical, civil, electrical, and environmental engineering as well as engineering technology, mathematics and computer science. It was elevated from a school to a college in 2020, making it WT’s sixth college. It currently employs 43 faculty members and, between 2021 and 2024, has seen a 21 percent increase in enrollment.

Both Drs. Allen and Meador have made a significant impact on the College, said Dr. Emily Hunt, dean.

“Dr. Allen’s teaching is innovative and engaging, and his research record is both commendable and highly relevant for this region,” Hunt said. I’ve seen how he connects with students in ways that inspire them to think bigger, and how he brings fresh energy to our faculty team.

“Dr. Meador has remained deeply committed to advancing STEM education throughout our region,” Hunt continued. “Her research portfolio is outstanding, and she continues to make significant contributions that elevate both her field and our University.”

Allen, who earned a Ph.D. in agriculture from WT, said he is “honored to receive this distinction.”

His research focuses on the commercialization of innovative materials, with expertise spanning mechanical engineering, materials science, and biological materials. His work includes the development of antimicrobial coatings and nanostructured systems with applications in agriculture, corrosion protection and more. 

“Bell has a long legacy of innovation and global impact, and this professorship reflects our shared belief that groundbreaking products manufactured in the Texas Panhandle can have influence far beyond our region,” Allen said. “I am proud to represent the College of Engineering through this role and look forward to advancing opportunities for our students and community through continued engagement with Bell.”

Bell, a subsidiary of Rhode Island-based Textron Inc., is primarily headquartered in Fort Worth and, for more than 26 years, has operated the Military and Commercial Assembly and Delivery Center in Amarillo. In assembling the V-22 Osprey and other aircraft for the US military, Bell has contributed $2.3 billion into the area economy as of 2023.

The Bell professorship was established in 2012 to retain and recruit faculty members who will advance engineering at WT.

The Mayes Professorship, established in 2021 by an anonymous donor, will be filled by faculty members with a desire to mentor and inspire students in a positive way that is consistent with Coach Clair Mayes’ legacy.

Mayes, who received a master’s degree from WT in 1969, played football for the University of Oklahoma and competed with his team in three Sugar Bowl games, including in the national championship-winning squad in 1950. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1951, but was drafted to serve in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, where he served as an office from 1952 to 1954.

He began his teaching and coaching career as one of the first faculty members at Palo Duro High School in 1955. He joined Tascosa High School’s administration in 1967, then was appointed assistant principal at Amarillo High School in 1971. In 1974, he began working at Amarillo College as director of vocational programs before ultimately retiring in 1995 after 40 years of working in Amarillo education. He died in April 2010.

Meador, who earned a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from Texas Tech University, said she is “deeply honored and profoundly grateful for this recognition.”

Her research interests include recruitment and retention of students to the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, minority populations in STEM education, instructional theories in mathematics, assistive technology in mathematics education and pre-service teacher knowledge in mathematics.

“This is also a full circle moment. Both Coach Mayes and I started our mathematics teaching careers at Palo Duro High School, and my heart will always hold a special place for the north side of Amarillo. The years I spent there were formative and further solidified my goal of working in higher education with the hopes of making mathematics accessible to all,” Meador said. “This professorship is both a humbling affirmation of my research work in training future mathematics teachers and a meaningful investment in the future scholarship I hope to contribute.”

Gifts to WT, such as that which established the Bell and Mayes professorships, may be used to endow professorships, offering opportunities for exceptional faculty members by providing additional resources for teaching, research and professional activities and development. Faculty members benefit from the coveted title, and students glean from the professor’s academic insight and leadership. This helps enrich the life of the University and strengthen the foundation of academic excellence.

WT boasts more than 90 endowed professorships, offering faculty additional funding for research, travel and more.

During the One West campaign, about 60 new professorships and chairs have been endowed throughout the University—an increase of more than 200 percent during the campaign.

Both professorships help WT meet critical regional needs, one of the key missions 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 $170 million.

About West Texas A&M University

A Regional Research University, West Texas A&M 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. A Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, WT 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. WT recently earned a Carnegie Foundation classification as a Research College and University. The University also is 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 16 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

Photo: Dr. Audrey Meador, left, is the new Clair Mayes Professor of Mathematics and Dr. Benton Allen is the new Bell Professor of Engineering in West Texas A&M University's College of Engineering.

—WT—