WT Faculty Awarded Tenure, Promotions

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

CANYON, Texas — Fourteen West Texas A&M University faculty members have been awarded tenure and/or promotion for the 2026-2027 academic year.

This total includes 11 faculty members awarded tenure and promotion, and three promotions in academic rank to professor.

Extensive reviews and recommendations by faculty colleagues at the department, college and university levels inform the decisions, which culminate with final approval by President Walter V. Wendler and The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. The Regents officially approved tenure at their May meeting; the System was notified of promotions in June.

Promotion and tenure is a privilege reserved for faculty members who have demonstrated professional accomplishments in instructional responsibilities, intellectual contributions and service.

“This is a well-deserved career milestone for these colleagues,” said Dr. Neil Terry, provost and executive vice president of academic affairs. “We are proud of their accomplishments and have confidence that these faculty members will continue to contribute at a level of excellence that is critical to WT’s mission.”

Award of tenure and promotion:

• Dr. Priscella Correa, associate professor of nursing
• Dr. Sara Makki Alamdari, associate professor of social work
• Dr. Eric McKee, associate professor of finance
• Dr. Laura Mueller, associate professor of philosophy
• Dr. Rebecca Nicholson-Weir, associate professor of English
• Dr. Blake Price, associate professor of sports and exercise sciences
• Dr. Sarah Rushing, associate professor of music
• Dr. Keshav Shrestha, associate professor of physics
• Dr. Wei Zhang, associate professor of finance
• Dr. Carl Cheng Zhang, associate professor of computer information systems

Promotion to professor

• Dr. Rahul Chauhan, professor of management
• Dr. Eric Hoffmann, professor of economics
• Dr. Robert King, professor of marketing

Dr. George Pacheco Jr., associate professor of communication, was awarded tenure in May, as well.

Nurturing excellent faculty 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 One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which raised more than $200 million dollars, the largest such campaign in Texas Panhandle history.

About West Texas A&M University

West Texas A&M University is a Regional Research University 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 boasts an enrollment of more than 9,000 and offers multiple options for students to graduate and succeed: 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 Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 16 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

Photo: Among the West Texas A&M University faculty members awarded tenure or promotion are, from left, Dr. George Pacheco, associate professor of communication; Dr. Priscella Correa, associate professor of nursing; Dr. Sarah Rushing, associate professor of music; and Dr. Blake Price, associate professor of sports and exercise sciences.

—WT—