Faculty Excellence Recognized at WT for the Academic Year

CONTACT: Dr. Neil Terry, executive vice president and provost, 806-651-2044, nterry@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas—West Texas A&M University announced four faculty members to be recognized for their distinguished contributions in various performance areas for the current academic year.

Honorees are selected for their impact on WT students and stakeholders through excellence in instructional responsibilities, intellectual contributions, professional service, and the advancement of graduate programs.

Each year faculty members are recognized in the six academic colleges for accomplishments in the core areas of teaching, research and service. University recognition demonstrates one of the highest levels of respect a faculty member can achieve based on the nomination and selection process, including input from peers, administrators, students, and other campus stakeholders. 

“The selection of winners at the college and university levels is challenging because so many of our faculty members merit strong consideration,” said Dr. Neil Terry, executive vice president and provost. “This year’s selections bear this out as all recognized are exceptional faculty members that bring distinction to West Texas A&M University.”

College Faculty Award Winners by category

Instructional Responsibilities

Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Science, Dr. Dan Posey

Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business, Dr. Sean Humpherys

College of Engineering, Dr. Erick Butler

College of Education and Social Sciences, Instructor Meg Dejong-Shier

Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts & Humanities, Dr. Elizabeth Clark

College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Instructor Lisa Robinson

Intellectual Contributions

Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Science, Dr. Naruki Hiranuma

Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business, Dr. Eric Hoffmann

College of Engineering, Dr. Nathan Howell

College of Education and Social Sciences, Dr. Mun Yee Kwan

Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts & Humanities, Dr. Choong-ha Nam

College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Dr. Michelle Bartlett

Professional Service

Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Science, Dr. Gregory McGovern

Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business, Dr. Jillian Yarbrough

College of Engineering, Dr. Matt Whigham

College of Education and Social Sciences, Dr. Michelle Simmons

Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts & Humanities, Dr. Emily Kinsky

College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Clinical Coordiantor Darla Marcear

University Faculty Award Winners

Instructional Responsibilities Excellence Award, Lisa Robinson 

Lisa Robinson (pictured left) earned an M.S. in nursing from WT and joined the College of Nursing and Health Sciences in 2007.

“Lisa Robinson is a born educator,” said Dr. Dirk Nelson, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. “She is a great role model and teaches our nursing students how to give others a hand up. Lisa is the kind of instructor that inspires students to greatness.”

Intellectual Contributions Excellence Award, Dr. Naruki Hiranuma

Dr. Naruki Hiranuma (pictured right) earned a Ph.D. in atmospheric science from Texas A&M University and joined the faculty at WT in 2016.

“The receipts of a Department of Energy Career Award of $750,000 in 2018 and a National Science Foundation Career Award of $500,000 in 2019 highlight his intellectual contribution accomplishments,” said Dr. David Sissom, chair of the Department of Life, Earth, & Environmental Sciences.

“Both are five-year awards in support of his research on aerosol physicochemical properties (DOE) and the role of ice-nucleating particles and their feedback on clouds in warming arctic climate (NSF). Receiving Career Awards in two consecutive years is a truly exceptional achievement.”

Professional Service Excellence Award, Dr. Emily Kinsky

Dr. Emily Kinsky (pictured left) earned a Ph.D. in mass communication from Texas Tech University and joined the faculty at WT in 2011.

“Dr. Kinsky was instrumental in communication students receiving 12 Adobe Certified Associate certifications, 53 HubSpot certifications, 36 Hootsuite dashboard certifications, 38 Hootsuite marketing certifications and 22 students earned Google Analytics certifications,” said Dr. Jessica Mallard, dean of the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts & Humanities.

“Even with our campus being remote at the end of April, she set up and encouraged students in Art and Communication to take (and pass) their Adobe Certified Associate exams.”

Distinguished Graduate Faculty Award, Dr. Sean Humpherys

Dr. Sean Humpherys (pictured right) earned a Ph.D. in information systems management from the University of Arizona and joined the faculty at WT in 2011.

“Dr. Humpherys has played a major role in the development of the MS CISBA program,” said Dr. Amjad Abdullat, dean of the Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business.

“As a three-year-old infancy program, it has already reached an enrollment level in excess of 80 students per year and is ranked No. 8 by U.S. News & World Report in 2020 for Best Online Master’s in Computer Information Technology Programs. Beyond leading the program with excellence in teaching, during his tenure at WT Dr. Humpherys has twice published in the leading journals in his field, MIS Quarterly (five-year impact factor 9.608).” 

For more information about University Faculty Awards, contact the provost office at 806-651-2044.