WT Psychology Professor Researching Developing Brains Wins Major Fellowship

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

CANYON, Texas — A West Texas A&M University professor is the University’s first Twanna M. Powell Fellow and will receive a $50,000 award to further her research into the effects of psychiatric medications on developing brains.

Dr. Maxine De Butte was announced as a Powell Fellow during the University’s May 11 commencement ceremonies. De Butte is a professor of psychology and associate department head in the Department of Psychology, Sociology and Social Work in the Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences.

“It is a great honor to be named the first Powell Fellow, and I can’t tell you how grateful I am,” De Butte said. “This award is a personal achievement, and it has inspired me to continue pushing boundaries and exploring new research avenues in clinical neuroscience.”

As a Powell Fellow, De Butte will receive $50,000, plus additional University resources, to use at her discretion to further her research into the possible cognitive effects adult psychiatric medications may have on pediatric patients, whose brains are still developing. She will use animal models for the studies.

“We’ll also look into the differences between male and female rodent brains and how antidepressants and antipsychotics may or may not affect molecular pathways,” De Butte said.

The Powell Fellow Program was established via a gift from philanthropists Twanna and Don Powell.

“Don and Twanna have been engaged with WT and with The Texas A&M University System for decades,” WT President Walter V. Wendler said. “Their support of WT—and its faculty in particular—is inspiring because they understand and are invested in ensuring the University provides an exceptional educational experience and fulfills its vision to serve the students, families and communities of our region.”

Don Powell, a longtime Amarillo resident and WT alumnus, is the former chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., who later led the federal government’s recovery efforts following hurricanes Katrina and Rita. He served on The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents from 1995 to 2001, including a four-year term as its chair. He currently serves on the Amarillo Independent School District board.

The couple are members of WT’s Old Main Society and the Buffalo Council. Don Powell was named a Distinguished Alumnus in 2002.

The Powell Fellow program is open to professors across WT’s six Colleges. The deans of each College have created a selection committee that nominates a faculty member from within its ranks. Those nominees then go before a University-wide committee, which includes representatives of the Powell family.

Preference is given to faculty members with established records of accomplishments both in research and in the classroom.

“The Twanna M. Powell Fellows Program supports, recognizes and advances research excellence at West Texas A&M University,” said Dr. Neil Terry, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “Dr. DeButte is a distinguished scholar, engaging students while advancing the profession and practice with significant research contributions.”

De Butte joined WT in 2009. She earned degrees at Trent University and Carleton University in Ontario, Canada.

“I come from small, regional universities and wanted to pursue a job at a similar institution,” De Butte said. “I like the one-on-one interaction with students.”

She teaches biological psychology courses and is a member of the Society for Neuroscience. Previous research includes the role of hormones such as estrogen on brain injuries.

Recruiting and retaining the best faculty and encouraging regionally impactful research are two key goals 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.

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