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Gift from Nancy, Kel Seliger Creates Distinguished Professorship at WT
Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu
CANYON, Texas — A prominent civic leader and his wife have established a new distinguished professorship at West Texas A&M University.
Dr. Justin Moeller now holds the Nancy and Kel Seliger Distinguished Professorship in Government in WT’s Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice in the Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences.
“It is an honor to be associated with the Seliger family, who, for more than 30 years, has exemplified a commitment to the region and public services,” Moeller said. “As mayor of Amarillo and Texas senator, Kel Seliger served with distinction, integrity, and a consistent commitment to Panhandle values. Nancy, in her own right, has been a remarkable civic leader, as well.”
Moeller, who also serves as director of the political science program and pre-law adviser, earned a bachelor’s in political science and public administration from the University of Wisconsin, a master’s of political science from San Diego State University and a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Georgia.
Moeller’s research centers on civil rights, voting rights, and American political development.
“Right now, I’m working on a book focusing on anti-immigrant legislation and populism in the 1850s by utilizing debates, election results from state legislatures, and media accounts of those debates,” Moeller said. “Additionally, I research voting rights in a historical context by looking at attempts to extend or contract voting rights.”
Moeller is devoted to the success of his College and department, said Dr. Gary Bigham, the College’s dean, who cited Moeller’s willingness to take on additional administrative and classroom responsibilities.
“Just as Kel and Nancy Seliger committed their careers to public service, Dr. Moeller has made a similar commitment to his College and the discipline of political science, making him an ideal recipient of this distinguished professorship,” Bigham said.
The distinguished professorship was established following a $250,000 gift from the Seligers.
Kel Seliger, a former partner in Lake Steel, served on the Amarillo City Council from 1989 to 1993, then as Amarillo mayor until 2001. From 2004 to 2021, he served in the Texas Senate, eventually rising to chairman of the higher education committee.
Endowed professorships enhance opportunities for faculty members with extra resources in teaching, research and professional growth.
WT boasts nearly 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.
The Seliger distinguished professorship helps 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 $160 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 58 undergraduate degree programs, one associate degree, 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.
—WT—