WT Career Closet Reopening Following Significant Renovations

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

CANYON, Texas — An invaluable resource for West Texas A&M University students seeking employment during and after college will reopen April 14 following major renovations.

The Career Closet—a partnership between the Office of Career and Professional Development and the WT student chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management—offers students free professional clothing for interviews or classroom presentations. It is located in the Jack B. Kelley Student Center and accessible to students via appointments through the office’s Handshake account.

“The Career Closet serves an important mission, as we act to equip our University students with the professional attire that they need in order to enter the work force,” said Dr. Rahul Chauhan, SHRM co-adviser and the McCray Professor of Business Management in the Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business. “Given that professional clothing tends to be quite expensive, providing students with access to our clothing closet at absolutely no cost to them is truly an invaluable initiative.”

Following approximately $4,500 in renovations, provided both by the Engler College of Business and the Office of Career and Professional Development, the closet has been transformed, said Kat Kane, the office’s senior director.

“This space has gone from a dismal room in the basement of the JBK, filled with so many moveable clothing racks it was nearly impossible to shop and find anything to fit you,” Kane said. “The renovations in the space make it much more welcoming and friendly, with the clothing clearly organized.”

The renovations helped maximize the available space, making more room for the donated clothes, said Dr. Jillian Yarbrough, Virginia Engler Professor of Business Management and SHRM co-adviser.

More clothing donations are sought, including all sizes of men’s shoes, men’s small and medium dress shirts and pants, and women’s plus-size tops and bottoms.

To make donations, contact the Office of Career and Professional Development at 806-651-2345.

Putting people first is a key principle 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 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. 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.

Photo: Mariam Adegbindin, left, and Jessi Barrientos of West Texas A&M University's Office of Career and Professional Development put the final touches on the Career Closet before its April 14 reopening. The closet is a partnership between the office and the WT student chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management that offers students free professional clothing for interviews or classroom presentations.

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