"West Texas A&M University closed its spring semester with the presentation of the 2017-2018 Faculty Excellence Awards May 3 at the annual Faculty Meeting on campus. Three faculty members were recognized for their outstanding contributions to higher education.
Each of the three recipients received an engraved plaque and a cash stipend.
Dr. Bonney MacDonald, professor of English, received the University Instructional Excellence Award, Dr. Arn Womble, assistant professor of civil engineering, was the recipient of the University Intellectual Contribution Award, and Dr. Jason Yarbrough, assistant professor of chemistry, received the University Professional Service Award.
MacDonald joined the faculty in 2008 and received the University Instructional Excellence Award in recognition of her outstanding pedagogical performance. She is passionate about teaching and shares that passion in every undergraduate and graduate course she teaches. Students give her high marks on teaching evaluations and praise her enthusiasm, expertise and love of learning. One student said her only complaint was that she couldn’t take every one of MacDonald’s courses.
Womble, who joined the WTAMU faculty in 2013, is the recipient of the University Intellectual Contribution Award in recognition of his achievements in research and scholarly activities. His research activities in structural engineering are focused on damage occurring from natural disasters. That focus earned him a 2018 National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award, making him the first WTAMU faculty member ever to receive this prestigious honor. Womble also is the recipient of RAPID Response grants from NSF and a Major Research Instrumentation Grant. His expertise and research activities benefit WTAMU students through hands-on experiences.
Yarbrough joined the faculty in 2014 and received the University Professional Service Award. He is considered a valuable member of the Department of Chemistry and Physics and a willing participant in service-related activities. He is active in both departmental and University activities including the Curriculum Committee, the Honors Council and the Teacher Education Unit Committee. Yarbrough serves as director of the department’s Help Lab and was a faculty judge for the annual Student Research Conference Poster Session. He also serves as an officer of the executive committee of the Panhandle Plains Section of the American Chemical Society. Yarbrough also is active in the community and serves on the executive leadership team for Canyon’s Relay for Life."
-West Texas A&M University
