A suite celebrating and supporting the diverse students of West Texas A&M University will observe its first birthday Feb. 10.

The Nathaniel and Helen Neal Multicultural Suite officially opened Feb. 3, 2020, named for two Black WT pioneers and designed to be a gathering place for students. It also houses the Office for Diversity and Inclusion, First Year Experience, Campus 2 Community, and International Student Services.

“The Neal Suite, located in the heart of the WT campus, truly shows the University’s commitment to embracing diversity, and we hope that in years to come, it will serve as a great draw for future students,” said Angela Allen, chief diversity and inclusion officer.

The come-and-go celebration will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. Feb. 10 in the suite, located across from the University Post Office inside the Jack B. Kelley Student Center. Face coverings and social distancing are required.

Nathaniel “Nat” and Helen Neal were educators and civic leaders known throughout the Amarillo and Canyon communities. Helen Neal graduated from WT in 1962, the first Black graduate in the University’s history. Nat Neal was hired as an assistant professor of education at WT in 1971, the first Black faculty member. He also taught and coached in the Amarillo Independent School District and at Amarillo College.

“The Neal Suite was an immediate success with our students, regardless of color, socio-economic status, age or gender. They would gather there to eat lunch, hold organizational meetings and just socialize with one another,” Allen said. “We have had to limit the number of students inside the suite since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, but we look forward to a day, hopefully very soon, where they can all gather together here again.”

A commitment to diversity and inclusion is a key component of the University’s long-term plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

-West Texas A&M University