New Faculty Members Join WT for Start of 2022-23 Academic Year

Provided

More than 30 new instructors have joined the West Texas A&M University faculty at the start of the 2022-23 academic year.

“We are pleased to welcome an outstanding group of new faculty who we know will bring their expertise to continue our tradition of excellence in teaching and research,” said Dr. Neil Terry, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “Exceptional faculty attract exceptional students and help us continue our mission as a regional research university.”

New faculty members have been hired in each of WT’s six Colleges: the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, the Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business, the Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences, the College of Engineering, the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities, and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, as well as at the RELLIS campus in Bryan.

The newest Buffs join an approximately 350-member faculty.

Before classes began Aug. 22, new faculty took part in an orientation session to learn about the University and to receive advice on how to make their first semester run smoothly.

New hires include:

• Dr. Chelsea Arnold, assistant professor of agribusiness and economics – Ph.D., Kansas State University

• Dena Baker, instructor of nursing – M.S.N., West Texas A&M University

• Dr. Chelsea Ball, assistant professor of history – Ph.D., University of Oklahoma

• Azra Barakovic, instructor of nursing – M.S.N., West Texas A&M University

• Logan Burleson, instructor of agricultural sciences – Ph.D., West Texas A&M University

• Dr. Joel Denney, assistant professor of criminal justice – Ph.D., Texas State University

• Dr. Dieudonne Dusenge, assistant professor of accounting – Ph.D., University of Arkansas

• Ashley Dyer-Ashley, instructor of mathematics – M.S., West Texas A&M University

• Dr. Stephanie Hart, assistant professor of special education – Ed.D., Texas Tech University

• Jeffrey Hatala, assistant professor of health sciences and RELLIS health sciences program director – Ph.D., University of South Carolina

• Dr. Scott Jones, assistant professor of finance – Ph.D., University of Arizona

• Derek Kennedy, instructor/recruiter, RELLIS health sciences program – M.S., West Texas A&M University

• Dr. HeeYoung Kim, assistant professor of early childhood education – Ph.D., University of Arizona

• Justin Lovell, instructor of marketing – M.B.A. in Marketing, West Texas A&M University

• Dr. Juan Carlos Morales, assistant professor of management – Ph.D., University of Kansas

• Dr. Maitreyee Mukherjee, assistant professor of biology – Ph.D., Bowling Green State University

• Dr. Sarah Louise Newcomer, clinical assistant professor of agriculture and sciences – D.V.M., University of Florida

• Dr. Rebecca Nicholson-Weir, assistant professor of English – Ph.D., Purdue University ­

• Dr. Vince Nix, assistant professor of education – Ph.D., Washington State University

• Dr. Eugene Bempong Nyantakyi, assistant professor of economics – Ph.D., West Virginia University

• Dr. Masoumeh Ozmaeian, assistant professor of mechanical engineering – Ph.D., Sharif University of Technology

• Dr. Christy Petry, clinical assistant professor of animal science – Ph.D., Texas Tech University

• Dr. Argha Ray, assistant professor of computer information systems – Ph.D., Iowa State University

• Dr. Elaina Robinson, clinical assistant professor of management – Ph.D., Texas Tech University

• Dr. Elizabeth J. Rogers, assistant professor of school counseling – Ph.D., Texas Tech University

• Michael Semler, instructor of agricultural sciences – M.S., Kansas State University

• Dr. Sulin Song, assistant professor of math – Ph.D., West Virginia University

• Dr. Sarah Sprouse, assistant professor of English – Ph.D., Texas Tech University

• Dr. Rebecca VanderLees, assistant professor of geology – Ph.D., University of Connecticut

• Dr. Natasha Vokhshoori, assistant professor of biology – Ph.D., University of California, Santa Cruz

• Laura Wagner, instructor of nursing – M.S.N., Lubbock Christian University

Recruiting and retaining the best faculty and staff is a key mission of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic, $125 million One West comprehensive fundraising campaign. To date, the five-year campaign — which publicly launched Sept. 23 — has raised about $110 million.