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Welcome to New Faculty
Faculty Promotions
Interagency Contract
AQHYA World
Dr. Guerrero: UCOWR Conference
Dr. Mukherjee in Gulf Coast Waters
Buffs on the Move
Buffs at Home
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8/29: Back-To-School Extravaganza
9/4: Labor Day Holiday- No Classes
9/19: TCFA Beef Showcase
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Mr. Cody Bonds,
Rodeo Coach and Instructor
Mr. Cody Bonds, originally from Crossroads, NM, is an '09 graduate from WT. He received his B.S. in Agriculture Composite from
Eastern New Mexico University and his M.S. in Animal Science
from WTAMU. Mr. Bonds was active on the rodeo team while at WT and has 18 years of rodeo experience, ranging from all over the U.S. and different rodeo associations. Mr. Bonds has 11 years experience in public education as an Agriculture Science teacher, and five years of post-secondary faculty experience at
Eastern New Mexico University and Frank Phillips College.
"It has been a goal of mine to be a Collegiate Rodeo Coach for 18 years. I developed my skills as a bronc rider and educator
at WT. I finally landed my dream job,
and being at WT is like I’m going home to do it!"
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Dr. Joshua Brown,
Assistant Professor of Biology
Dr. Joshua Brown grew up in North Texas surrounded by a family
of outdoor-minded people, this led him to pursue a degree in Wildlife Biology and Management from Texas A&M University. After graduating
with a bachelor's degree in 2016, he started his Ph.D.
in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Texas at El Paso. During this time his research focused on the conservation and landscape genetics of waterfowl, with a specific focus on the evolutionary history of various mallard-complex species. Prior to arriving at WT, Dr. Brown worked at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History and Center for Conservation Genomics, where he used museum specimens to investigate the genetic effects of domestic releases on wild populations over the last two centuries.
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Dr. Fernando Diaz,
Assistant Professor of Biology
Dr. Fernando Diaz is originally from Cali, Colombia,
where he received most of his early education.
After completing a Ph.D. in Genetics at the Universidad del Valle
in Colombia, he traveled to many countries to develop his research program using modern sequencing technologies, including the University of Melbourne in Australia and the Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos in Brazil. During the last five years he investigated the genetic bases of speciation and climate change adaptation at the University of Arizona and taught related courses at Colgate University, NY.
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Ms. Sidney Dunkel,
Instructor of Animal Science
Sidney Dunkel is an Archer City, Tx, native.
She grew up on her family ranch and was heavily involved in 4-H,
showing primarily horses and cattle. She attended Texas Tech University
for her undergraduate degree and the University of Arkansas for her master’s degree. She has a strong passion in the horse industry,
showing in ranch horse versatility events.
She is a 3-time AQHA World Champion
and a 2-time AQHA Reserve World Champion.
She is excited to be joining West Texas A&M University!
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Dr. Kelly Jones,
Clinical Assistant Professor of Agriculture
and Herdsmen Adviser
Dr. Kelly Jones grew up in Clayton, NM where he was heavily involved in FFA and served as a New Mexico State FFA officer.
He received a bachelors degree in animal science and a minor in agriculture education from New Mexico State University.
When he graduated from New Mexico State, he enrolled in graduate school at Texas Tech and received a masters in agriculture education. After graduating, he taught Agriculture at Goddard High School in Roswell, NM. He taught for seven years until Dr. Dean Hawkins approached him about a Ph.D. at WT. He enrolled at WT in 2011 where he also served as the Nance Ranch Manager and taught a few classes and labs. After graduation from WT, he worked in feedyards and ranch positions. He has two children ages 10 and 13
and serves as a professional Uber driver for them!
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Dr. Juganta Roy,
Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Dr. Juganta Kumar Roy received his B.S. and M.S. degrees
in Applied Chemistry and Chemical Technology from the University
of Dhaka, Bangladesh. In 2012, he started his Ph.D. at Jackson State University (JSU), Mississippi, USA. In 2018, he earned his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry. In 2021, he joined as a postdoctoral associate in the Dept. of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt), Pennsylvania. In Pitt, he developed a computational methodology to understand the mechanisms of light-driven activation of methane and the formation of C2 products. Dr. Roy's research centered on designing photoactive materials for renewable energy technologies and providing design principles to enhance efficiency using machine learning and the first principles approach.
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Ms. Sara Back,
Instructor of Biology
and Lab Coordinator
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Ms. Joy Newton, Instructor of Biology | |
Dr. Malachi Williams,
Clinical Assistant Professor of Biology
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Promotion and tenure is reserved for faculty members who have demonstrated professional accomplishments in teaching, research, and service.
We are proud of the contributions from Drs. Richeson and Samuelson
in reaching these milestones!
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Promotion to Professor
Dr. John Richeson
Paul Engler Professor
of Beef Cattle Feedlot Management, Professor of Animal Science,
Agricultural Sciences Graduate
Program Coordinator
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Award of tenure and promotion
to rank of Associate Professor
Dr. Kendall Samuelson
Associate Professor of Animal Science
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Texas Commission on Environmental Quality | |
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Congratulations to the Department of Life, Earth and Environmental Sciences
on their 24th annual contract with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality!
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is tasked with the protection of the Texas environment and its inhabitants.
There two aspects to environmental cleanups and protection:
1. Protection of human health
2. Protection of the environment and ecosystems
Due to the number of different organisms and the variety of unique environmental settings (i.e. habitats) determining environmental protection is a very complex task.
Dr. William J. Rogers, Professor of Environmental Science,
and his team at WT were tasked by the TCEQ to develop a toxicity-based web tool to assist environmental professionals in determining protective clean up levels (PCLs) for organisms in sediments and soil. These ecological PCLs are compared to Human Health
screening levels to determine the appropriate cleanup levels needed
to protect both humans and the environment.
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American Quarter Horse Association
Youth World Championship
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WT Equine program students, alumni, and faculty created a fun snapshot
(Photoshopped by Emily Merrill) while assisting in various roles with the
American Quarter Horse Association Youth World Championship show and contests!
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L - R: Jillian Melendez, B.S. Equine Industry and Business '23,
Dr. John Pipkin, Regents Professor and Director of Equine Industry Program,
Sydney Reynolds, M.S. Agriculture '20,
Hannah McLoughlin, B.S. Agriculture '22,
Calli Montaque, B.S. Equine Indsutry and Business '21
Emily Merrill, M.A. Communication,
Blake Ramsey, B.B.A. Marketing '22,
Kyla Myers-Jones, B.S. Agricultural Media and Communication '18
Grant "Sal" Washington, B.S. Equine Industry and Business
Dr. Lance Baker, Professor of Animal Science, with Gerald (dog),
sitting Jennica Dannehl, Sr. Equine Industry and Business,
Michelle Wrigley, M.S. Animal Science '04.
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2022-23 Universities Council on Water Resources | |
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Dr. Bridget Guerrero, Associate Professor of Agricultural Business and Economics,
served as the 2022-2023 Universities Council on Water Resources (UCOWR) President.
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This year’s conference was held in Ft. Collins, CO at Colorado State University
and was the largest on record (that wasn’t joint with another organization)
with 344 total registrants, including 102 student registrations.
Conference interest was so high this year, that the program had to be increased
to a full 3-day conference, the first ever.
About 65% of registrants came from states in the Great Plains (83), Southwest (127), and Northwest (14), and about 34% came from Midwest (36) Southeast (50) and Northeast (25) states, or U.S. territories and international locations (7).
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Dr. Guerrero values the unique role UCOWR plays among professional organizations.
“UCOWR is special. I don’t know of any other organization that provides
the breadth of information, especially around such an important topic as water.
There are so many things people can learn by attending. And it’s fun!”
When reflecting on how UCOWR can help address water resources challenges faced across the U.S. and the world, Dr. Guerrero emphasized the exchange of knowledge across regions and disciplines that the organization promotes.
“UCOWR is a place we can share information and get exposure
to different challenges across the nation that we may be facing later on.”
She adds, “It was an honor to serve as President!
I’m excited about the future of the organization.”
Dr. Guerrero was recognized for her service with a gift and a plaque after passing the gavel to the incoming president, Jerry Kauffman from the University of Delaware.
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Research in the Gulf Coast Waters | |
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Dr. Maitreyee Mukherjee, Assistant Professor of Biology,
recently had a study published
in the Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI) Journal 'Water!'
This study was done in collaboration with her former students
from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Dr. Mukherjee saw a need for student research opportunities along the Gulf Coast,
which was the inspiration to create the project to examine how contamination ranges within ten different sites across different beaches between Bay Saint Louis and Biloxi.
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This study began when Dr. Mukherjee was at the University of Southern Mississippi,
but was completed, written and published after Dr. Mukherjee began her current role at WT.
Robyn Cuthbert, who was student at USM while Dr. Mukherjee was there,
is now at WT pursuing an M.S. in Biology!
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Students, faculty and staff represented the
Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences
traveling in August!
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Canada
Saskatoon, SK
Colorado
Denver
Oklahoma
Tulsa
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Texas
Ft. Worth
Austin
College Station
Gainesville
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Kansas
Elkhart
Nebraska
Omaha
Maryland
Bethesa
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Guests who visited the
Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences
in August!
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U.S. Representative
Jodey Arrington
U.S. Representative
Mike Conaway
iCEV
VERO Advisory Council
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VERO 2+2 and Ph.D. Student Orientation
Texas Cotton Ginners' District Meeting
Texas Blood Institute
Texas A&M Agrilife
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A Moment with Mrs. Bachman | | |
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To Contact:
806-651-2585
buffbrief@wtamu.edu
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