Two WT Education Faculty Members Earn Excellence Awards

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, [email protected]

CANYON, Texas - Two distinguished West Texas A&M University faculty members have been honored just before the start of the 2024-2025 academic year.

Drs. Elizabeth Rogers and Brigette Whaley, both part of the Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences, have been named winners of the Liz and John Mozola Faculty Excellence Award.

"The Liz and John Mozola Faculty Excellence Award recognizes deserving recipients for teaching excellence and commitment to the preparation of aspiring teachers," said Dr. Betty Coneway, head of WT's Department of Education and the Geneva Schaeffer Professor of Education and Social Sciences. "Dr. Rogers is recognized for her exceptional work in preparing school counselors and as a valued leader within the education community. Dr. Whaley plays a pivotal role in several programs within our department and is dedicated to delivering innovative, student-centered instruction that prepares highly qualified teachers and educational professionals."

The award was established in 2018 to recognize teacher educators, those who prepare future instructors and train them to provide exemplary education in their eventual classrooms.

Rogers is an assistant professor of counseling, a licensed professional counselor and certified school counselor in Texas.

She joined WT in 2022 after earning her bachelor's and master's degrees from Angelo State University and a doctoral degree from Texas Tech University.

Rogers has served on the board of the Texas School Counseling Association since 2017 and will serve as its president this academic year. She is an active advocate for school counselors across Texas and is a Texas Counseling Association liaison to the State Board of Educator Certification. She also has served on the board of the West Texas Counseling Association and as an emerging leader for the International Association for Marriage and Family Counselors.

She teaches career counseling, counseling theory and techniques, crisis counseling, intro to school counseling, and school counseling practicum. Her research interested are focused around implanting the appropriate role of the school counselor. Other research interests include multicultural counseling, international counseling, counseling special populations in schools, play therapy, crisis counseling, and suicidal ideation among youth and adolescents. She also is an active presenter and provides professional development for Educational Service Centers in Regions 15, 16 and 17.

Rogers comes from a family of educators-a grandmother who taught, a mother who taught and served as a counselor, and a husband who teaches.

"It means a great deal to me that I was recognized for teaching others what my family has instilled in me all my life," Rogers said. "Education is the essential key to breaking down barriers and opening doors to countless possibilities. Without the continued support of my peers in the Department of Education, I could not be the educator I am now. I chose this profession because it is my passion, and I will continue to learn, grow, and excel alongside my students and colleagues."

Whaley, an associate professor of education, joined WT in 2016 after working in the public school system for 18 years. She earned a bachelor's degree at Oklahoma State University and a master's and Ph.D. from the University of Texas-Arlington.

Whaley teaches undergraduate and graduate-level courses including educational methods, strategic operations and curriculum theory and analysis. Additionally, she conducts student teacher seminars on using technology in the classroom.

She is the author of "Superintendent's Practical Intelligence Across High and Low Performing School Districts" and "Science Journaling with Technology." She also has co-authored several publications and has made numerous presentations, including most recently at the International Society of Technology in Education. Her research interests include leadership, policy, pedagogy and technology.

Whaley said the award will allow her the opportunity to further explore new technologies.

"With the launch of artificial intelligence, educators have unprecedented opportunities to leverage technology for deeper student engagement and enhanced learning outcomes," Whaley said. "I am dedicated to supporting educators in effectively utilizing and integrating these technologies, particularly AI, while emphasizing the irreplaceable teacher-student relationship and the vital role of the teacher as the expert."

Educating the educators is baked into WT's history.

WT opened in 1910 as West Texas State Normal College, a school that trained teachers. Today, about 75 percent of all teachers and administrators throughout the Panhandle region have at least one degree or certificate from WT.

In addition to teachers and school administrators, the Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences is responsible for the preparation of school psychologists, social work professionals, and students for graduate programs in psychology, sociology, the law and public services and administration, as well as direct engagement with the community through its programs in criminal justice and emergency management administration. The College currently serves more than 1,700 students, making it the second-largest College at WT.

Recruiting and retaining the best faculty and staff members is a key component 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 nearly $160 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus. 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 about 10,000 and offers 59 undergraduate degree programs and more than 40 graduate degrees, including 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: Drs. Elizabeth Rogers, left, and Brigette Whaley have been named winners of the Liz and John Mozola Faculty Excellence Award at West Texas A&M University.

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