News from the Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business
By Dr. Leslie Ramos Salazar By March of 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic had fully set in. Subsequently, all on-campus club activities and events had to be cancelled. However, the pandemic did not stop the WTAMU student chapter of the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) Read more
By Dr. Jeffry Babb In the cycles of academic life, we become accustomed to seeing students come and go on a regular basis as we engage in the business of guiding and nurturing student development in their education. Along the way, we collaborate with our colleagues, year in and out, in the fundamental endeavor of providing the educational foundation and environment that is our mission. We come to know and rely on these colleagues a partners in the journey – we share the highs and lows and plan for the future together. There is comfort in this rhythm and, to a degree, this stability is among the necessary components of developing the academic “well” to draw from. However, there comes a day when our journey together runs its course and we say goodbye. When our colleagues retire, it is a bittersweet moment. Our support structure and shared foundation is now... Read more
In a recent issue of this newsletter, we had highlighted the arrival of the Wharton Research Data Services Database (WRDS) as an asset for both faculty and student development Read more
As we enter into the Christmas and Holiday season, we have much to be grateful for and to celebrate, even in the face of a very challenging year for all of us. This is my first holiday season as the Dean of the Paul and Virginia College of Business, and, in that spirit, I extend all of the season’s greetings to you. The winter break is a reflective time and a season of family, friends, loved ones, and a variety of profound personal observances. I wish you peace, health, good spirits, and blessing. Read more
By Dr. Oscar Solis A Hometown Hero Fans of West Texas A&M University football might not have noticed Dalton Bell when he arrived as a freshman in 2002. The small-town student athlete was the eighth-string quarterback on the roster, and his WTAMU scholarship amounted to $500 for books. Little did the fans know, but that was all the opportunity that Dalton needed to rise from his humble beginnings. Combining determination and perseverance with a WTAMU education, Dalton has now transitioned from a professional football career into a successful real estate career. Read more
While 2020 has been a remarkable year in many respects, among the notable occurrences was Dr. Neil Terry’s promotion to Executive Vice President and Provost. Dr. Terry’s leadership and resolute character provided the cadence, rhythm, and course for the Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business that is still very discernable. However, Dr. Terry also touched the lives of many in the college in ways that developed the strengths of the individuals as they, in turn, strengthened the college. As we look back on 2020, we have created a thank you video of testimonials from those who have shared in Dr. Terry’s journeys Read more
Hassan and Jill Dana, along with their oldest son Osman, own and operate fifteen McDonald’s restaurants in the Texas Panhandle including the one across the street from West Texas A&M University in Canyon, which is frequented by students, faculty, and staff. Hassan and Jill are blessed to have enjoyed many years of business success in the Texas Panhandle. They credit much of their success to hard work and community involvement. Hassan and Jill believe in giving back to the Texas Panhandle community that has contributed to their success. Read more
Jillian Williamson Yarbrough grew up in New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment, with mountains and green chilis galore. Because she grew up in the desert and on wide open mesas, the landscape of the Panhandle is both familiar and particularly beautiful to her. She came to WTAMU in 2016 as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Management. She obtained her BS in Education from Texas Christian University, her MS and PhD in Educational Human Resource Development from Texas A&M University and her MBA from Texas A&M University. Read more
By Dr. Nick Gerlich There are more than 31 million monthly bloggers in the US, and more than 600 million worldwide. Each year, more than two billion blog posts are made, or more than 5.7 million per day and more than 4000 per minute. But while blogging is a popular online activity for many, the College of Business was not represented in the blogosphere until this fall. Thanks to an initiative launched Read more
There are many success stories about students that were able to find an internship or full-time job through Career Services at WT. For Dakota Puga, a senior marketing major, walking into the Career EXPO not only lead to a summer internship, but also a full-time job immediately following graduation. Read more
The season of giving is upon us and, with the help of the United Way of Amarillo & Canyon, Engler College of Business students are giving back to the community for the Holidays. With $10,000 in seed money, students were able to donate to four local programs. Family Support Services Crises Services – $4,000 2-1-1 Texas Panhandle Helpline of the United Way of Amarillo & Canyon – $2,000 Buckner FYi Center – $2,000 Coalition of Health Services-Nurse Family Partnerships – $2,000 This new initiative is designed around creating a student-centered process for giving with the United Way by teaching students how to make philanthropic decisions that impact their community. Dr. Amjad Abdullat, Dean of the Paul and Virginia Engler College of Business said “… most students do not have substantial funds to donate to the United Way or other agencies. Some students may have received assistance from an agency and... Read more
October 2020 – Student of the Month Cesar A. VasquezMBA – Marketing My name is Cesar A. Vasquez and my hometown is El Paso, TX. I am currently working for Verizon Wireless in customer service as a coordinator where I support my peers and take escalated service calls for expert support. I am working towards completing my MBA with a concentration in Marketing Read more