This reflection was originally published on December 15, 2008. It is refreshed and worth another look. Christmas memories are personal, deep and important to me. My family’s New York Christmases, with their strong, first generational influence of Western Europe; Cajun…
Originally penned in 2014, but some things just won’t go away. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. No bureaucracy in public service or private enterprise ever starts out as anything but a step toward fairness and excellence,…
Tenth and final in a series regarding Panhandle values and quality of life. Palo Duro Canyon and the challenging, unforgivingly stingy, unceasingly crusty regional geography drive people to band together into groups. It’s the Panhandle’s nature. In contrast to the…
When confronted with challenging times like ours, it is easy to lose heart, appreciation, gratefulness and admiration—in a word, thanksgiving—for the people and places we call home. Our University has been fortunate to have many distinguished leaders. One of those…
Eighth in a series regarding Panhandle values and quality of life. In his 1893 essay, “The Significance of the Frontier in American History,” Frederick J. Turner recognizes the importance of faith and revivalism in America’s westward expansion in the 19th-century.…
Seventh in a series regarding Panhandle values and quality of life. From a reflection almost two years ago, the following was noted: The Carson County Courthouse is the hub of Carson County in Panhandle, Texas, representative of many Panhandle courthouses.…
Sixth in a series regarding Panhandle values and quality of life. This reflection is modified but was initially posted in February 2021. The concept of patriotism is recognized as love or devotion to one’s country. I believe patriotism is cultivated from…
Fourth in a series regarding Panhandle values and quality of life. All universities have an economic impact on the regions and communities in which they are located. University education is a combined public and private good, benefiting everyone in the…
The enrollment challenges that universities face in the coming decade will be assigned to the enduring impact of COVID-19. While part of emerging trends, it’s not the complete ledger. Birthrates are down nationally, as is college readiness. In Texas, 90%…
Second in a series of reflections on student life at West Texas A&M University. For students to engage in a rewarding and complete campus experience, little is more important than the foundation laid in the first year. Many universities have…
First in a series of reflections on student life at West Texas A&M University. The core function of any University is to satisfy student aspirations for a rewarding professional and personal life. As University leaders, we recognize there is no…
West Texas A&M University has recently deepened its partnership with our region’s community colleges and is committed to engaging rural areas with smaller populations. In addition, we are working with business and industry leaders to create more commerce that attracts…
This reflection was originally posted on March 26, 2013. It is worth another look. Real leadership liberates, never limits: it unleashes people to work with passion. Effective universities recognize that strength in academic programs exists on the ground, with engaged…
In the following reflection, historical quotes use the word “man.” I understand the utilization of “man” as indicative of all human beings. Racism is a sin against God. It’s abhorrent. On April 6, West Texas A&M University held its annual…
Fourth in a series on philanthropy in higher education Philanthropy is essential to all universities, especially public regional research universities. Donor giving demonstrates commitment and allows the joining of hands with institutional leaders, faculty, staff and students to pursue ideas,…
Third in a series on philanthropy in higher education In 2020, according to the Council for Advancement and Support of Higher Education, nearly $50 billion flowed into University coffers. Over half of all giving, 55.5%, came from foundations (43% were…
First in a series on philanthropy in higher education Higher educational giving is exceeded only by giving to faith-based organizations in our nation. Americans gave $471.44 billion to charitable causes in 2020. Religious giving topped the list with 28% of…
Sixth and final in a series on Intercollegiate Athletics. Texas is home to 25 Division I athletics programs ranging in size from Texas A&M University (big) to Houston Baptist University (small). Nine football teams compete at the Football Championship Subdivision…
Fifth in a series on Intercollegiate Athletics. Texas has 53 colleges and universities competing in three National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) divisions. These institutions belong to 11 different conferences comprised of many out-of-state members from coast to coast and…
Fourth in a series on Intercollegiate Athletics. Jerry Kill was Southern Illinois University’s (SIU) football coach from 2001 until 2007, during the same time President Wendler was SIU’s Chancellor. Recruiting student-athletes was one of Coach Kill’s greatest strengths. He told…
Third in a series on Intercollegiate Athletics. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is big (720 full-time employees and $1.06 billion in annual revenue). For decades the weight of dense bureaucracy and its impact on millions of intercollegiate athletes and…
The fourth and final piece from November 2017. A thriving campus is of vital importance at WT, a vision I had when I first arrived and one that is still at the forefront. Every spring, countless families from across the…
This is the third piece, published in November 2017, after I arrived in Canyon. Relationships with communities is as important now, as it was then. Communities and the universities they host are married to each other. When one partner grows…
In continuation of sharing the first four reflections published in November 2017, this is the second piece I wrote after my arrival at WT. In 1769, Charles Thompson received financial aid from John Hobbs’s widow to study the ministry at…
-Buff courts under construction, looking north- In the coming weeks, I will publish the first four reflections posted in November 2017 after arriving at WT. I started this process to share thoughts about WT, our purpose and our passions. I…
First in a series on Intercollegiate Athletics. The impact of intercollegiate athletics on universities and colleges around our nation is undeniable. More than 460,000 students compete in intercollegiate athletics, the vast majority using their athletic ability to help fund, in…
Fourth in a series on student educational debt. This column was penned in August 2008—it is slightly modified here. It was a reasonable observation then. It has more weight a decade and a half later as the increasing debt burdens…
