September 27, 2021
2021 Newly Awarded Endowed Professorships
Photo above: (L to R) Dr. Brock Blaser, Dr. John Richeson, Dr. David Khan, and Dr. Craig Bednarz
The Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences awarded four new endowed professorships. Dr. Brock Blaser, Vernon Harman Professor of Dryland Farming, Dr. John Richeson, Paul Engler Professor of Beef Cattle Feedlot Management, Dr. David Khan, Paul Engler Endowed Professor of Natural Sciences, and Dr. Craig Bednarz, Stan & Gerry Sigman Professor of Water Resources.
“These gentlemen are four of our very finest,” said Dr. Kevin Pond, dean of the Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences. “The breadth of their experience in their various fields will benefit current and future students immensely, and the support provided by the professorship endowments will allow them to expand their research activities.” Congratulations!
Dr. Hiranuma's Research Update
Dr. Naruki Hiranuma, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science explains his most recent research project.
The main objective of this research project is to evaluate our predictive capability of ice-nucleating particle (INP) number concentrations from an aerosol population by conducting a closure experiment. The ability of aerosol samples at the U.S. Southern Great Plains to act as immersion freezing mode INP was determined in the temperature range above -30 °C. Several online and offline instruments from various institutes, including WTAMU, were employed to measure aerosol properties and INP number concentrations. These various acquired data sets allow us to probe multiple venues of assessing our predictive capability of observed immersion freezing events.
Area I Greenhand Leadership Conference
On September 22nd, Area I Greenhand Leadership Conference was held at the Happy State Academic and Research Building to introduce first year high school students to the benefits and opportunities in agricultural education, including Supervised Agricultural Experiences and FFA. 
Student Government Association Vacancies
Under new amendments to the Student Government Association (SGA) constitution, students interested in filling a vacancy must attend a Senate meeting at 4:30 PM on Mondays located in the Senate Chamber downstairs in the JBK. If a student wishes to fill a vacancy in October, they must attend the meeting scheduled for Monday, September 27. SGA only fills vacancies on the first Monday of the month. The next date to fill a vacancy is Monday, October 4. 
Once a student has attended a meeting and filled out their vacancy form, the Senate will then vote to approve or deny them as a student senator. 
The gift of The Gerdsen Centennial Ranch
The 1,772-acre Gerdsen Centennial Ranch is located near the WTAMU Nance Ranch, approximately seven miles east of Canyon, expanding WT’s footprint in that area to more than 4,000 acres.
Pictured above: (L to R) Siblings Rosemary Gerdsen Prichard and Phyllis Gerdsen
The Gerdsen ranch has been given to the WTAMU Foundation through the estates of siblings Phyllis Gerdsen, Rosemary Gerdsen Prichard and her late husband Stanley, and the late Hank Gerdsen. “The Gerdsen Family Centennial Ranch will provide an irreplaceable location for hands-on training in agricultural technologies, practical ranch land management, wildlife integration, plant science research and emerging technologies,” said Dr. Kevin Pond, dean of the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences.
“…The greatest quality is seeking to serve others.”
-Atisa