Palo Duro Canyon

The ability of the Texas Panhandle

to thrive in the 21st century global knowledge-based economy hinges on the quality and educational attainment level of its workforce, which is currently lower than the state and national average.

Russell Lowery-Hart

As Associate Vice-President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart developed a broad-based understanding of the important issues facing West Texas A&M University, specifically as it pertained to general education requirements and first year student initiatives.

He spearheaded several university-wide initiatives targeting a common reader program, international travel programs for first year students, curricular reform, instructional improvement, and partnership development across campus “silos.”

This past year, Dr. Lowery-Hart lead a campus-wide conversation based on the common reader, Night by Elie Wiesel. First-year students submitted essays for selection as Readership WT Ambassadors. Selected students then traveled to Poland to retrace Professor Wiesel’s journey. Upon their return, the Readership WT Ambassadors traveled the entire Texas Panhandle sharing their stories and insights.

Dr. Lowery-Hart spends the majority of his career developing student performers as Director of Forensics, and an instructor of all levels of performance courses.

Dr. Lowery-Hart received his Ph.D. in Gender and Diversity in Communication from Ohio University in 1996. He received his MA in Communication Studies from Texas Tech in 1993, and his BS in Speech from West Texas A&M University in 1991.


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