2014 CASNR E-NEWSLETTER
VOLUME 9, ISSUE 6
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
CASNR leadership set to
revamp Dr. Bill Bennett
Student Success Center
programs
CASNR is in the
process of
completing an
overhaul of its
student success
center, a group of professionals in
the Dean’s Office charged with
recruiting and retaining the best
students for the college. In
addition, plans are underway to
increase efficiency of the group’s
services, following a thorough
review led by Cindy Akers,
CASNR’s Associate Dean for
Academic and Student Programs.
more »
ON THE SCENE
In Profile: Grayson Davies
shines as Tech’s first
viticulture, enology
graduate
A wine produced
by Texas Tech’s
first viticulture and
enology graduate
has been awarded
a platinum designation for its bold
taste at the San Diego
International Wine Competition.
Grayson Davies graduated from
the university’s program in 2011
and has since helped his family’s
vineyard in Saint Jo (53 miles
northwest of Denton) grow into a
full winery, known as Arche.
An internationally-recognized leader in cotton fiber research has been named the new chairman of
Texas Tech’s Department of Plant and Soil Science today (June 3), according to officials with the College
of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Eric Hequet takes the helm of the highly successful
agricultural academic unit on Sept 1. Currently, Hequet serves as a professor with Tech’s Department
of Plant and Soil Science, in addition to having a joint appointment with Texas A&M AgriLife Research.
He also serves as associate director of the university’s Fiber and Biopolymer Research Institute. more »
Meat Science Academic Quiz Bowl Team wins back-to-back nat’l
championships
It was deja vu again this week for Texas Tech’s Meat Science Academic Quiz Bowl
Team. The standout team of animal science students once again won a national
championship title at the 67th American Meat Science Association’s Reciprocal Meat
Conference in Madison, Wis. Previously the Red Raiders have roasted the competition,
winning the event in 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2013. more »
AEC chairman tapped to lead American Association for Agricultural
Education
The chairman of Texas Tech’s Department of Agricultural Education and
Communications has been selected for a top leadership post with the American
Association for Agricultural Education. Steve Fraze will serve as organization’s
president-elect this year and will be installed as president next May at the group’s
national meeting in San Antonio. more »
New grants administrator on deck in CASNR administration
headquarters
An expert in grants administration with Texas Tech’s International Center for Food
Industry Excellence has been selected to lead this critical area within Tech’s College of
Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Ann Ulmer officially stepped into her new
post on June 1. more »
FEATURED VIDEO
Spring Commencement; CASNR graduates challenged to reach higher

GALLERY: CASNR launches
new ‘You Tube’ video
recruiting page, featuring
students from all six
departments.
More than 2,300 students Texas Tech students, including 183 from the College of
Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, received diplomas at the university’s
commencement ceremonies Saturday (May 17) at the United Supermarkets Arena in
Lubbock. more »
UPCOMING
A graduate student with Texas Tech’s Department of Agricultural Education and
Communications is among the first inaugural recipients of the Doctoral Dissertation
Completion Fellowship Program in the Texas Tech University Graduate School. The
selection of Michael Kanyi, a doctoral student from Kenya, was announced today (June
AEC’s Michael Kanyi tapped for new doctoral dissertation fellowship
program

Turfgrass Field Day set for
July 21 at Texas Tech Quaker
Research Farm
Growing and
maintaining topflight turf will be in
the spotlight
Monday (July 21)
at a Turfgrass Field Day at the
Texas Tech University’s Quaker
Research Farm. Registration for
the half-day program at 200 N.
Quaker Ave. begins at 7 a.m., and
the presentations begin about an
hour later. more »

CASNR Faculty Retreat
August 22, 2014
Merket Alumni Center

AgFest
August 28, 2014
AFS Buidling
CASNR Homecoming
Breakfast
October 18, 2014
87th Annual Pig Roast
November 13, 2014
Lubbock Memorial Civic Center
3). more »
AFS professor appears on nat’l business show to discuss summer food
safety
Americans typically spend a relatively small amount of their disposable income on
food, but that trend likely will change this summer, a Texas Tech food expert told Fox
Business last month. Appearing on “Lou Dobbs Tonight,” Mindy Brashears, a professor
of food microbiology and food safety, said that Americans should expect food prices to
rise because of the current drought and other issues. more »
Summer Session; CASNR interns spend summer learning the ropes in
Washington
Four students from Texas Tech’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources will be
spending the summer working as interns in the nation’s capital. Running from June
through August, the college’s congressional spring intern program affords selected
students an opportunity to experience first-hand the government’s day-to-day
operations. more »
CASNR Undergraduate Program Coordinator Ramona Johnson retires
After more than two decades at the Texas Tech’s College of Agricultural Sciences and
Natural Resources, Ramona Johnson is retiring. The college’s long-time coordinator for
undergraduate programs was honored at a special reception last month at the
McKenzie Merket Alumni Center. more »
Texas Tech hosts Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education event
During mid-June more than 35 high school instructors from across the nation were on
the Texas Tech campus for a special agricultural science education course. The focus
was on providing a high-level educational experience to enhance the rigor and
relevance of agriculture, food, and natural resources subject matter, say CASNR
officials who hosted the academic event from June 16-26. more »
Administrative Council
DR. MICHAEL ORTH
Animal & Food Sciences
michael.orth@ttu.edu
DR. RICHARD ZARTMAN
Plant & Soil Science
richard.zartman@ttu.edu
DR. STEVE FRAZE
Agricultural Education
& Communications
steven.fraze@ttu.edu
NORMAN MARTIN
Marketing & Communications
norman.martin@ttu.edu
DR. MICHAEL BALLOU
Associate Dean for Research
michael.ballou@ttu.edu
DR. CHARLES KLEIN
Landscape Architecture
charles.klein@ttu.edu
JANE PIERCY
Development &
Alumni Relations
jane.piercy@ttu.edu
DR. PHILLIP JOHNSON
Agricultural & Applied Economics
phil.johnson@ttu.edu
DR. MARK WALLACE
Natural Resources Management
mark.wallace@ttu.edu
ANN ULMER
Grants Administrator
ann.ulmer@ttu.edu
DR. MICHAEL GALYEAN
Dean
michael.galyean@ttu.edu
DR. CINDY AKERS
Associate Dean for Academic
& Student Programs
cindy.akers@ttu.edu
College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
PO Box 42123
Lubbock, Texas 79409-2123
(806) 742-2808 phone
(806) 742-2836 fax