We found these Stars in the College of Agriculture Science and Natural Resources.

DeeAnn Pruitt

Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics

  Hometown or where you tell people you’re from? I grew up in Tulia, TX, in a great farming community.

  In a sentence or two, describe your job: I am the main office receptionist, but am also the Graduate secretary, and help all our department’s graduate students process admissions, as well as assist them once they get here.

  How long have you been at Texas Tech? Three years

  In your position? Two years and counting

  Have you worked anywhere else at Tech? for Dr. Robert Baker in Biological Sciences, as a Senior Office Assistant

Family/friends that you like to hang out with: mostly my kids. I have two daughters, one 16 and one 8. I also spend a lot of time going back home to visit my parents, who now live in Olton. There’s nothing better for my heart than time spent in the wide open spaces, with my family. I’ve also been blessed with friends that are as close as family, who I wouldn’t trade for anything.

Favorite time of year and why: I love both the Fall and the Spring - both because of all the changes to the world around us.

It’s become popular to talk about a “Bucket List” – things you’d like to do.  Do you have a Bucket List? Not really.

If you do – or if you were to make one, name a few things that are on the list or that you’d put on the list: – I’m already living the life I always wanted, full and happy with my kids, my family and friends. Life is too short not to make the most of it while we’re here!

A few things that you’ve crossed off you Bucket List or have done that are unexpected and/or just plain cool: Visited 15 states; lived on both coasts; driven from the east cost to the west; lived in four different states; swam in the oceans; spent a whole lot of time horseback; spent time hiking in the Grand Canyons; finished a college degree; and still raising two beautiful daughters to believe they can be and do anything they dream of.

Sandy Gellner

Department of Animal and Food Sciences

   Hometown or where you tell people you’re from? Portland,   Oregon (I’m an Air Force retiree.  Even though I have lived in Lubbock for 16 years, I don’t have the Texas accent, so people still ask “where are you from?”)

   In a sentence or two, describe your job:  I work for the department chair and I guess you could say I am the “go to”person in the department for most things that need resolving.   I love my job because I do a variety of things on a daily basis.

  How long have you been at Texas Tech?  15-1/2 years

  In your position? 10 years

Have you worked anywhere else at Tech? Department of Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries (now Natural Resources Management)

Family/friends that you like to hang out with:  My husband, Mike; my son who lives in Dallas, so I can’t hang out with him as much as I would like to; my daughter (she is 18 and I think I like to hang out with her more than she likes to hang out with me); my sorority sisters (16 of them and we are all good friends); one of my neighbors from way back when who also works at TTU, Judy Sims; and my one-year old chocolate lab, Trouble. 

Favorite time of year and why:  Christmas, in fact I was just telling my husband yesterday that there are only 8 months until Christmas!  I love the meaning of the season, the decorations, the Christmas lights, the family gathering at this special time.

Do you have a Bucket List? Yes

If you do – or if you were to make one, name a few things that are on the list or that you’d put on the list:  Hot air balloon flight, Visit Hawaii, Live in Alaska for one year.
               

A few things that you’ve crossed off you Bucket List or have done that are unexpected and/or just plain cool: Alaskan cruise (truly a gorgeous state) and taking my daughter to Europe for her high school graduation gift especially to see where she was born (Heerlen, the Netherlands) – not yet quite crossed off, but will be soon.

Renee Dillon

Department of Natural Resources Management

  Hometown or where you tell people you’re from? Middlefield, Massachusetts

  In a sentence or two, describe your job: I’m a senior business assistant in Natural Resources Management. I’m the graduate secretary and I also maintain our website and do assessment reporting.

  How long have you been at Texas Tech?  Two years – I started in this position February 2009

  Have you worked anywhere else at Tech?  No – I love working in NRM!

Family/friends that you like to hang out with: My husband – he’s a Math PhD student here at TTU

Favorite time of year and why: Summer, because I love warm weather, and because one of my favorite parts of my job is helping new students during Red Raider Orientations

Do you have a Bucket List? No

If you do – or if you were to make one, name a few things that are on the list or that you’d put on the list:  I want to travel as much as possible.  I would love to go on an African safari – I love wild animal parks and zoos. Also, I love baseball and I want to go to as many major league baseball parks as I can.  I’ve been to four so far; lots more to see.

A few things that you’ve crossed off you Bucket List or have done that are unexpected and/or just plain cool:   Spent my honeymoon in Rome, Florence and Venice.  It was amazing. (almost ten years ago now!! Yikes!).  Once my husband and I drove all the way across the country (South Carolina to San Diego) in our Mini Cooper!

Diann Merriman

Department of Plant and Soil Science

   Hometown or where you tell people you’re from?  My father was in the military for 20 years; so, I was born in California.  But, my parents and family are from Levelland, TX (that is home).

   In a sentence or two, describe your job:  I am the Administrative Business Assistant for the Department of Plant and Soil Science.  Basically, I provide support for the department chair in whatever capacity is necessary.

  How long have you been at Texas Tech?  I just recently moved back to Texas in November of 2009.  I started work at Tech in December of 2009.

  Have you worked anywhere else at Tech?  No

Family/friends that you like to hang out with:  My husband is my best friend, so I spend most of my time with him.  But, since I have been away from my family (lived in South Florida from 2000 – 2009) I take advantage of every moment I get to spend with my parents.
   
Favorite time of year and why: I can’t say that I have a favorite time of year…I just love the change of seasons.  I have lived in a place where the weather is the same, day in and day out, so it is nice to have a change.

Do you have a Bucket List?  Nope – no “bucket list.”  I just try to do the things in life that make me happy.

If you do – or if you were to make one, name a few things that are on the list or that you’d put on the list:  If I were to make a list, it would be about travel.  There are a lot of places I would love to visit.

A few things that you’ve crossed off you Bucket List or have done that are unexpected and/or just plain cool: My husband and I picked up and moved from Texas to Ft. Lauderdale (in 2000) to work on boats and be near the ocean.  And then again, in 2004 we moved from Ft. Lauderdale to the Florida Keys.  It was an amazing adventure and we met some amazing people.