Thompson named to new endowed CASNR chairmanship
Texas Tech University announced today (Nov. 20) the establishment of the J.A. Love Endowed Chair for Sustainable Agriculture in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Officials also introduced Tom Thompson, a nationally-recognized agricultural researcher and Texas Tech administrator, as the first chair recipient.
"I'm humbled by this honor," said Thompson, who currently serves as chairman of Tech's Department of Plant and Soil Science. "Making agriculture on the southern High Plains more sustainable is a huge challenge, and I hope that the funds provided through this endowed chair will be a catalyst for greater efforts toward this goal."
Sustainable Agriculture. In the past, Thompson has conducted research to advance and support sustainable agriculture practices, especially improving the efficiency of irrigation and nutrient management for crops. In general, sustainable agriculture integrates three main goals: environmental health, economic profitability, and social and economic equity.
The J.A. and Malone Love Charitable Trust was established more than forty years ago in Tech's Department of Plant and Soil Science as part of a bequest from the estate of Judge J.A. Love. The endowment, which was changed to the J.A. Love Endowment in 1977, originally was created to support research and other activities related to organic farming.
Critical Area. Over the decades the endowment has steadily grown in size and is now large enough to fund an endowed chair at the university. Now, with the approval of the Texas Tech Foundation, the J.A. Love Endowed Chair for Sustainable Agriculture has been created to provide support for activities related to sustainable agriculture in the department.
"I'm very pleased that Tom Thompson, an eminent scientist and colleague, will be the first holder of the J.A. Love Chair," said John Burns, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. "This represents a turning point and a vote of confidence in our support for future improvements in the critical area of sustainable agriculture."
Research Programs. Today, Thompson, who was named professor and chair at Texas Tech in 2006, leads a diverse mix of research programs important to agriculture in Texas. In addition, he oversees instruction for the department's 185 undergraduate and graduate students, whose majors include environmental crop and soil sciences, as well as horticulture and turfgrass sciences.
The plant and soil science department studies a slate of issues vital to the agriculture community, as well as the rest of the world, to include conserving Ogallala aquifer water, developing drought-tolerant plants and enhancing the genetic traits of cotton.
Soil-Plant Relationships. Thompson, an Abilene native, joined Texas Tech after a 15-year stint at the University of Arizona, where he was a professor and extension specialist with the soil, water and environmental science department. Thompson's research program has addressed soil-plant relationships in agricultural and non-agricultural systems.
A particular focus has been efficient water and nutrient management with subsurface drip irrigation. Many of his studies were conducted at the University of Arizona's Maricopa Agricultural Center near Phoenix.
Thompson holds a bachelor's degree in agronomy from Abilene Christian University and a master's degree in soil chemistry and fertility from Texas A&M University. His doctorate in soil chemistry is from Iowa State University. He's a member of the American Society of Agronomy and Soil Science Society of America.
Written by Norman Martin
CONTACT: Thomas Thompson, Chair and Professor of Soil Science, Department of Plant and Soil Science, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2838 or thomas.thompson@ttu.edu
Departmental News
- Agricultural & Applied Economics
- Agricultural Education & Communications
- Animal & Food Sciences
- Landscape Architecture
- Natural Resources Management
- Plant & Soil Science
- Veterinary Science
Press Room
Editor: Norman Martin
Maps: Where to Find It
Davis College NewsCenter
-
Address
P.O. Box 42123, Lubbock, Texas 79409-2123, Dean's Office Location:Goddard Building, Room 108 -
Phone
(806)742-2808 -
Email
kris.allen@ttu.edu