Officials at Texas Tech's College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources announced today (April 7) the creation of two new administrative research-related positions. The Associate Dean for Research positions will be filled by 50 percent appointments of two current CASNR faculty members.

David Weindorf, a nationally recognized expert in land-use planning and a Fulbright Scholar, currently serves as the B.L. Allen Endowed Professor of Pedology in Tech's Department of Plant and Soil Science. He will step into his new post on July 1. Meanwhile, Michael Ballou, a nutritional biologist and an associate professor with Tech's Department of Animal and Food Sciences, takes on his new duties on June 1.

"Both these individuals will play a vital and transformative role in creating a research community that CASNR will become in the years ahead," said Michael Galyean, dean of Tech's College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Weindorf and Ballou will continue to maintain active graduate education and research programs in their home departments, he said.

Galyean said Weindorf will lead CASNR's international programs and research administration efforts, including international research and development efforts, research program management, budgetary oversight, and research compliance issues. Weindorf joined the Tech faculty last September after serving six years as an associate professor and assistant professor of soil classification/land use at Louisiana State University.

Prior to that he served as an assistant professor of soil science at Tarleton State University. In addition, Weindorf served as coach of the intercollegiate soils judging teams at Tarleton State and LSU. He received his bachelor's degree in range management, a master's degree in soil science, and doctorate in agronomy from Texas Tech. In the past, the Austin native has focused his research efforts on the development of applications for new technologies in field soil survey, land use management/planning, remote sensing, environmental quality assessment, compost science and international translational soil taxonomy.

Separately, Ballou will provide primary leadership for CASNR's graduate and research program development, including graduate student recruiting initiatives, responses to request for proposals, and research team building. In the past Ballou's research has centered on understanding how the innate immune responses of animals at various physiological states are involved in resistance to diseases and modulation of innate immune responses through management and nutrition practices. Prior to joining the Tech faculty, Ballou served as an associate instructor and graduate research assistant at the University of California-Davis. He received his bachelor's degree in animal science, and his doctorate in nutritional biology from the University of California-Davis.

Written by Norman Martin

CONTACT: Michael Galyean, Dean, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2808 or michael.galyean@ttu.edu

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