A longtime leader in Texas Tech's Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics is the recipient of a 2014-2015 Fulbright U.S. Scholar grant. Conrad Lyford, a professor specializing in agribusiness, will travel to Hawassa University in Ethiopia to work with Ethiopian educators and researchers to facilitate agribusiness development and value chain rationalization.

The Ethiopian economy is strongly agriculturally based, and there should be many opportunities to develop joint projects of interest, improve intercultural understanding and develop long-term relationships, Lyford said.

"Receiving this Fulbright means enhanced opportunities to work in agricultural development in Feed the Future countries that are currently a focus of efforts by the U.S. government/U.S. Agency for International Development for development assistance," he said. "This should build on Texas Tech's growing partnerships with Ethiopian universities."

Recipients of Fulbright awards are selected on the basis of academic or professional achievement as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields. The Fulbright Program, one of America's flagship international educational exchange program, is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Lyford joins some 800 other U.S. faculty and professional recipients to lecture and conduct research in 140 countries around the world. "Fulbright recipients reflect the high level of research and teaching our faculty engage in daily at Texas Tech University," said Tech President Duane Nellis.

According to officials, the program was established in 1946 under legislation introduced by the late Sen. J. William Fulbright of Arkansas. Since its inception, it has provided more than 108,000 Americans who have studied, taught or researched abroad and more than 178,000 students, scholars and teachers from other countries who have engaged in similar activities in the United States with the opportunity to observe each other's political, economic, educational and cultural institutions.

Reporting by John Davis

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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