After more than a dozen years of highly-awarded teaching and research within Texas Tech's Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Thomas Knight has announced that he will retire from his post as Tech Horn Professor and Emabeth Thompson Professor of Risk Management. His last day will be May 31.

"Tom Knight's influence has been felt throughout the university," said Michael Galyean, dean of Tech's College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. "He combines the highest level of professionalism and expertise, and we appreciate his hard work and outstanding scholarship."

While at Texas Tech, Knight's research has focused on risk management with an emphasis on crop insurance issues. Knight's work in crop insurance has not only been influential in the academic community but has also had a major influence on the design and premium rate structure of crop insurance products offered by the USDA to producers of most crops grown throughout the United States.

Prior to joining the Texas Tech faculty in 2002, Knight served as an assistant, associate and full professor at Texas A&M University. Knight received a bachelor's degree and master's degree in agricultural economics from Oklahoma State University. His doctorate in agricultural economics is from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Recent awards for Knight while at Texas Tech include Horn Professor (2012); President's Academic Achievement Award (2011); CASNR Graduate Advising Award (2010); CASNR Research Award (2009); and Mortar Board and Omicron Delta Kappa Faculty Recognition Award (2009).

Knight is only the second member of Tech's Agricultural and Applied Economics Department faculty to be named a Horn Professor, the highest honor bestowed upon a faculty member at the university. The first was Willard Williams in 1968. Williams specialized in the economics of the livestock industry, and helped move the department toward agricultural economics research that focused on sophisticated mathematical and statistical analytical procedures.

In 2012, Knight was asked to join Tech's faculty-led Investigator Financial Disclosure Committee. He joined eight other campus experts who provided guidance about policy to manage Texas Tech institutional conflicts of interest and develop and monitor management plans when a potential conflict was identified.

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

0528NM15