Donna Mitchell has been named a research assistant professor in water and resource economics with Texas Tech's Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, according to officials within the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. She officially stepped into her new post on Nov. 1.

The Lamesa native indicated that she is particularly interested in continuing her research efforts on water and resource policy, water conservation, sustainability, food security, and climate change. Her research interests particularly focus on the impact of climate change on food and water availability, the nexus between food, climate, migration, and conflict, and economic impacts related to the declining saturated thickness of the Ogallala aquifer.

One of her primary goals here at Tech is to expand multidisciplinary research related to water conservation to increase the sustainability of irrigated agriculture through the use of efficient irrigation technologies and management strategies to enhance producer profitability while facing aquifer decline.

Prior to joining the Tech faculty, Mitchell served as a post-doctoral research associate, teacher's assistant, and research associate in Tech's Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics. She was also an instructor for the AAEC study abroad program in Seville, Spain where she taught farm and ranch management.

Mitchell received her bachelor's degree in agricultural and applied economics from Tech, and her master's degree in agricultural economics from Texas A&M. Her doctorate in agricultural and applied economics is from Tech.

Written by Norman Martin

CONTACT: Phillip Johnson, chairman and director of the university's Thornton Agricultural Finance Institute, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Texas Tech University at (806) 834-0474 or phil.johnson@ttu.edu

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