The Texas Tech University System Board of Regents approved the academic advancement of six outstanding College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources faculty members during their latest meeting (Mar. 2).

Among those receiving a promotion in academic rank (effective Sept. 1) are:

• Noureddine Abidi, associate professor to professor, Department of Plant and Soil Science. The cotton research scientist is managing director of the CASNR's Fiber and Biopolymer Research Institute. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Med I, Faculty of Sciences Oujda (Morocco); and his doctorate in theoretical, physical and analytical chemistry from the University of Montpellier II (France).
• Michael Ballou, associate professor to professor, Department of Animal and Food Sciences. The California native serves as CASNR's Associate Dean for Research and is taking on additional duties as interim chairman of a new Department of Veterinary Sciences. The nutritional biologist earned his bachelor's degree and his doctorate in nutritional biology with an emphasis on immunology from the University of California-Davis.
• Kendra Nightingale, associate professor to professor, Department of Animal and Food Sciences. The pre-and post-harvest food safety expert's work has included gaining a more comprehensive understanding of the molecular ecology and transmission dynamics of food borne pathogens throughout the human food chain. She received her bachelor's degree in animal science and master's degree in food science from Kansas State. Her doctorate in science and technology is from Cornell University.
• Allison Pease, assistant professor to associate professor with tenure, Department of Natural Resources Management. Pease, an aquatic ecologist, is focused on community ecology and conservation in streams, rivers, and other aquatic habitats. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Texas and her master's degree from the University of New Mexico. Her doctorate is from Texas A&M University.
• Richard Stevens, associate professor to professor, Department of Natural Resources Management. An expert in biodiversity and conservation biology, Stevens' work lies at the intersection of community ecology, macroecology and biogeography. Part of his work examines the basic community ecology of bats and rodents in Paraguay, California and Texas. He received his bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees in biology from Texas Tech.
• Robin Verble, assistant professor to associate professor with tenure, Department of Natural Resources Management. An expert in fire ecology, Verble's research focuses on the ecology of fire-adapted ecosystems and organisms. She received her bachelor's degree in biophysics from the University of Southern Indiana, and her master's degree in forest entomology from the University of Arkansas. Her doctorate in applied bioscience is from the University of Arkansas-Little Rock.

In other action, the Board of Regents announced that Terry McLendon with the Department of Plant and Soil Science, and Department of Natural Resources Management has been selected for faculty emeritus professor status. Emeritus appointments are honorary and are given at retirement and are intended to recognize long and faithful service, or distinguished service to the university.

Separately, two CASNR faculty members were approved for a faculty development leave during the 2018-19 academic year. They are Ryan Williams, an associate professor in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics; and Charlie Klein, a professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture.

CONTACT: Steven Fraze, Interim Dean, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2808 or steven.fraze@ttu.edu

0306NM18 / PHOTO: N MARTIN / (top to bottom) Noureddine Abidi, Michael Ballou, Kendra Nightingale, Allison Pease, Richard Stevens and Robin Verble