The Texas Tech University System Board of Regents approved the academic advancement of five outstanding College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources faculty members during their latest meeting (Feb. 21-22).

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

• Courtney Meyers, associate professor to professor, Department of Agricultural Education and Communications. The Kansas native joined the CASNR faculty in 2008. She received her bachelor's degree in agricultural communication and journalism from Kansas State University. Her master's degree in agricultural and extension education is from the University of Arkansas, and her doctorate in agricultural education and communication from the University of Florida. Recent honors include a Chancellor's Council Distinguished Teaching Award (2018).
• Blake Grisham, assistant professor to associate professor with tenure, Department of Natural Resources Management. Grisham joined the CASNR faculty in 2013. He received his bachelor's degree in wildlife management from Arkansas State University and a master's degree in wildlife management from Louisiana State University. His doctorate in wildlife, aquatic, and wildlands science and management is from Texas Tech. Recent honors include an Educator of the Year Award from the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society (2018), and CASNR Junior Faculty Award (2018).
• Adam Martin, assistant professor to associate professor with tenure, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics. Martin joined the CASNR faculty in 2014. He received his bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Dallas, and his master's and doctorate degrees in economics are from George Mason University. He is a Political Economy Research Fellow at the Free Market Institute and a member of the Board Scholars for the Foundation for Economic Education.
• Venugopal Mendu, assistant professor to associate professor with tenure, Department of Plant and Soil Science. Mendu joined the CASNR faculty in 2013. He received his bachelor's degree in agriculture and master's degree in genetics and plant breeding from ANGR Agricultural University-India. His doctorate in plant physiology/biochemistry/molecular biology is from the University of Kentucky. Recent honors include a Chancellor's Council Distinguished Research Award (2018), and a CASNR Research Award (2017).
• Jhones Sarturi, assistant professor to associate professor with tenure, Department of Animal and Food Sciences. The native of Brazil joined the CASNR faculty in 2013. He received his degree in veterinary medicine from UNIDERP (Campo Grande, Brazil), and a master's degree in agronomy from the University of Sao Paulo (Piracicaba, Brazil). His doctorate in animal science and ruminant nutrition is from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Sarturi is an expert in feedlot beef cattle nutrition and metabolism.

CONTACT: William Brown, Dean, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2808 or william.f.brown@ttu.edu

0225NM19 / PHOTO: N MARTIN / (top to bottom) Courtney Meyers, Blake Grisham, Adam Martin, Venugopal Mendu and Jhones Sarturi