A strong commitment to teaching has garnered Erica Irlbeck, an associate professor of agricultural communications within Texas Tech's Department of Agricultural Education and Communications, a Chancellor's Council Distinguished Teaching Award, one of the highest faculty honors in the university system.

The award recognizes those who demonstrate excellence in teaching, service to the teaching profession, service to students, professional growth and scholarly activity. The awards ceremony, which included presentation of a $5,000 stipend and an engraved medallion, was held on Wednesday (Feb. 12) at the university's McKenzie-Merket Alumni Center.

"Ensuring students get the best education possible is my top priority, so I am very honored by this recognition of my efforts," Irlbeck said.

Since joining Tech's faculty in 2009, Irlbeck has taught students video production in agriculture, agricultural communications campaigns and professional development. Her research interests include risk and crisis communications, agriculture in television media and agricultural communications campaigns.

In addition, she is faculty supervisor for Picador Creative, a communications service center established in 2014 by the Department of Agricultural Education & Communications. Picador Creative provides scholarships and hands-on experience to students while filling a much-needed role for agricultural organizations, businesses and individuals in the Lubbock and South Plains communities.

Prior to her academic career, Irlbeck worked in agricultural television news, farm radio, public relations and advertising. She received her doctorate in agricultural education from Texas Tech. Her bachelor's degree in agricultural communications is from Oklahoma State and her master's degree is from Tech.

Recent honors for Irlbeck include a Non-Land-Grant Agricultural and Renewable Resources Universities' Young Educator Award (2015), CASNR Teaching Award (2015), CASNR Junior Faculty Award (2014), and the Texas Tech University Alumni Association New Faculty Award (2014).

Looking back, CASNR has an outstanding record of Chancellor's Council recognition, including current faculty members:

• Chance Brooks, Professor/Associate Chair, Department of Animal & Food Sciences (2019-Teaching)
• Courtney Meyers, Professor/Graduate Studies Coordinator, Department of Agricultural Education & Communications (2018-Teaching)
• Venugopal Mendu, Associate Professor, Department of Plant & Soil Science (2018-Research)
• Michael Ballou, Chair, Department of Veterinary Sciences (2017-Research)
• Scott Burris, Professor/Associate Chair, Department of Agricultural Education & Communications (2016-Teaching)
• Noureddine Abidi, Leidigh Professor, Department of Plant & Soil Science and Managing Director, Fiber & Biopolymer Research Institute (2013-Research)
• Eric Hequet, Horn Professor, Department of Plant & Soil Science (2011-Research)
• Mark Miller, San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Chair, Department of Animal & Food Sciences (2011-Teaching)

"The dedication to excellence and commitment to advancing our institutions is what places each of these award winners among the leading educators and researchers in our university system," said Texas Tech University Chancellor Tedd Mitchell. "It's a privilege to present each of this year's recipients with our system's top faculty honors."

The awards are made possible through philanthropic gifts to the Chancellor Council, a giving society that supports Mitchell's priorities of impacting student lives through scholarships, recognizing faculty achievements and encouraging excellence across the System. Since the teaching and research awards were established by the council in 2001, 191 faculty members have received awards totaling more than $1.1 million.

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

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