After more than three decades as an internationally-recognized leader in improving farm level decision-making and motivating students to be able to learn on their own without being intimidated by complexity, Eduardo Segarra, has announced that he will retire from his post as a professor in Texas Tech University's Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics. His last day will be Dec. 31.

"My core objective has always been to encourage and motivate students to become effective decision-makers," he said. "I have been truly blessed to have had the opportunity to work with superb students throughout my career."

Segarra, who joined the Tech faculty in 1987, served as chairman of the department from 2005 to 2013. Over the years he has taught economic principles, price theory, risk management, production economics, operations research, international trade, and dynamic optimization. In addition, he has advised and monitored the research program of graduate and undergraduate students, and visiting scholars.

The focus of Segarra's research has centered on production and natural resource economics, and domestic and international agriculturally related issues/policies. The thrust of that research effort has been improving farm level decision-making by the consideration of the impacts of emerging technologies, public policy changes, and environmental and resource constraints that are likely to affect agricultural producers and society at large.

Segarra has participated in 66 research projects, and served as principal investigator on 22 and obtained 13 travel grants. His total research funding is more than $13.8 million and raised over $3.7 million for departmental endowments, and he has over 425 refereed/peer reviewed publications and professional presentations to his credit.

In 2017, Segarra received the "Lifetime Achievement Award" from the Southern Agricultural Economics Association, the organization's highest honor. The award recognizes significant and enduring contributions in scholarship and public service to southern agricultural economics.

Other honors for Segarra include co-recipient of the Texas Environmental Excellence Award in Agriculture from the Texas Alliance for Water Conservation project (2015); co-recipient of the Water Conservation Advisory Council's Blue Legacy Award in Agriculture for Water Conservation - Ogallala Aquifer Program (2012); CASNR Service and Outreach Award (2005) and CASNR Outstanding Researcher Award (2000); selected as member of Texas Tech's Teaching Academy (1997); and Texas Tech's President's Academic Achievement Award (1997).

Segarra received his bachelor's degree in Economics from the Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon in Monterrey, Mexico, and his master's degree in agricultural economics from the University of Missouri-Columbia. His doctorate in agricultural economics is from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He is a member of the American Agricultural Economics Association; International Association of Agricultural Economists; Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association; and the Southern Agricultural Economics Association.

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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