Sam Jackson, a longtime professor within Texas Tech University’s Department of Animal & Food Sciences, has been selected to receive a Chancellor’s Council Distinguished Teaching Award, the highest faculty honor in the university system. 

The Chancellor's Council Awards ceremony, which includes a $5,000 stipend and an engraved medallion, will be held on Friday (Feb. 17) at the university’s Black Cultural Center. Texas Tech University System Chancellor Tedd Mitchell and Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec are set to make the presentations.

According to a Texas Tech Chancellor’s Council webage, the Chancellor’s Council Distinguished Teaching and Research Awards are given to individuals who exemplify teaching or research excellence throughout the year. Winners of these awards have significantly advanced teaching or research efforts and are noted as leaders among colleagues and in their respective fields.

Raised in Stephenville, Texas, Jackson grew up on a diversified livestock farm and raised sheep, cattle and horses. He received his bachelor’s degree in animal production from Texas Tech. While at Tech, he was a member of both the National Champion Livestock (1985) and Wool (1986) Judging teams. 

He received his master’s degree in physiology of reproduction from Texas A&M University, where he coached the 1987 National Champion Livestock Judging Team. Jackson was awarded has doctorate in animal science from Texas Tech, and joined the Davis College animal science faculty in 1993.

Today, Jackson serves as the coordinator of undergraduate advising, and supervises the horse and wool judging teams. His specialty is sheep production and growth, and development of farm animals. He is a leader in research with sheep that carry the callipyge gene for extreme muscling. 

In the past, Jackson has raised registered Rambouillet sheep and is a carded judge with the American Paint Horse Association and the Palomino Horse Breeders of America. He has judged sheep, cattle and horse shows in 20 states and four countries.

Previous winners of the Texas Tech Chancellor’s Council Distinguished Teaching Award still on the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources faculty include: 

• Erica Irlbeck, Professor, Department of Agricultural Education & Communications
• Chance Brooks, Professor & Interim Chair, Department of Animal & Food Sciences
• Courtney Meyers, Professor, Department of Agricultural Education & Communications
• Scott Burris, Chair, Department of Agricultural Education & Communications
• Mark Miller, Professor & SALE Chair, Department of Animal & Food Sciences

Contact:  Clint Krehbiel, Dean, Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 742-2808 or Clint.Krehbiel@ttu.edu

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