Brad Johnson, an internationally-recognized professor within Texas Tech University's Department of Animal & Food Sciences, has received South Dakota State University's Department of Animal Science 2023 Distinguished Alumnus Award. The honor was presented in April at the department's annual awards program.

Program officials note the honor recognizes alumni of the department whose accomplishments have impacted the agriculture industry, communities and individuals across the state, nation and world. Contributions of SDSU distinguished alumni include outstanding professional accomplishment, sustained service to agriculture or distinguished leadership.

“I am incredibly honored to receive this award,” Johnson said. “SDSU gave the hands-on approach in most of my classes and the experience of the faculty in our department at the time I was there. They instilled a can-do anything attitude.”

Johnson, who joined the Texas Tech faculty in 2008, currently serves as the Gordon W. Davis Regent's Chair in Meat & Muscle Biology. He received his bachelor's degree in animal science from South Dakota State University (1990). His master's degree and doctorate in animal science are from the University of Minnesota.

Prior to coming to Tech, he was a muscle growth and development and meat quality assistant and associate professor with the Department of Animal Sciences & Industry at Kansas State University. He also worked as an Extension Ruminant Nutrition and Beef Feedlot Specialist and assistant professor with the Department of Animal and Range Sciences at South Dakota State University.

A native of Milbank, South Dakota, Johnson's research has involved evaluating the mechanism of action and physiology of two classes of veterinary drugs approved for meat production, steroidal implants and beta-adrenergic agonists. More recently, he has been studying the proposed metabolism of compounds related to potential residues in edible tissues. Specifically, he has played a pivotal role in meat consumption anti-doping cases. 

Johnson recently completed a five-year term on the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives and has been reappointed for another five-year term. He has published 142 peer-reviewed journal articles, 12 invited reviews or book chapters, and advised more than 70 graduates and postdoctoral students. 

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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