Darren Hudson, a veteran professor, administrator and agricultural economist with Texas Tech's Department of Agricultural & Applied Economics, has been appointed the university's Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources' Interim Associate Dean for Research, officials announced today (May 17). He will step into his new administrative role on May 22.

“I'm looking forward to his leadership and continued growth toward excellence for the research mission of Davis College,” said Davis College Dean Clint Krehbiel. “In his interim role, he will provide leadership for and oversight of research and innovation in Davis College. He has been exceptional in his research and teaching roles.” 

Hudson, who joined the Texas Tech faculty in 2008, serves as a Professor and the Larry Combest Endowed Chair for Agricultural Competitiveness, along with being Director of the university's International Center for Agricultural Competitiveness. His research interests include agricultural policy and trade, economic development, marketing and consumer demand, and behavioral economics. In addition, he participates in the Food & Agricultural Policy Research Institute consortium producing annual baseline projections for cotton for the group. 

During his tenure at Texas Tech, Hudson has published more than 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts and nine book chapters. He has given more than 130 invited presentations related to his areas of expertise, and written grants resulting in more than $9 million to support his research program. In addition, Hudson teaches at both the undergraduate and graduate level, including courses in agriculture and public policy, agribusiness strategic management, applied risk analysis, and economics of food security and terrorism.

Prior to coming to Texas Tech, Hudson was a professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Mississippi State University. In addition, from 2006 to 2009, he was a fellow with The Farm Foundation, an Oak Brook, Ill.-based agricultural organization that focuses on economic and policy issues impacting agriculture, the food system and rural America. 

A native of White Deer, Hudson received his bachelor's degree in agribusiness from West Texas A&M University, and his master's and doctorate degrees in agricultural and applied economics from Texas Tech. He is a member of SAEA, along with the American Economic Association, Economic Science Association, and the American Agricultural Economics Association.  

Honors for Hudson include a Lifetime Achievement Award from the SAEA (2023), one of the organization's highest honor, as well as serving as SAEA past-President, along with the Davis College Outstanding Researcher Award (2011); Texas Tech Undergraduate Student Association Outstanding Faculty (2009); AAEA Outstanding Undergraduate Teacher (2007); and the Mississippi State University Alumni Association Outstanding Undergraduate Teacher (2007).

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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