Erica Irlbeck, a professor of agricultural communications within Texas Tech's Department of Agricultural Education & Communications, has been named Associate Dean for Outreach & Engagement, within Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources’ Development & External Relations Office, program officials announced this month. She will step into her new administrative appointment Oct. 1.

"I am so honored to have the opportunity to serve the Davis College in this capacity,” Irlbeck said. “Leading the college in its outreach and engagement efforts will allow me to empower the next generation of leaders and foster an environment of growth and service."

In her new position, Irlbeck will serve as a facilitator to connect college and university collaborators with one another and with external partners. In addition, she’ll provide leadership and oversight of all outreach and engagement in Davis College, as well as facilitate the performative evolution of Davis College’s outreach and engagement mission. 

Irlbeck will maintain a 25 percent teaching, research and outreach appointment within the Tech's Department of Agricultural Education & Communications. Her research and teaching has centered on risk and crisis communications in agriculture and video production in agriculture; she compiled her research into a textbook that is now available, The Crisis Communications Guide for Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources. 

Irlbeck serves the industry at local, state, regional, and national levels. She is involved in Texas Tech committees, is the superintendent of the Texas FFA Agricultural Communications Career Development Event, and a committee member for the National FFA Agricultural Communications Career Development Event. She helps lead a local 4-H club and is on the Lubbock County Farm Bureau board of directors. 

Recent honors include a national USDA Teaching & Student Engagement Award (2021) and a Chancellor's Council Distinguished Teaching Award (2020), one of the highest faculty honors in Texas Tech University System. During that year she was also one of 90 individuals across the nation completing the national LEAD21 leadership-development program. LEAD21 is short for Leadership for the 21st Century.

Other recent honors for Irlbeck include the Davis College Service & Outreach Award (2023); Texas Tech President's Excellence in Teaching Award (2018); Association for Communications Excellence Award of Excellence-Academic Programs Learning Community (2016); and the Non-Land-Grant Agricultural and Renewable Resources Universities' Young Educator Award (2015). 

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. 

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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