Darren Hudson, Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives & Assessment within Texas Tech’s Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, was presented a Chancellor's Council Distinguished Teaching Award, one of the most prestigious honors granted to faculty across the system, during a ceremony Thursday (Jan. 18) afternoon at the Dairy Barn. 

The honor is designed to recognize members of the faculty for teaching excellence, as evidenced by their attainment of distinction both within and beyond the institution for outstanding teaching and outstanding contributions related to excellence in teaching, according to the Texas Tech Teaching Academy website. The recognition is accompanied by a cash prize of $5,000 and an engraved medallion. 

“Of all the awards one can receive, the ones for teaching are the most meaningful for me. It is the relationship with students and working to train them to think independently that are the most rewarding parts of my job,” Hudson said. 

“I am humbled to receive this award,” he added. “There are many great teachers in the Davis College and our commitment to student success is what makes this a great place to work, so to be singled out from that group of teachers is an honor.”

Hudson, who joined the Texas Tech faculty in 2008, also serves as the Larry Combest Endowed Chair for Agricultural Competitiveness within the Department of Agricultural & Applied Economics, along with his work as Director of the university’s International Center for Agricultural Competitiveness.

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. His research interests broadly center on agricultural policy and trade, economic development, marketing and consumer demand, and behavioral economics. 

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. 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 the Southern Agricultural Economics Association, 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 honors, as well as serving as SAEA past-President, along with the Davis College Outstanding Researcher Award (2011).

The Texas Tech Teaching Academy website reports that previous Chancellor’s Council distinguished award recipients currently on the Davis College faculty include Nathaniel Hall (2023), Sam Jackson (2023), Peter Dotray (2021), Erica Irlbeck (2020), Chance Brooks (2018), Courtney Meyers (2017), Scott Burris (2015), and Mark Miller (2010). According to a Texas Tech Today press release, the awards are funded by gifts to the Chancellor’s Council, a giving society that supports the chancellor's priorities across the TTU System. Since the honors were established in 2001, more than 245 faculty have received awards totaling nearly $1.5 million. 

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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