Courtney Meyers, a professor in Texas Tech’s Department of Agricultural Education & Communications, has been named the 2025 Distinguished Educator by the Non-Land-Grant Agricultural & Renewable Resources Universities (NARRU). The award, which honors innovative teaching and commitment to student success, will be presented tomorrow (Sept. 23) during the organization’s national meeting in Memphis.
For Meyers, who joined Texas Tech in 2008, the honor marks the second major distinction from NARRU. In 2013, she received the group’s Distinguished Young Educator Award.
“It's a tremendous honor to receive this award,” Meyers said. “Being able to teach and advise students as they pursue their educational goals is the best part of my job. Texas Tech and the Davis College have always emphasized the importance of teaching excellence and student success, and I’m proud I can contribute to that mission.”
Meyers has co-authored award-winning research articles and conference papers, including outstanding research article in the Journal of Applied Communications, the Association for Communication Excellence outstanding paper, the SAAS Agricultural Communications outstanding paper, and the AAAE distinguished manuscript. She received the American Association for Agricultural Education Outstanding Researcher Award (2025), and in 2022, she completed a Fulbright Scholar Award to explore agricultural communications in Australia.
At Texas Tech, Meyers has earned some of the university’s most prestigious honors, including the Chancellor’s Council Distinguished Teaching Award (2018), the President’s Excellence in Teaching Award (2014), and the President’s Excellence in Academic Advising Award (2020). Nationally, she has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture with both the New Teacher Award (2015) and the Regional Excellence in College & University Teaching Award (2022).
Meyers earned her bachelor’s degree in agricultural communication and journalism from Kansas State University, her master’s degree in agricultural and extension education from the University of Arkansas, and her doctorate in agricultural education and communication from the University of Florida.
Her recognition adds to Texas Tech’s strong presence within NARRU. In recent years, faculty members from across the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources have repeatedly earned Distinguished Educator and Distinguished Young Educator honors. They include:
- David Doerfert | Professor| Department of Agricultural Education & Communications | Distinguished Educator Award (2023)
- John Rayfield | Professor| Department of Agricultural Education & Communications | Distinguished Educator Award (2022)
- Cindy Akers | Professor| Department of Agricultural Education & Communications | President (2019)
- Heidi Brady | Professor | Department of Animal & Food Sciences | Distinguished Educator Award (2018)
- Thayne Montague | Professor |Department of Plant & Soil Science | Distinguished Educator Award (2017)
- Chance Brooks | Professor, Department of Animal & Food Sciences | Distinguished Educator Award (2016)
- Erica Irlbeck | Professor | Department of Agricultural Education & Communications | Distinguished Young Educator Award (2015)
- Ryan Rathmann, Professor, Department of Animal & Food Sciences | Distinguished Young Educator Award (2014)
- Courtney Meyers, Professor | Department of Agricultural Education & Communications | Distinguished Young Educator Award (2013)
According to program officials, NARRU was formed to create a forum and unifying force for all faculty, staff, students and administrators of state funded public colleges and universities with agriculture, food, and renewable resource programs. Its mission includes promoting excellence in science-based student learning with hands-on experience in teaching and conducting responsive and issue-based research.
CONTACT: Scott Burris, Chair, Department of Agricultural Education & Communications, Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 834-8689 or scott.burris@ttu.edu
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