Katie Lewis, a professor of soil chemistry and fertility in Texas Tech University’s Department of Plant & Soil Science, has been named a 2025 Regents Fellow Service Award recipient by the Texas A&M University System – one of the highest distinctions bestowed by the institution. Lewis holds a joint appointment with Texas A&M AgriLife Research.
“I am honored to be recognized by the Texas A&M University System as a 2025 Regents Fellow Service Award recipient,” Lewis said. "I am more committed than ever to improving soil health and supporting agricultural resilience".
Established in 1998, the award recognizes service, extension, and research professionals whose work has delivered enduring benefits to Texas and beyond. Colleagues describe Lewis as an exceptional scientist whose research has reshaped understanding of soil fertility, nutrient cycling, and sustainable crop production at a time when producers face mounting environmental and economic pressures.
Lewis’s research portfolio spans soil microbiology, biogeochemical cycling, environmental reclamation and the evaluation of organic soil amendments. Her program has secured roughly $7.7 million in competitive funding, while her role as a co-principal investigator has contributed to projects totaling more than $153 million.
“Dr. Lewis has consistently achieved excellence in her area of research expertise, and we are proud to have Dr. Lewis as a part of the Plant and Soil Science Department," said Krishna Jagadish, Interim Chair and Professor within the Department of Plant & Soil Science.
Her influence is equally evident in graduate education. More than 30 master’s students and 19 doctoral students have completed degrees under her mentorship, with six now serving as faculty members at land-grant universities. She has authored 45 peer-reviewed articles, two book chapters, 133 abstracts and delivered more than 80 presentations through AgriLife Extension.
Lewis’s recognitions also include the 2024 William A. Dugas Early Career Award for Research Excellence, the 2021 Faculty Research Award from Texas A&M’s Soil & Crop Sciences Department, and the 2019 Dr. J. Tom Cothren Outstanding Young Cotton Soil Scientist Award.
At Texas Tech’s Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Lewis has set her sights on building a nationally recognized soil chemistry and fertility program rooted in innovative research and rigorous graduate training. Her team’s work focuses on practical soil management and fertilization strategies that sustain soil quality, enhance nutrient efficiency, and support the long-term viability of farming operations.
Before joining Texas Tech in 2014, Lewis served in several roles at Texas A&M’s Soil & Crop Sciences Department, including Tom Slick Senior Graduate Fellow, teaching assistant, and graduate research assistant. She began her academic career at Sam Houston State University, where she worked as a teaching assistant and undergraduate research assistant in chemistry.
Lewis earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Sam Houston State University and completed her master’s and doctorate in soil science at Texas A&M. She is a member of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation, the American Society of Agronomy, the Soil Science Society of America and the Crop Science Society of America.
CONTACT: Krishna Jagadish, Interim Chair and Professor, Department of Plant & Soil Science, Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Texas Tech University at (806) 834-7953 or kjagadish.sv@ttu.edu
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