The program focuses on developing students who have a strong academic foundation and real-world experience necessary to be a successful leader. The three elements of the program consist of mentoring, an international experience, and experiential living and learning opportunities. While this program is not an independent major, it is designed to enhance the learning experience at Rawls by giving students an opportunity to participate in action-based leadership activities applicable to all business majors.

Kacie Phillips, junior marketing and management major from Tipp City, Ohio, is excited about her opportunity to participate in the program and what it will do for the college.

“I find the role of leadership to be one of complete and utter prestige. It is a responsibility to act accountably, perform exceptionally and positively influence others,” said Phillips. “This program will undoubtedly take our college to the next level.”

The inaugural 2013-2014 Rawls Business Leadership class consists of 30 students, 15 freshmen and sophomores and 15 juniors and seniors. Mayukh Dass, assistant professor in the Area of Marketing, serves as the faculty advisor for the program.

Freshmen and sophomores include:

• Andrew Heitkamp, Corpus Christi

• Mica Dietrich, Colorado Springs, Colo.

• Caroline Roberson, Coppell

• Conner Parker, Houston

• Gavin Howell, Flower Mound

• Johnny Hernandez, Sundown

• Mary Benavides, Dallas

• Sara Van Sickle, Austin

• Savanna Bryer, Magnolia

• Surafell Kebede, Sugarland

• Taylor Newsom, Lubbock

• Reece Norbeck, Spotsylvania, Va.

• Tia Bates, Dallas

• Claire Williams, San Angelo

• Brandon Maxwell, Mesa, Ariz.

Juniors and seniors include:

• Alex Lyon, Cypress

• Blake Hoffman, Lubbock

• Broc Dyson, San Antonio

• David Henley, Texarkana

• Hayden Turn, Lubbock

• Jacob Fedosky, Rowlette

• Joseph Kmetz, Houston

• Joshua Neel, Waco

• Kacie Phillips, Tipp City, Ohio

• Katie Peters, Amarillo

• Khaki Scrivner, Turkey

• Nia Pierce, Montgomery

• Slade Birkenfeld, Snyder

• Star Marlette, The Colony

• Tanner Swaringen, Abilene

 Find Texas Tech news, experts and story ideas at www.media.ttu.edu and on Twitter @TexasTechMedia.

CONTACT: Michele Moskos, senior director, Communications and Marketing, Rawls College of Business, Texas Tech University, (806) 742-3171 or michele.moskos@ttu.edu.

“The EF-5 assignment is premature, but could certainly be accurate given the damage video from Moore,” said John Schroeder, director of the National Wind Institute (NWI). “Texas Tech has a radar team following a storm near Paul’s Valley. And we are evaluating whether a separate team will travel to the devastated areas for a reconnaissance effort. It is a terrible tragedy.”

Texas Tech University leads the nation in wind research. The department was born 43 years ago, after an F5 tornado killed 26 people and destroyed portions of downtown Lubbock. Faculty representing the university’s civil engineering department and atmospheric sciences group began to think what could be done to minimize the effects of severe wind events such as tornadoes and hurricanes on lives and structures.

NWI combines the former Wind Science and Engineering (WiSE) research center, which created the first doctorate in wind science and engineering, with the Texas Wind Energy Institute (TWEI), creator of the only Bachelor of Science degree in wind energy. NWI strengthens the university’s interdisciplinary approach to all things wind.

Through WiSE, scientists and engineers have collected one of the country’s largest repositories of wind data and helped develop the Enhanced Fujita Scale, implemented in 2007 by the National Weather Service.

John Schroeder, professor of atmospheric sciences and director of NWI, brings extensive experience in wind flow characterization and atmospheric measurements, including directing Texas Tech’s hurricane research program and West Texas Mesonet. Schroeder can be reached at (806) 834-5678 or john.schroeder@ttu.edu.

Christopher Weiss, associate professor of atmospheric science, has researched the genesis and low-level wind structure of tornadoes for the past 13 years. He also maintains a research interest in the processes responsible for the generation of the parent thunderstorms.  He can speak to the current scientific understanding regarding why tornadoes form and intensify, as well as how the structure of the tornado relates to the observed damage seen at the ground.  He can be reached at (806) 834-4712 or chris.weiss@ttu.edu.

Daan Liang, assistant professor of construction engineering technology at Texas Tech, has studied with various probability models how the construction of buildings affects their vulnerability against severe windstorms. Recently, his research is focused on the advancement of remote sensing technology in documenting and assessing wind damages to residential structures. Liang can be reached at (806) 742-3538 or daan.liang@ttu.edu.

Ernst Kiesling, professor of civil engineering and executive director of the National Storm Shelter Association, can speak on the construction and use of residential and community shelters. Kiesling has more than 35 years of experience in the field documenting storm damage, writing performance standards for safe rooms, and verifying compliance of safe rooms with those standards. He can be reached at (806) 742-3476 or ernst.kiesling@ttu.edu.

Larry Tanner, research associate in civil engineering, has years of field experience studying tornado damage and debris. Tanner’s research of approximately 400 manufactured homes damaged by a 2005 tornado that killed 22 people in Evansville, Ind., prompted new standards for mobile home installation in the region. Tanner can be reached at (806) 742-3476 ext. 336 or larry.tanner@ttu.edu.

Darryl James, professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and WiSE associate, and his team spent more than a year and a half building a tornado simulator at Reese Center. The device, known as VorTECH, simulates tornadic winds in the mid-EF3 range or less, in an effort to understand how tornadoes do their damage. James can be reached at (806) 742-3563 or darryl.james@ttu.edu. And watch VorTECH at work at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_yLLAus75o.

Bradley Ewing, professor of operations management in the Rawls College of Business, has studied the economic impact of hurricanes and tornadoes for more than 12 years. He can speak to the impact of hurricanes and tornadoes in cities like Oklahoma City; Corpus Christi; Wilmington, N.C.; Miami; and Nashville, Tenn. Ewing can be reached at (806) 834-3939 or bradley.ewing@ttu.edu.

Texas Tech University agricultural economics expert, Darren Hudson, said the ruling is not likely to change anything from where things are today, and consumers are not likely to see any major changes in any prices or food choices as a result of this ruling.

Hudson is a professor and Larry Combest Agricultural Competitiveness Endowed Chair as well as the director of the Cotton Economics Research Institute in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics.

“This is not particularly shocking, but it makes perfect sense,” Hudson said. “Although the cost of planting seed has risen, one has to recognize that what genetic modification technology did was to shift most of the growing season cost into the seed (herbicide, pesticide, etc.) and lowered the in-season cost. Just remember, no one would plant it if they were not making money with it.”

However, one report released in February showed three corporations control more than half of the global commercial seed market. It found that from 1995-2011, the average cost to plant one acre of soybeans rose 325 percent.

“The degree of market concentration in the seed industry is a bit troubling for the long-term,” Hudson said, “but this ruling will neither enhance or inhibit that concentration.”

Find Texas Tech news, experts and story ideas at www.media.ttu.edu and on Twitter @TexasTechMedia.

CONTACT: Darren Hudson, professor and Combest Chair of Agricultural Competitiveness, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Texas Tech University; (806) 742-1921ext. 272, or darren.hudson@ttu.edu.

Houdini software also is offered in the 3-D Animation Lab and via 3-D Lab remote access.

The gift is a culmination of a four-year relationship with Side Effects Software, said David Bennett, lab administrator.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer the highest quality scientific visualization software to our users,” Bennett said. “This allows us to continue to raise the bar in offering cutting-edge technology at the library.”

Donald Dyal, dean of Texas Tech Libraries, said the generous software donation provides yet another tool to make accessing information easier.

“We are pleased to offer these state-of-the-art 3-D animation tools to our ever-growing arsenal of electronic resources such as e-journals, databases and e-books,” he said.

Find Texas Tech news, experts and story ideas at www.media.ttu.edu and on Twitter @TexasTechMedia.

CONTACT: Julie Barnett, Communications and Marketing, Texas Tech University Libraries, (806) 834-0718 or julie.barnett@ttu.edu.

Perlmutter has been the director of the School of Journalism & Mass Communication in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at the University of Iowa since 2009.

The announcement came from Provost Bob Smith; the search committee was headed by Stephen Fritz, interim dean of the Honors College.

“I am delighted that Dr. Perlmutter has accepted our offer to join the university as our new dean of Media and Communication,” Smith said. “He has a sterling record of contributions as an administrator, scholar, teacher and mentor at the Universities of Iowa and Kansas, and Louisiana State University. His accomplishments as director of the University of Iowa School of Journalism & Mass Communication are particularly noteworthy and should serve him well as he moves to Texas Tech.”

Hudson said his successor is an excellent choice to lead the College of Media & Communication.

“Dr. Perlmutter’s academic accomplishments and leadership experience are quite impressive,” Hudson said. “I think he will continue to lead the undergraduate and graduate programs toward growth and excellence.”

“I am humbled and honored to take the reins from Jerry,” Perlmutter said. “In our industry and academic circles he is known as one of the great administrators, as well as a visionary, innovator and bold strategist. He has moved the college forward and brought prominence and respect to the discipline.”

Perlmutter has been in higher education 25 years, and both his parents were professors.

“In all that time, I’ve never been on a campus such as Texas Tech, where everyone – from undergraduates to the chancellor – has taken on such an excitement for the future,” he said. “Texas Tech is such a can-do place, I’m eager to join you and feel right at home.”

Perlmutter previously was a professor in the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Kansas, and received his doctorate from the University of Minnesota in 1996. He earned his bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Pennsylvania.

In addition to his research, teaching, and administrative duties at Iowa, he served on the Provost’s Strategic Global Initiatives Council, the Advisory Council for the Office of the Vice President for Strategic Communication, the campus Fulbright Committee and is an International Programs Faculty Fellow as well as a Starch Faculty Fellow in the College of Liberal & Sciences.

At the University of Kansas he served as associate dean for Graduate Studies and Research and as a member of the University Press of Kansas Editorial Board Committee, and he graduated from the Senior Administrative Fellows Program.

At Louisiana State University he was interim associate dean for Graduate Studies and Research, led the political communication track and won two faculty awards including the main campus-wide award for research, teaching and service.

A documentary photographer, he also is the author or editor of nine books on political communication and persuasion.

He has written several dozen research articles for academic journals as well as more than 200 essays for U.S. and international newspapers and magazines such as Campaigns & Elections, Christian Science Monitor, Editor & Publisher, Los Angeles Times, MSNBC.com, Philadelphia Inquirer and USA Today. He writes a regular column, “Career Confidential,” for the Chronicle of Higher Education and blogs for that publication’s “The Conversation.”

In 2010 he was elected to the Association for Education in Journalism & Mass Communication Standing Committee on Research. In 2011 he began a three-year term on the AEJMC Finance Committee.

Perlmutter has been interviewed by most major news networks and newspapers, from the New York Times to CNN, ABC, and The Daily Show. He regularly speaks at industry, academic and government meetings and runs workshops on personal and institutional branding via social media and on promotion and tenure in academia.

Find Texas Tech news, experts and story ideas at www.media.ttu.edu and on Twitter @TexasTechMedia.

CONTACT: Leslie Cranford, Office of Communications & Marketing, Texas Tech University, (806) 742-2136, or leslie.cranford@ttu.edu.

For the two squads, a total of 106 students auditioned. For the 32-member co-ed squad there were 40 female and 26 male contenders, and for the 14-member all-girl squad, 40 young women tried out.

“This was the most impressive and all-around skill-packed tryout we have had here at Texas Tech,” said Bruce Bills, cheer coach. “Each athlete trying out did an exceptional job. I’m excited for the new squads and the levels this program is reaching. We have a great group of student leaders and are looking forward to showcasing their talents in the upcoming year.”

Auditions included gameday/spirit, for which they learned and performed the Texas Tech Fight Song and sideline chant; tumbling, including standing tumbling, jumps to tumbling, and running passes; and stunts.

The co-ed team includes seven new and eight veteran women and nine new and eight veteran men. The all-girl squad comprises nine new and five veteran members.

“We could not have imagined the talent we would attract on this team which, by the way, represents students from eight states,” said Stephanie Rhode, director of the spirit program. “I am so proud of Bruce for assembling such an elite group.”

Named for next year’s squad are fourth-year students John Chebret of Humble, Laura Perley of Plano, and Regan Waits of Hot Springs, Ark.; third-years students Calvin Beene of Humble, Noah Cagle of North Richland Hills, Coleigh Cheatham of Aledo, Mathew Golla of Anaheim, Calif., Nicole Mitchell of Abilene, Matt Parkin of Heber, Utah, Hunter Thompson of Leander, Bridgette VanWeezel of Burleson, and Chris Winiecki of Largo, Fla.; second-year students Jamie Balda of Plano, Tony Castro of Cedar Creek, Paige Kloetzer of Deer Park, and Alyssa Rodriguez of San Antonio; and first-year students Christopher Alleman of Houston, Jessie Ayala of San Juan, Charles Beasley of Stafford, Va., Kailea Coels of Rockwall, Joshua Golden of Georgetown, Sarah Howard of Austin, David Laing of Blaine, Minn., Carlie Liles of Crawford, David Lyons of Chicago, Thomas McCarthy of Derry, N.H., Luke Schuster of Palatine, Il., Dominique Sellers of Keller, Dejuan Smith of High Point, N.C., Skyla Thompson of Lometa, Samantha Vonderschmidt of McKinney and Jonathan Wadas of Palatine, Il.

The new all-girl team includes returning students Jessica Castro from Keller; Carli Hinkle from Austin; Taran Hulsey from Weatherford, Deyanna Porter from Lorton, Va., and Kelice Sanders from The Colony; and first-year students Taylor Altom from Houston, Morgan Byrd from Lubbock, Madison Cheatham from Aledo, Khamare Farrar from Cocoa, Fla., Gabriela Garza from Lubbock, Kendall Jones from Cleburne, Ashlyn Massey from North Richland Hills, Kylie Mathews from Forney and Haley Smith from Allen.

Find Texas Tech news, experts and story ideas at www.media.ttu.edu and on Twitter @TexasTechMedia.

CONTACT: Bruce Bills, Texas Tech cheer coach, (806) 742-5433 or bruce.bills@ttu.edu; or Stephanie Rhode, Spirit Program supervisor, (806) 742-5433 or stephanie.rhode@ttu.edu.

“We are very proud of everyone’s effort on this exam and hope to be able to continue this level of performance into the future,” said Darby Dickerson, Texas Tech Law dean. “I want to extend a special thanks to Professor Cassie Christopher for her efforts this year in establishing the Office of Bar Preparation Resources.”

Twenty-one of Texas Tech Law’s 22 test takers passed the exam, putting the law school’s average well above the 84.78 percent pass rate for all graduates of Texas’ nine law schools and only .11 percent behind Baylor Law School, which had the highest rate. The overall rate for first-time examinees – including graduates from schools in other states and attorneys already licensed in jurisdictions outside of Texas – was 80.74 percent.

“We’re so pleased with the bar pass success of our students,” said Christopher, a visiting assistant professor and director of bar preparation resources. “I attribute their success to their determination and work ethic, both in law school and during the study period. Most of these students studied full-time for two months to prepare for the bar exam, which was an incredible investment of time and effort on their parts. They mastered 23 subject areas and demonstrated their knowledge over the course of two and a half days of essays, multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions and a simulated writing assignment.”

For more information on the results, visit http://www.ble.state.tx.us/Stats/2011_2017/stats_0213.htm

Find more information about Texas Tech University School of Law at www.law.ttu.edu.

Find Texas Tech news, experts and story ideas at www.media.ttu.edu and on Twitter @TexasTechMedia.

Contact: Cory Chandler, communications coordinator, Texas Tech School of Law, (806) 742-3990 ext. 249, or cory.chandler@ttu.edu.

“The global outlook for cotton remains less optimistic as a result of a weaker global economy in the years ahead as advanced countries continue to work on narrowing current output gaps and deficits,” said Darren Hudson, director of the institute.

Meanwhile U.S. growth is expected to slow; from 2.1 percent last year to 1.8 percent this year amid a large output gap emerging from a series of global financial calamities dating back to 2008.

In terms of cotton production, Hudson said productivity gains have slowed for the time being, and yield growth is projected to decelerate. In the absence of new yield-enhancing technologies and flat acreage, Hudson said cotton production growth is lower than the long-term average.

There is a positive aspect, though. Looking out a decade, Hudson said, world cotton production is projected to increase from 118 million bales to around 138 million bales. The leading producers of cotton are projected to be India (26 percent), China (23 percent), United States (12 percent), Pakistan (9 percent) and Brazil (6 percent).

Separately, annual forecasts released by the institute show that cotton mill use is projected to grow by about 32 million bales over the next 10 years. Mill use is projected to remain concentrated in Asia.

Find Texas Tech news, experts and story ideas at www.media.ttu.edu and on Twitter @TexasTechMedia.

CONTACT: Norman Martin, unit coordinator, College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, Texas Tech University, (806) 742-2802 or norman.martin@ttu.edu.