Texas Tech Today

Integrated Scholar Spotlight: Andrew Alleman

admin — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:12:57 +0000

Andrew Alleman

Originally from Lafayette, Louisiana, environmental engineering student Andrew Alleman has long been intrigued by science. He has been exploring the interconnections between the environment and engineering—cultivating research experience in the laboratories of Texas Tech civil and environmental engineering Professor Audra Morse, and soil and environmental microbiology Professor Jennifer Moore-Kucera. Yet Alleman began his undergraduate career on a slightly different path at another university. Although his interests lay in the environmental sciences, Alleman says he became fascinated by the positive societal impact accomplished through engineering. To incorporate his flourishing appreciation of engineering, Alleman decided to redirect the course of his education, changing majors and schools. He notes that Texas Tech’s strong environmental engineering program drew him to the university and has kept him here, as well as allowed him to study abroad in Brazil. Whether he will continue on to graduate school or enter the workforce without further ado after completing his bachelor’s degree, Alleman says he would ultimately like to make coastal system restoration the focus of his professional life. Fortunately, he will have a strong start as an intern for the Environmental Protection Agency in Oregon this summer.

Learn more about Andrew Alleman.

Disclosure Tactic in WikiLeaks Case Seen as Defense Strategy

Grace Acuna — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:09:28 +0000

FT. MEADE, Md. (CN) – Professors of military law offered various theories as to why lawyers for WikiLeaks source Bradley Manning chose not to challenge testimony that could undermine the young soldier’s central defenses.

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Richard Rosen, of Texas Tech University, also believed that live testimony could appear “more damning.”

Experts doubt intel-leaker Snowden qualifies as whistleblower under federal law

Megan Ketterer — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:05:55 +0000

Traitor. Hero. Criminal. Whistleblower. Labels have been flying since Edward Snowden revealed himself as the leaker of secrets about government surveillance programs. The 29-year-old ex-government contractor is far from alone in spouting classified information.

Those statutes are designed “to encourage federal government employees to feel like they can expose wrongdoing in the government without fear that they’ll either be retaliated against, like lose their job, or be denied a promotion,” said John L. Watts, a Texas Tech University law professor who has practiced whistleblower law.

Texas Tech Builds Green for Big Savings

Grace Acuna — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:13:29 +0000

Green Building & Design Magazine- Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, has committed to reusing its resources and conserving energy, and green initiatives are most prevalent in its upcoming and most recent construction work.

Water Wars: Who Controls The Flow?

Grace Acuna — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:58:07 +0000

So often, we take water for granted. But it’s not always where we need it, or there when we need it. Two rivers on opposite sides of the country — the Chattahoochee in the South and the Klamath in the far West — may provide lessons for the inevitable and growing dispute over how we manage our most precious resource.

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The riparian doctrine covers the East. “[Under] the riparian doctrine, if you live close to the river or to that water body [or] lake, you have reasonable rights to use that water,” says Venki Uddameri, a professor and the director of water resources at Texas Tech University.

Religions Seen Slow to Go Green; Pope has Chance to Inspire

Grace Acuna — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:42:12 +0000

OSLO (Reuters) – Few religious communities have gone as far in fighting climate change as a church in Queensland, Australia, which has 24 solar panels bolted to the roof in the shape of a Christian cross.

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“Americans allow their politics to inform their faith,” said Katharine Hayhoe, an evangelical Christian and climate scientist at Texas Tech
University.

Nellis Begins Tenure as President

Callie Jones — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:21:25 +0000

President Nellis

Today (June 17) marked the first day of M. Duane Nellis’s tenure as the 16th president of Texas Tech University.

Nellis, who was officially named president March 22, comes to Texas Tech from the University of Idaho, where he served as president beginning in 2009. He previously served as provost and senior vice president at Kansas State University and dean of the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences at West Virginia University.

“Today I met with my executive team and we went over my priorities for the coming year,” Nellis said. “Since I was named the sole candidate (March 1), I’ve been gathering as much information as I can as I prepare to provide leadership, as we work collectively to move the institution forward.”

Nellis spent the day meeting with university leadership and members of the Lubbock community. He also met incoming students and their parents who are here for Red Raider Orientation. He will leave tomorrow for Washington, D.C., where he will attend the national university presidents’ meeting as part of the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities. While there, he also plans to visit the Texas Tech facility, meet with area alumni and key congressmen, as well as Texas Tech’s current congressional and White House interns.

Nellis said he is anxious to visit with Texas Tech administrators and faculty, and to begin working on key initiatives.

“It is very important that I get out into the colleges and into the different units within the university; to meet with the deans, the faculty and staff, and to see some of their key facilities and interact with them,” Nellis said.

Nellis and his wife Ruthie have met many members of the Lubbock community, and he said they are looking forward to getting acquainted with the area and with the rest of Texas as they look forward to visiting several Texas cities in the upcoming months.

“What I’m looking forward to the most is when the students get back in the fall,” Nellis said. “There’s something special about the fall semester when all the students are back. I’ve made my career being at universities because of the students and the excitement that comes with interacting with them.”

Lawrence Schovanec, who served as the interim president beginning in July 2012, began his term as interim provost today.

VIDEO: Welcome to Texas Tech, President Nellis

Texas Tech Will Not Increase Tuition for 2013-2014

Texas Tech Introduces New President Duane Nellis

It’s Official: Duane Nellis Named President of Texas Tech

Texas Tech Names Sole Finalist for President Position

Red Raiders Boast Consecutive White House Internships

New Public Art Brings Message to Campus

admin — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:00:15 +0000

Written by Jaryn Jones

The Messengers is located in the quad south of the College of Media & Communication Building.

Texas Tech University System officials announced in May the latest installment to its system-wide public art collection, The Messengers, designed by artist David B. Hickman.

Hickman created a circular plaza located in the quad south of the College of Media and Communication Building (15th Street and Flint Avenue). The area contains five contemporary sculptures surrounded by ten limestone benches.

“My inspiration for this piece came from the different ways we communicate,” Hickman said. “The messenger pigeons go back to the earliest forms of communication, and the basic tools for human communication, our five senses, are represented on the tail of each sculpture.”

This is the first kinetic piece in the TTU System art collection. The five sculptures move with the wind, aligning like large weather vanes as the breeze changes directions.

David B. Hickman

“The addition of a kinetic sculpture signifies the University Public Art Committee’s effort to diversify and thereby strengthen the collection,” said Erin Vaden, TTU System Public Art Manager. “These sculptures also represent the artist’s conscious attempt to produce something that would thrive in Lubbock’s windy conditions, rather than be harmed by them.”

The limestone benches are arranged in two circles surrounding the sculptures, with each bench of the outer ring engraved with one word to complete the sentence “Think About How You Communicate.”

“The benches encourage you to not only think about the various ways we communicate – the five senses – but to also consider the impact of your words,” Hickman said.

As part of the TTU System’s Public Art Program, this artwork was commissioned using funds from the renovation of the former Rawls College of Business Administration building, which now houses the College of Media and Communication.

“Campus art enriches experiences and memories for students,” Hickman said. “I hope the area will serve as a landmark students remember as they look back on their time at Texas Tech.”

A native Texan, Hickman served on the Board of Directors of the Texas Sculpture Association for three years and the board of the Dallas Visual Arts Center for six years. He was selected by the Texas Commission on the Arts as the Texas State Artist Three-Dimensional category for the year 2004 and was selected by the Dallas Chapter of the American Institute of Architects as Artist of the Year in 2005.

The TTU System’s Public Art Program was initiated by the Board of Regents in 1998 as an investment in the campus environments at each of its institutions. Through the program, public artworks are funded using one percent of the estimated total cost of each new major capital project. Since then, 88 items created by some of today’s leading artists have been added to the TTU System’s campuses.

Executive Director Named for National Ranching Heritage Center

Sally Logue Post — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:59:43 +0000

Matt Brockman

David M. (Matt) Brockman has been named executive director of the National Ranching Heritage Center (NRHC) at Texas Tech University. The June 14 announcement came from Rob Stewart, Texas Tech acting provost.

Brockman comes to the NRHC from the Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show, more commonly known as the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, where he was administrative manager.

“Given his extensive experience and network of contacts in related organizations, it is difficult to imagine anyone better suited to lead the National Ranching Heritage Center,” Stewart said. “Above all, Matt is genuinely passionate about the heritage and culture that the center stands for, and is excited about working to connect the center ever more closely to the academic and research missions of Texas Tech University. We are looking forward to very productive, long-term leadership in Matt.”

Brockman will begin his new position on Aug. 15.

“Ranching and its rich history is a treasured component of the American fabric,” said Brockman. “The National Ranching Heritage Center illustrates that history with a unique approach that captivates and intrigues visitors. I’m humbled to join this great institution and university.”

Carl Andersen, past president of the Ranching Heritage Association and interim executive director of the NRHC for the past eight months, knows Brockman well.

“I’m very excited about his appointment,” said Andersen. “All of the staff and most of the executive committee of the Ranching Heritage Association board have visited with Matt and are confident that he has the leadership strength to fit our needs.”

A graduate of Tarleton State University, Brockman has served as executive vice president of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and as assistant secretary for the association’s foundation and the Cattle Raisers Museum. He also has served as assistant commissioner for marketing and business development for the Texas Department of Agriculture and as director of legislative and industry affairs for the National Grain and Feed Association.

Dedicated in 1976, the NRHC is a museum and historical park dedicated to preserving ranching history. The NRHC is composed of about 50 authentic, furnished ranch buildings and structures that represent the history of ranching from the 1780s to the 1950s. The buildings have been moved from their original locations to the historical park.

The NRHC also has a growing collection of art and artifacts, ranging from letters to saddles to wagons to a locomotive, that enhance and complement the rich ranching history of the region.

2012 Teaching Academy Inductee: Michael Serra

Lacey Nobles — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:55:29 +0000

This is one in a series of videos profiling the 2012 inductees to the Texas Tech University Teaching Academy.

The mission of the Teaching Academy at Texas Tech is to advocate for teaching excellence, promote service related to the university’s teaching mission, advise and mentor colleagues and others, and share knowledge about teaching strategies and their implementation as appropriate.

For more information, please visit the Teaching Academy website.

2012 Teaching Academy Inductee: Kelly Phelan

2012 Teaching Academy Inductee: Muyakh Dass

2012 Teaching Academy Inductee: Mark Webb

2012 Teaching Academy Inductee: Sanjaya Senadheera

2012 Teaching Academy Inductee: Gerry Beyer

2012 Teaching Academy Inductee: Keith Dye

2012 Teaching Academy Inductee: Nancy McIntyre

2012 Teaching Academy Inductee: Gerry Beyer