Texas Tech University Honors Former President
October 2, 2009
By: Sally Post
A plaque honoring David J. Schmidly’s time as Texas Tech president joins others marking
each former president's term in office.
A plaque honoring David J. Schmidly’s time as president of Texas Tech University
was unveiled Oct. 2.
Texas Tech has a tradition of dedicating a bronze plaque to mark each former president’s
term in office. The plaques hang in the breezeway of the Administration Building.
“It’s always a good day when we can honor a former president and it is made better
by the fact that David and his wife Janet are both graduates of Texas Tech,” said
Guy Bailey, Texas Tech president. “Dr. Schmidly made access and diversity, scholarly
excellence, engagement, technology and community partnership hallmarks of his administration.
He established programs that we continue to build on today.
Schmidly was Texas Tech 13
th president, serving from 2000-2002. He joined the university in 1996 in the dual role
of vice president for research and graduate studies and dean of the Graduate School.
"One of the highlights of my almost 40 years of experience in higher education was
the opportunity to serve as President of Texas Tech University, my alma mater, as
well as my wife's. Both of us cherished every minute of our service," Schmidly said.
While at Texas Tech, Schmidly helped found the Institute for Environmental and Human
Health and established collaborative partnerships with community colleges throughout
the state, a program still underway today. He also helped develop a new Interdisciplinary
Degree in Natural History in the Honors College and was instrumental in helping expand
the National Science Research Lab. His tenure also saw the creation of new graduate
centers for engineering in Abilene and Amarillo, academic centers in Fredericksburg
and Marble Falls and the establishment of a new freshman orientation program.
Prior to joining Texas Tech, Schmidly served on the faculty and administration of
Texas A&M University for 25 years, including five years as CEO and campus dean of
Texas A&M’s Galveston campus and six years as head of the Department of Wildlife and
Fisheries Sciences in College Station.
He left Texas Tech to become president of Oklahoma State University in 2002. In 2007,
he became the 20
th president of the University of New Mexico. During his tenure at UNM, the university
has seen major growth in the incoming freshman class and significant accomplishments
in the recruitment of National Merit and National Hispanic Scholars. In recognition
of his commitment to diversity and in recognition of UNM’s leading role as a Hispanic
Serving Institution, Schmidly was inducted as a member of the Hispanic Association
of Colleges & Universities (HACU) governing board in 2008.
Schmidly is an internationally respected researcher and scientific author and has
been inducted into the Texas Hall of Fame for Science, Mathematics, and Technology,
which recognizes individuals who have played a major role in significant scientific
accomplishments. As a noted scientific naturalist, he has authored nine natural history
and conservation books about mammals and more than 100 scientific articles. He has
authored or edited more than 100 scientific papers, including have a dozen books.
Schmidly and his wife, Janet Knox Schmidly, are graduates of Texas Tech. They are
the parents of two grown children and two grandchildren. Schmidly holds a master’s
degree from Texas Tech and a doctorate from the University of Illinois in zoology.