Texas Tech Vice President Joins LEDA Board

Taylor Eighmy, Texas Tech University vice president for research, has been appointed to the board of directors of the Lubbock Economic Development Alliance (LEDA). LEDA, as the primary economic development agency for the City of Lubbock, is charged with promoting economic growth by creating high-quality jobs, attracting new capital investment, retaining and expanding existing businesses. Eighmy believes that Texas Tech’s goal of becoming the state’s next national research university will not only secure the university’s reputation but also enhance Lubbock’s economy. “The economic development of Lubbock and West Texas is closely tied to the future growth of Texas Tech University and the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center,” said Eighmy. “As Texas Tech continues to realize it’s aspirations around national research university status, as the Health Sciences Center continues to focus on research, and as the two institutions further our important collaborations, our focus on research and development will be a magnet for companies wishing to locate in Lubbock and West Texas. Our growth and maturation in research and development depends on a vibrant corporate research and development community here in Lubbock. The future economic and cultural development in Lubbock really goes hand in hand with our development as knowledge engines. I am a firm believer that knowledge drives economy. ” In the 11 years since LEDA was founded, the organization has been responsible for creating more than 7,000 new jobs. LEDA Interim Chief Executive Officer Kenny McKay welcomes the expertise Eighmy brings to the board. “Since our inception, the Lubbock Economic Development Alliance has been looking for ways to partner with Texas Tech University. With the addition of Dr. Eighmy to our board, we can continue to strengthen the alliance between the university’s long-term research efforts and our daily recruitment endeavors. He brings a fresh, strategic perspective that will benefit both our organizations in the coming years.” Eighmy joined Texas Tech July 1. He is the principal research officer for the university, overseeing and encouraging innovative research and scholarship in all fields. Before coming to Texas Tech, Eighmy served as the interim vice president for research at the University of New Hampshire and as the assistant vice president for research and director of strategic initiatives. His focus has been on expanded research initiatives with the federal government and the private sector, research and development supporting economic development and peer mentoring of faculty around excellence in scholarship. Eighmy holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Tufts University and master’s and doctoral degrees in civil engineering from the University of New Hampshire. He has published extensively in the environmental engineering and environmental science fields and is a member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Science Advisory Board.