Texas Tech Announces Dean of College of Agriculture

Officials at Texas Tech announced March 13 that Michael Galyean will become the permanent dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR), effective April 1. He was named interim dean in February 2011, taking the reins in July, on the retirement of John M. Burns.

The announcement came from Provost Bob Smith. Lawrence Schovanec, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, was chairman of the search committee.

Galyean is a Horn professor and Thornton Distinguished Chair in beef cattle nutrition and management in Texas Tech’s Department of Animal and Food Sciences.

“Michael is the ideal person to fill the dean position in CASNR,” Smith said. “His background and experience will be most helpful in making successful contributions. President Guy Bailey and I believe he will work successfully across the university landscape in unique ways to help the college advance to future significant levels.”

Galyean earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from New Mexico State University, and a master’s in animal science and doctoral degree in animal nutrition, both from Oklahoma State University.

He joined the faculty at Texas Tech in 1998 and was chairman of the Animal Care and Use Committee from 2002 to 2006.

Previously he was assistant professor, associate professor, and professor in the Department of Animal and Range Sciences at New Mexico State University from 1977 to 1990; professor and superintendent of the New Mexico State University Clayton Livestock Research Center from 1990 to 1996; and professor of animal science at West Texas A&M University and the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station in Amarillo from 1996 to 1997.

Along with awards from other organizations and universities, Galyean has received multiple awards from Texas Tech, including the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Outstanding Researcher Award in 2004 and 2005; the President’s Academic Achievement Award in 2005; and he was appointed as a Horn Professor in 2006. Additionally, he earned the Animal Management Award from the American Society of Animal Science in 2006; the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Service and Outreach Award from  Texas Tech in 2007; and he was named a Fellow in the American Society of Animal Science in 2010.

Galyean is a member of the American Society of Animal Science, American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists, American Dairy Science Association and American Society for Nutritional Sciences.