Colleagues,
Two leaders from different parts of AgriLife are leaving our team, so please join me in wishing them well on their next steps. I am thankful for their positive impacts during their time here.
First, Dr. John Tracy is retiring from Texas A&M AgriLife and his position as Director of the Texas Water Resource Institute. After May 31, he will be relocating to Colorado to be close to family. An Interim Director will be announced in the near future.
During his six years at Texas A&M, John served as Director of TWRI and as Interim Head of the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering. As Director of TWRI, he connected Texas A&M University faculty and staff with a wide range of local, state, federal and private entities. Under his leadership, the institute has advanced initiatives to address pressing water resources issues facing Texas, the region and the nation. John has helped enhance our state’s complex water systems for generations to come.
Second, on June 6, Allyson Tjoelker is leaving her role as Assistant Vice President of Development for Texas A&M AgriLife and moving to a leadership position with Capital Farm Credit. Her new role will allow her to work collaboratively with Texas A&M AgriLife to establish partnerships for the benefit of agriculturalists. Mike Bottiglieri, Vice President for Engagement for the Texas A&M Foundation, will assume the lead role until the next Senior Director of Development is named.
During Allyson’s time with AgriLife, she established the Vice Chancellor’s Forum and led the team to reach annual development goals through several important programs and endowments, including:
- The Norman Borlaug Endowed Research Scholars Program in support of undergraduate and graduate research scholarships
- The Cargill Thrive Program providing equitable, inclusive access to students from diverse backgrounds
- Professorships and Faculty support for the Institute of Advancing Health through Agriculture
- Endowed Chair in Meat Science
- Capital funding for the Reproductive and Biotechnology Center
- Program Support for Financial Planning
Please join me in thanking John Tracy and Allyson Tjoelker for their service to our institution.
Mark A. Hussey
Interim Vice Chancellor and Dean, Agriculture and Life Sciences
