Hawkins new head of WTAMU ag department

CANYON – Dr. Dean Hawkins has been named the new head of the Department of Agricultural Sciences at West Texas A&M University.

Hawkins begins his duties with the spring semester and comes to WTAMU from New Mexico State University (NMSU), where he served as professor of animal and range sciences with a general teaching area in reproductive physiology of domestic animals.

“I am excited to lead the Department of Agricultural Sciences at WTAMU and return to my roots in the Texas Panhandle,” Hawkins said. “The students, faculty, staff and administrative teams at WTAMU are remarkable, and the teaching and research programs in the Department of Agricultural Sciences are excellent and highly respected.

“The department has become a leader in educating students in the academic disciplines within agriculture and conducting research that is meaningful to constituents. My goal is to continue that momentum with an eye on the future and the needs of the clientele we serve at WTAMU.”

Hawkins earned an associate’s degree from Clarendon College in 1982 and holds both a bachelor’s (1984) and master’s (1986) degree from Texas Tech University. In 1990 he completed his doctoral degree in physiology of reproduction and growth at Texas A&M University.

He was a NIH Postdoctoral Research Fellow from 1990-1992 at Colorado State University and joined the faculty at New Mexico State University as an assistant professor in 1992.

At NMSU, Hawkins was active in research, student research, advising, recruitment, and course development. He has received numerous competitive grants and other sources of funding for research on various projects related to animal reproduction.

In addition to being a member of several professional organizations, Hawkins has received the A.M. “Tony” Sorenson, Jr., Achievement Award as Outstanding Graduate at Texas A&M, the National Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Meritorious Teaching Award, the American Society of Animal Science Young Scientist Award, the Alpha Gamma Rho Brother of the Century Award, Who’s Who Among America’s, and the Texas Tech University Horizon Award. In 2007, Hawkins was named a Distinguished Alumnus of Clarendon College.

Hawkins is the son of Glenda and the late Jerry Hawkins of Clarendon.