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<\/p>\n The new vice president for Research & Innovation sees impressive breadth of work already
\n taking place.<\/p>\n
\t\tCREATORS<\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
Since arriving on the Texas Tech University<\/a> campus almost two months ago, there has been no wasted motion, no wasted time, and The new vice president for Research & Innovation<\/a> has been caught in a whirlwind of activity, but that hasn\u2019t dimmed his vision or By his way of thinking, the time couldn\u2019t be better to further raise Texas Tech\u2019s \u00a0\u201cAs I have transitioned into this position, I have taken an assess, align and accelerate Those first 60 days? A blur, to be sure, but memorable for all the right reasons, \u201cIt\u2019s been awesome,\u201d he says. \u201cI\u2019ve been introduced to so many people, and it\u2019s been Reecy comes to Texas Tech after almost three decades at Iowa State University, where He earned his undergraduate degree in animal science from South Dakota State University In other words, he is the right person with the right set of qualifications to provide \u201cDr. Reecy understands research from the perspective of a faculty member and as an Similarly, Reecy sees this new role as the logical progression in his career trajectory, \u201cYears ago, when I was a researcher, one of the concerns I had was, \u2018Who is in a position Reecy believes faculty members can always use more time, and what he expects to do As he continues to settle in, Reecy has been impressed by more than a few things while \u201cIt\u2019s different than some aspects of research in which I have had experience in the \u201cWhether you are talking about researchers trying to change sorghum<\/a> to improve crop production for the future or developing semiconductors<\/a> to handle the computational needs of the future, that breadth of expertise has greatly Wherever he looks across campus, Reecy sees incredible work taking place such as in Reecy explained that he learned a lot about Texas Tech\u2019s expansive research portfolio \u201cI have been taking all of that in and identifying the highest priority areas,\u201d he Uncovering and eliminating obstacles will help Texas Tech create and refine processes. In the immediate future, he plans to hold listening sessions with faculty researchers He has also been busy off campus, working to build or expand strategic alliances that \u201cWhere can we invite people in to work with us here on campus and open conversations Over much of the next three to five years, Reecy wants to see a direct link between \u201cWe take research findings one day from the lab and are a week later providing that Reecy wants to be proactive in telling the campus community about what\u2019s taking place \u201cI would love to see a day where every undergraduate has a research experience while Specifically, Reecy is excited about the possibilities for the university\u2019s growing
\n most importantly, no wasted opportunity for James Reecy<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\n dampened his passion for how he expects Texas Tech\u2019s already impressive research enterprise
\n to expand in scope, size, impact and prestige.<\/p>\n
\n research profile.<\/p>\n
\n approach,\u201d said Reecy, who began his duties July 1. \u201cRight now, having been here about
\n 60 days, I am just trying to learn as much as possible about all of the wonderful
\n things that are going on.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n nonetheless.<\/p>\n
\n an absolute joy. Yes, the day starts early and ends late, but everything in between
\n has been enjoyable.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Reecy-James.jpg\")
James Reecy<\/p>\n
\n he served in a variety of roles, culminating in being named associate vice president
\n for research while also a professor in the Department of Animal Science.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n and holds a master\u2019s from the University of Missouri and a doctorate from Purdue University
\n in the same field. He is an internationally recognized expert in beef cattle genetics,
\n molecular biology and livestock bioinformatics.<\/p>\n
\n oversight and direction of Texas Tech\u2019s expansive research enterprise.<\/p>\n
\n administrator responsible for creating an environment in which researchers can succeed,\u201d
\n President Lawrence Schovanec<\/a> said. \u201cOur research enterprise has grown significantly, and we are in a period of
\n tremendous opportunity. Dr. Reecy has the experience, perspective and leadership to
\n build on that momentum and take Texas Tech\u2019s research enterprise to the next level.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n giving him the opportunity to collaborate with researchers while supporting them with
\n more of the tools they need to be successful.<\/p>\n
\n like this helping me do the things I want to do,\u2019\u201d he said. \u201cI didn\u2019t see other people
\n wanting to take that on, but I thought, \u2018You know what? I can solve that and help
\n other people do that.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
\n is create processes that will help free them up to focus more on their research and
\n the problems they are trying to solve.<\/p>\n
\n familiarizing himself with the campus: the people and the sheer breadth of the university\u2019s
\n research.<\/p>\n
\n past,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd that, to me, is great because I love to learn new things. The
\n other thing that has impressed me is just how open people are in terms of wanting
\n to collaborate and talk about the great things they are doing to have, ultimately,
\n a greater impact.<\/p>\n
\n impressed me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n the Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management<\/a>\u2019s research<\/a> into exercise capabilities and in the College of Media & Communication<\/a>, where they are examining the psychology of communication<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\n prior to taking the job as he was doing his own due diligence and getting acquainted
\n with the expectations of the position and its possibilities. However, that knowledge
\n has been dwarfed by what he learned since his first weeks in Lubbock.<\/p>\n
\n said. \u201cOnce we know that, we can start conversations to remove barriers and to make
\n it easier for people to achieve the work they\u2019re trying to do. We want to find out
\n what are the things holding them back?\u201d<\/p>\n
\n He sees this as a way to serve faculty and encourage them to access Research & Innovation
\n with ideas that emphasize collaboration.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n and other campus stakeholders to envision and craft the next chapter of the university\u2019s
\n research enterprise together.<\/p>\n
\n can help spotlight research and move findings toward practical application.<\/p>\n
\n with them?\u201d he asked. \u201cDoing that gives us an opportunity to get to a better place.
\n I could see a discovery and think it has this particular application, but a community
\n partner sees a different, more valuable application.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n on-campus research and a better-trained Texas workforce.<\/p>\n
\n to students so they have the latest and greatest information that they can apply later
\n on in their careers as they go forward,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd that same information is also
\n resulting in new patents and licenses or potentially even new startup companies that
\n our faculty and students are spinning out of this institution, further enhancing Texas
\n Tech as a major economic driver.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n here. He worries they may not know about this incredible activity and wants to figure
\n out ways to connect them to it.<\/p>\n
\n here at Texas Tech,\u201d he said. \u201cThat would help them understand what the future possibilities
\n would be as well as show them how the research we\u2019re doing will translate to and impact
\n society.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n research efforts in the national security space.<\/p>\n