Stories of Resilience, Innovation & Legacy
A Note from the Chancellor
There are a lot of ways to describe the Texas Tech University System (TTU System). We could list our campuses and locations and tell you the average number of people who populate them on any given day. We could tell you that, over the past year, we’ve broken records in enrollment and research expenditures yet again. We could give you a list of degree programs and tell you where we rank among institutions of higher education in Texas and the U.S. But none of that really tells you who we are.
That’s where the stories in this year’s IMPACT come in. So, who are we?
We’re students finding purpose at our universities, then going out into the world to make a difference.
We’re professors guiding and mentoring those students as they discover their passions and hone their skills.
We’re health care professionals and researchers conducting critical research and saving lives.
We’re scholars crossing disciplinary lines to bring together the arts and sciences in exciting and profound ways.
We’re donors – donors like you – building families and legacies and giving back to alma maters, to communities, to fellow and future Red Raiders, Rams and Mustangs.
As you’ll see from the stories on the following pages, incredible things are happening at each of our institutions, much of it thanks to your generosity. A gift to the Chancellor’s Council is the only gift that impacts each of our five distinguished and distinct institutions: Texas Tech University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Angelo State University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso and Midwestern State University.
Over the past year, we’ve been fortunate to have your support as Chancellor’s Council members and witness the exponential power of your investment. With every gift, that power continues to grow and change the lives of the people we serve, illuminating the path forward to an even brighter tomorrow.
We hope you enjoy reading the stories in the pages that follow – stories you have helped make possible – and we thank you for your dedication to our system, to our universities and to all the people who make us who we are.
Warmest regards,
Chancellor Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D.
FORWARD, WITH PURPOSE
In early 2024, we announced a significant land gift to our system: 3 Rivers Ranch, a 6,000-acre property located in Crowell, Texas.
This gift – the first of its kind to the Texas Tech University System – presents significant opportunities for the system and its five component universities.
Located in the “Big Empty” – an area that stretches from outside the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex to Amarillo – and named after the region’s rivers, the Pease, Red and Wichita, 3 Rivers Ranch enjoys vast biodiversity and a healthy ecosystem common in short-grass prairies.
The property includes state-of-the-art telescopes, observatories, living classrooms and laboratories, a pavilion, and lodging for students, faculty and the surrounding communities. It also includes extensive undeveloped land, allowing for greater research and learning opportunities spanning agriculture and environmental sciences, arts and humanities, health and medicine.
The ranch is just one example of the incredible spirit of generosity among our supporters. It’s the kind of gift that inspires others to give. We’ve already seen Chancellor’s Council members step forward to support 3 Rivers Ranch, which will ensure it continues to serve as a regional hub for education, outreach, and community engagement while allowing us to serve even more parts of our state.
We’re excited to share updates about the ranch in the future. In the meantime, if you haven’t had a chance to visit 3 Rivers Ranch, we encourage you to do so and experience the property firsthand.
Feature Stories
About the Chancellor's Council
For over half a century, the Chancellor’s Council has been a driving force behind the success of the Texas Tech University System. Members of this prestigious council are a select group of alumni and friends who champion the top priorities of Chancellor Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D., and play a vital role in advancing the work of our five institutions: Texas Tech University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Angelo State University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, and Midwestern State University.
Through their generous annual gifts, Chancellor’s Council members provide crucial funding for recruiting and supporting top students as they pursue educational goals. They also recognize faculty excellence with annual Distinguished Teaching & Research Awards, foster leadership and innovation through various programs and strengthen engagement with key stakeholders such as donors, alums and elected officials. These contributions empower the system to pursue new growth opportunities, nurture collaboration and create lasting change across all campuses. No other single gift does more to advance the entire Texas Tech University System.
2025 Distinguished Teaching Award Winners
The Chancellor’s Council Distinguished Teaching Award recognizes faculty for either outstanding teaching or outstanding contributions related to excellence in developing teaching methods.
- Joseph Aranha, M.Arch | TTU
- Susan Bergeson, Ph.D. | TTUHSC
- Salma Elwazeer, B.D.S., M.D.S., M.P.H. | Texas Tech Health El Paso
- David Faught, Ph.D. | ASU
- Sarai Granados, M.S., CCC-SLP | TTUHSC
- Krystal Haase, Pharm.D., FCCP, BCPS | TTUHSC
- Jacqueline C. Henninger, Ph.D. | TTU
- Ann Marie Leimer, Ph.D. | MSU Texas
- Sylvia Niehuis, Ph.D. | TTU
- Robert T. Sherwin, J.D. | TTU
2025 Distinguished Research Award Winners
The Chancellor’s Council Distinguished Research Award recognizes faculty whose work exemplifies groundbreaking advancements and solutions that change our world.
- Kenneth Carrell, Ph.D. | ASU
- Luis G. Cuello, Ph.D. | TTUHSC
- Ruibin Liang, Ph.D. | TTU
- Suzanne F. Lindt, Ph.D. | MSU Texas
- Mahdi Malmali, Ph.D. | TTU
- Debabrata Mukherjee, M.D., M.S. | Texas Tech Health El Paso
- Deidre Popovich, Ph.D. | TTU
- David R. W. Sears, Ph.D. | TTU