Jessup named Texas A&M AgriLife center director at San Angelo
Perennial grass breeder, professor to helm center and research properties
Russell Jessup ‘97, Ph.D., has been named director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at San Angelo, effective May 1.
Since 2023, Jessup has served as a Texas A&M AgriLife Research industrial hemp and perennial grass breeder and a professor in the Texas A&M Department of Soil and Crop Sciences. He served AgriLife Research and the department from 2009-2016 as an assistant professor and from 2016-2023 as an associate professor.
As center director at San Angelo, he will supervise and coordinate all aspects of the center’s operations and those of its associated research station in Sonora, the Carl and Bina Sue Martin Research Ranch near Menard, and the Read Research Ranch in Ozona.
“Dr. Jessup will lead research and secure new support in his field of expertise and across the center’s research portfolio,” said G. Cliff Lamb, Ph.D., director of AgriLife Research. “His leadership will advance the strategic priorities of AgriLife Research and our mission to pioneer knowledge that nourishes health, strengthens communities, protects natural resources and supports economies.”
The center at San Angelo is the headquarters for AgriLife Research and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service serving West Central Texas. Its heavy focus is on developing ranching solutions and enhancing livestock production, particularly with sheep and goats, through innovations that sustain healthy, productive and environmentally adapted animals. The center also works on rangeland innovations that promote healthy, resilient and sustainable ecosystems.
Building expertise and disciplinary networks
Jessup said his breeding expertise has led him to engage in a wide range of translational research projects and collaborations. As center director, he will maintain an active research program, continuing all his ongoing projects and relationships with critically valued industry sponsors.
His efforts have secured over $8 million in federal, state, commodity and industry funding. This includes building networks around drought-tolerant annuals like sorghum and millet, perennial pasture grasses and re-emergent industrial hemp.
“These are all feedstocks with numerous value-added bioproduct possibilities,” Jessup said. “I plan to extend an integrated, adaptive and global vision of team-based research and extension as the center director at San Angelo.”
Jessup has taught thousands of undergraduate and graduate students across diverse curricula encompassing turfgrass, intellectual property and renewable bioproducts. He has served as the major professor for over 30 master’s and doctoral students who now work across academia, government and industry.
Jessup holds a doctorate and master’s degree in plant breeding and a bachelor’s degree in plant and environmental soil science, all from Texas A&M University.
