Texas A&M rangeland science expert Kreuter retires
Legacy includes pioneering research, global impact and mentorship in land and resource management
After almost four decades of rangeland and ecosystem management research and teaching, Urs Kreuter, Ph.D., the Joan Negley Kelleher professor in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, will retire on March 31.
Kreuter’s career has shaped the field of rangeland stewardship, bridging gaps between ecology, economics and social sciences to provide practical solutions for landowners, producers and policymakers. His research has been instrumental in advancing sustainable land management practices while inspiring future generations of leaders.
“I was passionate about my work because few researchers explored how to strengthen our understanding of the human dimension of rangeland management,” he said. “My goal was always to bridge those knowledge gaps and provide real-world solutions that benefit producers and land stewards. I feel my work made a difference.”
A career of impactful research
Joining Texas A&M University as a postdoctoral researcher in 1992, Kreuter transitioned to a faculty role in 1998, following a period in environmental impact assessments and marketing in the private sector.
Kreuter’s research spanned the human dimensions of rangeland ecosystem management. It specifically focused on three key strategic components including evaluation of ecosystem services provided by rangelands for landowners, factors affecting the use of prescribed fire as a rangeland restoration and quantifying how grazing management impacts rangeland ecosystem resilience.
A legacy of teaching and mentorship
Beyond his research, Kreuter made a profound impact on students, shaping the next generation of land and resource management professionals. His teaching revolved around four land management concepts – ecological economics, rangeland management principles and practices, ecosystem management, and biodiversity conservation and ecotourism.
Over 22 years, Kreuter took 325 students on international immersive study abroad experiences to South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe, earning him multiple teaching awards.
“One of my biggest blessings at Texas A&M has been my 34 graduate students, several of whom have gone on to build very successful careers with environmental impact analysis companies, state and federal government agencies, and in academia.”
Service, recognition and global influence
Kreuter’s influence extended beyond Texas A&M through his two decades of service with the Society for Range Management International Affairs Committee and his seven years of leadership on the organization’s finance committee where he ultimately served as chair.
His contributions have earned him numerous accolades and awards from professional organizations and the university, including the Vice Chancellor’s Award for International Involvement in 2023 and the College Dean’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Educational Enhancement and Innovation in 2020.
In 2022, he was also appointed as editor-in-chief of the African Journal of Range and Forage Science, which he will continue in retirement. In 2019, Kreuter was also appointed honorary professor at the University of the Witwatersrand and as research associate at the African Wildlife Economy Institute, both in South Africa.
