Goodwin awarded endowed directorship in rangeland and wildlife management

Jeff Goodwin, Ph.D., director of the Center for Grazinglands and Ranch Management and Texas A&M AgriLife Research assistant professor in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management, has been awarded the Thomas M. O’Connor Endowed Directorship in Rangeland and Wildlife Management.

The Thomas M. O’Connor Endowed Directorship was established in 1982 by the Mary Ellen O’Connor Estate in recognition of South Texas cattle rancher Thomas M. O’Connor’s outstanding contributions to agriculture, the ranching industry and the state of Texas. The appointment, which can be held for up to five years, aims to enhance professional competency focused on improving rangeland health, productivity and ranching profitability.

“Since joining Texas A&M, Dr. Goodwin has made outstanding research contributions to strengthening agricultural production supported by rangeland ecosystems,” said G. Cliff Lamb, Ph.D., director of AgriLife Research. “His nationally recognized expertise is a key resource to advancing sustainable production systems in Texas and beyond.”

A focus on service and applied solutions

Goodwin has dedicated his career to working directly with rangeland managers to improve their operations’ stewardship, resilience and profitability.

“Service has been a priority throughout my career,” Goodwin said. “I am dedicated to addressing current, on-the-ground issues facing the men and women who steward our rangeland landscapes, as well as tackling industry-level challenges that impact grazing lands and ranch enterprises across the country.”

Since joining Texas A&M AgriLife in 2022, he has worked to build a multidisciplinary cohort of partners across The Texas A&M University System, outside universities, federal agencies, conservation organizations and the ranching industry to safeguard the ecological and economic resiliency of grazing land resources and ranching operations.

Currently, the Center for Grazinglands and Ranch Management is facilitating 18 active research and educational projects, including a broad-scale case study of grazing strategies and their associated ecologic and economic outcomes at Texas A&M University’s 2,726-acre La Copita Demonstration Ranch and Research Area in Jim Wells County.

Goodwin said the center prioritizes applied rangeland and wildlife research and translates that data into accessible, relevant information for rangeland managers.

“Through the support of the directorship, I plan to further expand our impact with continued development of practical and relevant tools and approaches for ranching in rangeland ecosystems through applied research and engagement,” he said.

Nationally recognized contributions and leadership in rangeland management

Goodwin has helped secure more than $42 million in research and outreach grant funding, with more than half awarded after he joined AgriLife Research.

He previously worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service throughout Texas, eventually holding the position of state rangeland management specialist. In 2014, he received the agency’s national Rangeland Conservationist of the Year Award. 

Following his tenure with the agency, Goodwin joined the Noble Research Institute in Ardmore, Oklahoma, as conservation stewardship lead and senior rangeland and pasture consultant.

In addition to developing many of the institute’s land stewardship-focused programs across Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, Goodwin assisted in the development of the McDonald’s Corporation Flagship Farmer Program in the U.S. This global program recognizes producers within the McDonald’s supply chain who implement sustainable land management practices and enables farmer-to-farmer resource sharing.

Goodwin also serves as the incoming president of the Society for Range Management and holds additional leadership roles with the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, National and Texas Grazing Land Coalitions, and others.

Goodwin said he is committed to maintaining active leadership roles with these organizations to address both ranch-scale and industry-level challenges.

“Our work requires partnership and collaboration to effectively address the complex issues impacting rangelands,” Goodwin said. “This multidisciplinary approach enables us to amplify the impact of the Center for Grazinglands and Ranch Management, as well as our department, College and university as a whole.”

Research focus includes student impact

Although Goodwin’s primary appointment is focused on research, his outreach and teaching contributions are significant. Aside from delivering more than 300 technical presentations to producers, he teaches two courses in the Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management and is currently mentoring 14 graduate students.

“Dr. Goodwin’s impact across the diverse facets of rangeland stewardship and ranch management cannot be overstated,” said Roel Lopez, Ph.D., head of the Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management and director of the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute. “Thanks to his leadership and innovative vision, we have made outstanding strides in advancing resource stewardship, producer support, and, ultimately, fulfilling the land-grant mission of Texas A&M.”