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Distinguished Teacher Combines With Research for One-Two Punch

Dr. Steven Lukefahr receives second “Distinguished” award of his tenure

KINGSVILLE (October 26, 2009) — One look at Dr. Steven Lukefahr’s list of research publications and presentations, combined with the large number of countries where he has both worked and been invited to deliver presentations, convinces everyone of the caliber of his scholarly work. This was the reason why he received the Distinguished Research Award from Texas A&M University-Kingsville’s Javelina Alumni Association in 2001.

This year, Lukefahr, now a Regents professor in animal science, completes his matched set of alumni awards by earning the Distinguished Teacher Award. He was honored during the Distinguished Alumni Luncheon held Saturday as part of A&M-Kingsville’s Homecoming.

While the reasons for his researcher award are obvious, the source of Lukefahr’s teaching award lies more below the surface. Research success can happen almost immediately, but success at teaching only comes many years down the road, especially when former students become successes in their own career endeavors.

And that shows, as Lukefahr said, his own previous professors deserved awards. “Receiving this award means that I have been successful in carrying the torch from my former Texas A&I professors in the Ag college whose teaching excellence touched my own career such that in turn my students have benefited in terms of their education.

“I am indebted to my students, former and present, for the wonderful letters of recommendation that they prepared for this award,” he added. “I also am grateful to the students in all my classes who have, for several years now, highly rated my teaching ability in terms of student learning.”

Lukefahr said of his many professional accomplishments, his biggest one is the reward of knowing that his former students have accomplished milestones in their own careers. “I remember many of them as very shy students in my freshman Introduction to Animal Science course. At the time, many of them could hardly carry on an effective conversation or even write intelligibly. My colleagues in animal science challenge our students not only with the learning of useful knowledge, but also with how to think critically and speak and write effectively. Because of this, many of our former students are now successful doctors, veterinarians, national and international livestock specialists, Peace Corp Volunteers and ranch managers.

“Hopefully, I can continue the privilege of teaching students, while also serving my junior colleagues. By sharing my teaching lessons and experiences, I hope to in turn pass on the torch to future generations of students to develop into well educated and successful citizens,” he said. “I feel fortunate to be working with a highly dedicated team of animal science faculty. Teaching excellence is our top priority. We voluntarily meet weekly to discuss how to further improve the impact of what and how we teach on student learning. Our department chair, Dr. Scott Henke, is very supportive of our efforts.”

            Lukefahr is the first faculty member at A&M-Kingsville to receive both the alumni teacher and researcher awards. “This makes this award all the more humbling. Students at A&M-Kingsville greatly benefit when the professor can relate their own research experiences to student learning in the classroom. It really helps in motivating students and for them to really understand how important concepts and theories can be better understood or tested through research.”

No stranger to the awards podium, this year Lukefahr received the Chancellor’s Teaching Excellence Award from The Texas A&M University System. He also received the Senior Teaching Award from the Dick and Mary Lewis Kleberg College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Human Sciences in 2007, was named Regents Professor in 2004 and was selected to present the annual Faculty Lecture in 2003.

Lukefahr’s main research interests revolve around rabbit project development. He has worked in Africa, Asia and Latin America during his career helping local scientists and managers set up rabbit projects for themselves. Rabbits fed garden wastes and kitchen scraps by local farmers are sometimes the only meat their families have to eat.

In addition, Lukefahr and his students continue to research the potential benefits of breeding genetically furless rabbits at the university’s agriculture facilities. The selection of one recessive gene results in rabbits that are predominately furless. To date, studies have shown that furless compared to furred rabbits fare better in the hot, dry climate of South Texas.

Lukefahr started his career spending two years as a small livestock specialist with Heifer Project International. He was based in Cameroon, West Africa, and during that time he designed rabbit and other small livestock projects for farm villages in Cameroon, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Togo.

In 1985, he became assistant professor and animal science specialist for the department of food science and animal industries and cooperative extension program at Alabama A&M University.  He worked his way up to associate professor of animal breeding and genetics and served as coordinator for the International Small Livestock Research Center at Alabama A&M before coming to Texas A&M-Kingsville as an associate professor in 1994. He was promoted to full professor in 1996 and received the designation of Regents Professor from The Texas A&M University System in 2004.

Lukefahr is an alumnus, earning his bachelor of science degree in animal science from Texas A&I University in 1978. He earned his master’s and doctoral degrees in animal breeding and genetics from Oregon State University.