Tarleton appoints new TIAER director

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2008

STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS—The Texas Institute of Applied Environmental Research (TIAER) at Tarleton State University has appointed a new executive director. Dan Hunter, previously TIAER’s assistant director, assumed his new duties as executive director on July 16.

TIAER is a unique multidisciplinary research center providing a setting for environmental studies focusing on the interface between the government and private sector to develop effective public policies and cooperative science-based solutions. Founded in 1991, TIAER was the first to recognize that emerging environmental issues required new policy based on sound science, economic research and field experience.

“I am pleased that Dan Hunter has accepted the appointment to serve as executive director of TIAER,” said Dr. Dennis McCabe, Tarleton’s former president who stepped down from administration on July 31. “Dan has a great deal of experience working with state and federal agencies that fund much of the research conducted by TIAER. His leadership will help Tarleton and TIAER achieve its research mission.”

As executive director, Hunter will provide the overall management and vision for the research-based organization.

“I look forward to the opportunity of leading TIAER to bigger and better things,” Hunter said. “I am fortunate that I can stand behind a staff of highly qualified individuals that include scientists, economists, modelers as well as technical and field staff who make TIAER a leading institute in the field of environmental research.”

Hunter first joined TIAER in 2006 as its assistant director. Prior to that, he has served as an adjunct professor in Tarleton’s College of Agriculture and Human Sciences, executive officer/manager of the Southwestern Peanut Growers’ Association, government relations representative for the National Cotton Council and a legislative assistant for U.S. Representatives Larry Combest and Fred Grandy.

With all of Hunter’s extensive experience, he’ll still have the big shoes to fill of Ron Jones, TIAER’s previous executive director. Jones served as executive director for the Institute since it was established in 1991.

“I want to thank Ron Jones for building TIAER into a first-class research and policy center at Tarleton,” Hunter said. “His leadership for the last 18 years has made TIAER what it is today.”