Welcoming New Faculty | Agriculture & Natural Resources

Dr. Luke Linhoff – Assistant Professor, Department of Wildlife and Natural Resources

Dr. Sam Barker

Dr. Sam Barker is an Assistant Professor at Tarleton State University in the Department of Animal Science. Originally from a small town in Colorado, she moved to Fort Collins, CO for her bachelor’s in Agricultural Education from Colorado State University. While there, she joined the meat judging team in 2017, which led her down my current career path as a meat scientist! That shift in interests led Dr. Barker away from teaching and on to Texas, where she received both her master’s and doctoral degrees at Texas Tech University. While there, her research focused primarily on beef flavor chemistry and the effect of livestock stress and illness on post-mortem color stability and meat quality. Though new to Tarleton, she has jumped head-first into teaching the Introduction to Meat Science course, as well as helping Ms. Kara Blackwell with the meat judging team!

Kara Blackwell

Kara Blackwell grew up in Houston, Texas. She attended Clarendon College, where she competed on the 2018 National Champion Meat Judging Team and was awarded First Team All-American honors. After graduating with her associate degree in animal science, she attended Texas Tech University and competed on the 2020 National Champion Meat Judging Team. Upon graduating with her bachelor’s degree in animal science, she continued her education at West Texas A&M University. While earning her master’s degree in animal science, she coached the 2022 Meat Judging Team, winning the title of Champion at the Australian International Meat Judging competition. After completing her master’s degree, Kara worked at Cargill Animal Nutrition as a Commodity Logistics Specialist.

Lily Martin

Lily Martin is a Visiting Instructor in the Department of Animal Science and the Coordinator of the Southwest Regional Dairy Center. After earning her Bachelor’s of Animal Science in 2020 from Tarleton, Lily interned at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center where she worked with exotic hoofstock species and rhinos and was a bird keeper at the Fort Worth Zoo until 2022. Lily came back to Tarleton and earned her Master’s of Animal Science in May of 2024 with her research focusing on dairy reproduction and wellbeing. This semester Lily is one of the instructors for General Animal Science and plans on teaching dairy courses in the spring. Lily also plans on pursuing a Doctorate in Animal Science to continue her passion for teaching and research in the agriculture industry.

Morgan Jackson

Morgan Jackson is an Instructor of Agricultural Communications at Tarleton State University, where she completed her bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Services and Development with a concentration in communications and her master’s degree in Agricultural and Consumer Resources. At Tarleton, she teaches courses such as Introduction to Agricultural Communications, Podcasting, Scientific Communications, New Media in Agriculture, and Publication Development.

Cord Brown

Cord Brown is an Instructor of Agricultural Business. He is a proud Tarleton Alumni! Cord graduated with a Bachelor’s in Agricultural Business in 2022 and a Master’s in Agricultural Economics in 2024. Having completed his Master’s thesis this summer on The Impact of Climate Factors on Dryland Cotton Yield in the Southern High Plains of Texas, he is also working to publish my research in several journals soon. This fall, he is teaching Introduction to Agricultural Economics, Microcomputer Applications in Agriculture, and Public Agricultural Food Programs.

Ryan Belew

Ryan Belew is a proud Tarleton alumni who is excited about the opportunity to join the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources as a Visiting Instructor. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Services and Development in 2022 and my Master of Science degree in Agricultural and Consumer Resources in 2024. Ryan looks forward to drawing upon his experiences as both a former student and graduate assistant to provide students with an enriching education in the following courses: Advanced Agricultural Power Units, Agricultural Sales and Services, Agricultural Electrical Systems, and Western Metal Art and Craftsmanship.