Ag Mag Featured Farmer
Texas A&M AgriLife celebrates the legacy of Joe Townsend ‘DR. JOE’ LONGTIME ADVOCATE OF AGRICULTURE, LEADERSHIP
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences family grieve the passing of Joe Townsend, Ph.D., but share in the joy of remembering the lasting impact he left in Aggieland. Townsend had a passion for developing students into advocates and one of the guiding leaders who helped develop an agricultural leadership degree in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University. For more than 30 years, Townsend, known as “Dr. Joe” to many students, served as associate vice president for student development and as associate dean for student development in addition to teaching in the College. He touched the lives of countless current students and former students, often helping them become leaders in agriculture. His career culminated with the establishment of the Dr. Joe Townsend ’67 Leadership Fellows Program in 2008, which supports the advancement of undergraduate study in leadership theory through the activities of a select cohort of students. “Our department mourns the loss of a close faculty colleague who exuded positivity and the core values of Texas A&M,” said Matt Baker, Ph.D., head of the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications. “Dr. Joe directed literally thousands of students to the caring faculty and staff in ALEC.”
Making the classroom ‘feel like home’ “My first class at Texas A&M was AGLS 101 with Dr. Joe,” said Jennifer Strong, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications and faculty director for the Dr. Joe Townsend ’67 Leadership Fellows Program. “He had the amazing ability to make even our largest classes and 44
Ag Mag THEAGMAG.ORG
classrooms feel like home. Each student knew how much Joe cared about them, and his teaching style captivated and inspired us. Joe was the master of giving you a hug at the exact right time and a good kick in the pants when you needed it.” Throughout her time in graduate school and as an academic advisor, she witnessed Townsend interacting with
