Recently announced, Dr. Rick Machen accepted the Robert J. Kleberg Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Endowed Director with The King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management.
Machen is no stranger to the institute, as he was hired in June 2016 by KRIRM, previously held the position of the Paul C. Genho Endowed Chair in Ranch Management position as well as served as the interim direction since Oct. 1, 2023. As a professor, Dr. Machen has worked closely with graduate students, teaches a variety of classes and cooperates in the development and conduct of the institute’s outreach program.
“The entire leadership team at Texas A&M University – Kingsville (TAMUK) and across the Dick & Mary Lewis Kleberg College of Agriculture & Natural Resources is so very pleased to have Dr. Richard ‘Rick’ Machen move into the role as the executive director of the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management,” says Dr. Shad Nelson, dean of the College of Agriculture at TAMUK in the news release of Machen’s hire. “He knows this space extremely well and is a proven leader in his field. He will continue to bless the lives of graduate students trained in this program but be at the forefront of making critical decisions to drive the strategic initiatives to build and strengthen the Ranch Management program. I have been fortunate to see the diligent work he has done thus far, and I know that the KRIRM is in superior hands under the direction of Dr. Machen. I can speak for us all at TAMUK that we not only wish him the best in this leadership role, but he also has our complete confidence as he leads the mission of the KRIRM forward in the years ahead.”
Dr. Machen received a bachelor's in science from Angelo State University, a master's in science at Texas A&M University in College Station and a Ph.D. in animal nutrition, KRIRM shared. He began his career with a beef cattle research appointment with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science at Ona. In 1989, he returned to Texas to pursue his passion for teaching and natural resource management as an extension specialist located in west Texas, eventually settling in Uvalde. For almost three decades, he provided leadership in regional and statewide learning opportunities for the extension service, KRIRM added.
“During his many years of service, Dr. 'Rick' Machen has earned the confidence of the King Ranch Institute’s management council,” says John Alexander, chairman of the institute’s management council. “We look forward to working with Rick to further advance the Institutes’ mission of sustaining our ranching heritage through education, innovation and outreach. Rick knows what is needed to meet our mission, and we will look forward to his leadership in attracting, further developing and helping place these rising ranch managers in important positions across the nation.”
