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All-Around Excellence

March 28, 2011

Dr. Tom Badgett’s influence on the Angelo State campus extends far beyond his classroom and his department.

At ASU since 1988 and head of the Management and Marketing Department since 1999, Badgett has provided expertise, leadership and administrative oversight to campus groups and committees involved in everything from strategic planning and curriculum changes to resource allocation and candidate searches for upper-level faculty, staff and administrators.

Also a professor of marketing, Badgett has published more than 15 research papers, made more than 15 presentations at professional conferences and conducted business training for numerous corporations, non-profit groups, government entities and education centers.

“When I was a student, I could see that the faculty members who had the highest levels of job satisfaction were those who were fully engaged in the life of the university,” Badgett said.  “So, I made a commitment to myself, ‘if I’m going to do this job, I’m going to do it right,’ and that involves more than just going in and teaching.”

For his ongoing contributions to the entire university community, Badgett was named the ASU Alumni Association’s 2010 Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award winner for the College of Business.

And, that was just the latest award for Badgett, who is also a highly respected teacher.  He has been honored with the 2005-06 and 2008-09 Professor of the Year “Rammy” Awards for the College of Business from the Student Government Association and the 2009-10 Faculty Who Make a Difference Award from the ASU Athletics Department, as well as several faculty and teaching awards from previous stints at Texas Christian University and Indiana University.

A big fan of sports, particularly NASCAR, Badgett is also a long-time supporter of collegiate athletics.  At TCU, he was the faculty athletic representative to the Southwest Athletic Conference, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and College Football Association.  At ASU, he served on the Self-Study Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics and continues to welcome student-athletes into his department and classes.

“I consider athletics a vital part of the overall learning experience for students and a vital part of the university,” Badgett said.  “Anything we can do to further their success, I’m here to help.  So, I think coaches will funnel students my way.  They know that if one of their student-athletes gets in a bind or needs a helping hand, there is somebody over here who cares about them.”

Prior to his teaching career, Badgett earned an Associate of Arts degree from Tarrant County College and went to work for two years as a materials analyst for General Dynamics in Fort Worth.  But in 1969, he headed to TCU, where he earned his B.B.A. in 1971 and his M.B.A. in 1972.  He got his Doctor of Business Administration at Indiana University in 1977 and has been teaching ever since with career stops at the University of Memphis, Indiana University, TCU and the University of Washington before arriving at ASU.

Now in his 24th year at ASU, there is nowhere he would rather be.

“The students here have a unique attitude compared to all the other places I’ve been,” Badgett said.  “The vast majority of our students are grateful for the opportunity to go to college.  At the other places I’ve been, the students took that for granted and really didn’t realize how special getting a college education is for a young man or a young woman.”

“That is really refreshing and really motivating,” he added.  “You feel good about being a college professor here.”