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Dr. Don Beach

Dr. Don Beach has been recognized and honored as a Regents Professor. The Regents Professor Award is awarded to faculty members who have made exemplary contributions not only to the University System, but also to the community, the State of Texas, and/or the nation, and/or the international level. See the Texan Express article.

Tarleton’s Don Beach named Regents Professor

Dr. Don Beach, professor in Tarleton’s educational leadership and policy studies department, was recently named Regents Professor at the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents meeting held Dec. 4-5. Beach was one of 13 A&M System faculty members to receive this honor.

The Regents Professor Award program was established in 1996 to recognize and honor faculty members who have made exemplary contributions to their university or agency and to the people of the state of Texas. Since its adoption, 105 faculty members from A&M System universities, agencies and the Health Science Center have been recognized with this prestigious award.

“As I understand, the purpose of the award is to honor individuals whose performance and contributions as faculty members have been deemed exemplary at the university-level, community-level, and state-level,” said Dr. Betty Monk, educational leadership and policy studies department head. “Don Beach has met and, no doubt, exceeded these requirements. I am certain he will continue to fulfill the expectation of being a role model in the Texas A&M System and at Tarleton. We are pleased that our colleague and friend has been honored in this manner.”

Beach received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Texas Tech University. Upon graduation, Beach taught science classes at Smyer Independent School District (ISD) and then Post ISD. He went on to receive his doctorate from the George Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. After completing his doctoral program, Beach was an assistant professor at the University of Texas at Arlington. Beach came to Tarleton in 1981 as a professor and dean in the school of education and fine arts. In 1987, he stepped down to assume full-time teaching responsibilities and to work on publishing a textbook.

Beach has received numerous awards at Tarleton including the following: O.A. Grant Excellence in Teaching, ATE Laureate Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Teaching Profession from the Association of Teacher Education, Ted Booker Award for Outstanding Contribution to Teacher Education from the Texas Society of College Teachers of Education and many others.

Over the years he has taught and advised many students all while remaining an active and well-recognized contributor to the improvement of teachers, teaching and administration. Fortunately for Tarleton and its students, Beach’s love of teaching in higher education keeps him from mulling over retirement.