B.L. Harris
Acting Director
Phone: (979) 845-1851
Email: bl-harris@tamu.edu
As acting director of the Texas Water Resources Institute, Dr. B. L. Harris provides overall management and leadership for the institute. He is project director for the Rio Grande Basin Initiative.
As the administrative leader of Texas Water Resources Institute, Harris helps develop state and federal initiatives, provides input on strategic planning, and recommends appropriate positioning of Texas AgriLife Research and Texas AgriLife Extension regarding water issues. He serves as the liaison with other units of the Texas A&M University System and with other universities and agencies across Texas and nationally.
Harris joined the faculty of the Texas A&M University System in 1974 from the faculty at Oregon State University. He served as an Extension specialist and later as associate director for agriculture and natural resources within Texas Agricultural Extension Service, and the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station.
He is the recipient of several awards including the Epsilon Sigma Phi Retiree Service Award in 2007, the Texas Tech University Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2003, the Extension Administration ANR Program Leadership Contributions Award, the Associate Department Heads and Extension Program Leaders Leadership Award, the Extension Specialists Association Distinguished Service Award, and the Texas Agricultural Lifetime Leadership Award for Assistance.
Harris earned a bachelor’s degree in agronomy and a master's degree in soil science from Texas Tech University. He earned his doctorate in soil mineralogy from Oregon State University.
