Leadership
Meet the executive leadership of Texas A&M AgriLife Research.
G. Cliff Lamb, Ph.D., Director
G. Cliff Lamb, Ph.D., is director of Texas A&M AgriLife Research, the state’s premier research agency in agriculture, natural resources and the life sciences.
Lamb served as head of the Texas A&M Department of Animal Science from 2017 to 2022, when he transitioned to leading AgriLife Research. His impacts as AgriLife Research director include overseeing a record $160 million in competitive grants and the largest competitive award in the agency’s history — $65 million for climate-smart agriculture and natural resources development. He has also championed modernized research infrastructure across Texas at 13 regional research and extension centers and at the agency headquarters in College Station. He helmed the launches of the Texas A&M AgriLife precision phenotyping greenhouse and the on-campus cryogenic electron microscopy, Cryo-em, facility, as well as the establishment of the Texas A&M Institute for Equine Sciences.
Lamb also has guided the procurement of the Thomas Ranch and Dolle Barker Farm to support regenerative agricultural research, extension and education initiatives. He continues to foster graduate student opportunities for research across Texas to develop the next generation of research leaders. He earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science at Middle Tennessee State University, followed by a master’s and a doctorate in reproductive physiology from Kansas State University.
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To schedule an appointment with Dr. Lamb, contact Angela Bailey, executive assistant.
Phone: (979) 314-8197
Stephen Cisneros, Executive Associate Director
Stephen Cisneros is AgriLife Research’s executive associate director. Cisneros supports research activities in Bryan-College Station and at 13 Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Centers across the state — largely focused on strengthening Texas commodities.
He leads strategic and financial planning for AgriLife Research, and he works to increase available funds for research along with supervising statewide research infrastructure and investments. Before joining AgriLife Research in 2022, Cisneros served as Texas A&M Foundation assistant vice president for development within the Texas A&M University Mays Business School. In that role, he led all business development and fundraising in support of the school’s vision and mission. His team’s work resulted in over $70 million in support of Texas A&M.
He earned a master’s degree with an emphasis in wealth management at the Texas A&M University School of Law. Cisneros also earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science from the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He is a graduate of the Texas Bankers Association Trust School.
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To schedule an appointment with Stephen Cisneros, contact Rachel Tydlacka, administrative assistant.
Phone: (979) 314-8187
Amir Ibrahim, Ph.D., Associate Director and Chief Scientific Officer
Amir Ibrahim, Ph.D., is associate director and chief scientific officer of AgriLife Research and associate dean for research in the Texas A&M University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Ibrahim is a Texas A&M University Regents Professor and an AgriLife Research wheat breeder in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences. He has worked with AgriLife Research since his arrival at Texas A&M in 2007.
Ibrahim’s work at Texas A&M has involved graduate teaching as well as statewide wheat and oat research in collaboration with teams of multidisciplinary experts across Texas, the U.S. and the world.
He oversees faculty affairs and professional development, grant and contract reviews and approvals, partnerships and collaborations, research compliance, export controls, external employment approvals, faculty support initiatives and strategic plan metrics, among other duties.
Ibrahim also assists with seed funding programs and legislative requests, and he serves as liaison to the Texas A&M University Division of Research and The Texas A&M University System vice chancellor for research.
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To schedule an appointment with Dr. Ibrahim, contact Rachel Tydlacka, administrative assistant.
Phone: (979) 314-8187
Debra Cummings, CPA, Chief Financial Officer
Debra Cummings, CPA, is chief financial officer for Texas A&M AgriLife Research. She is responsible for all budgeting and financial reporting activities for the agency and oversees the Procurement/HUB and Disbursements/Travel offices within Texas A&M AgriLife Administrative Services.
She joined AgriLife Research in 2004, moving into the role of chief financial officer in 2012. In this time, she has seen the budget for the agency grow from $182 million to over $286 million. Before joining AgriLife Research, Debra spent 18 years working for a Houston based independent oil company and a College Station based family-owned business.
A Wisconsin native, she moved to Brownsville, Texas in 1976. She earned a double degree in accounting and finance from Texas A&M University in 1985. She received her Certified Public Accountants license in 1987.
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To schedule an appointment with Debra Cummings, contact Gina South.
Phone: (979) 845-7879
Kelly Essler, Director of Research Employee Experiences
Kelly Essler is AgriLife Research director of research employee experiences. Essler works to ensure thriving careers and paths to advancement for employees whose work is crucial to the strategic priorities of AgriLife Research.
She joined AgriLife Research from her previous role as director of the Texas A&M University Office of the Provost. She previously served as director of strategic planning in the Division of Academic and Strategic Collaborations under the university’s senior vice president and chief external affairs officer. Essler has also served as the director of advising and academic operations in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, where she was responsible for academic advising and daily graduate and undergraduate operations.
She has worked in higher education for 19 years. She is a member of the National Academic Advising Association, Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education and Gamma Sigma Delta, the honor society of agriculture. Her outstanding professionalism was recognized with the Texas A&M University President’s Meritorious Service Award.
Essler earned a master’s degree in agricultural leadership, education and communications with an emphasis in leadership education, and a bachelor’s degree in agricultural development, both from Texas A&M University.
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To schedule an appointment with Kelly Essler, contact Rachel Tydlacka.
Phone: (979) 314-8187
Research and Researchers at TAMU Scholars
For a comprehensive look at published research across AgriLife Research, the agencies of Texas A&M AgriLife and The Texas A&M University System — as well as information on our research faculty — visit TAMU Scholars online.
