By Kaitlyn Arnold

The 2020 Department of Animal Science Outstanding Support Staff Award Recipients are Carissa Beamon and Steve Cannon.

Carissa Beamon

Texas A&M University is built on six core values: excellence, integrity, leadership, loyalty, respect and selfless service. Each year, the Department of Animal Science recognizes two outstanding staff members in the Department of Animal Science who have exceeded the expectations of their position with their meaningful contributions to the mission of the department and its core values.

Carissa Beamon is an Academic Advisor III in the Department of Animal Science at Texas A&M University where she advises both graduate and undergraduate students.

Carissa earned a Bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University in Interdisciplinary Studies and a Master of Arts degree in Higher Education Administration and a Certificate in Academic Advising from Sam Houston State University.  She began her advising career in the Department of Agricultural Economics and transitioned to the Department of Animal Science in 2018.

As an Academic Advisor, Carissa strives to build strong relationships with each student she encounters.  By doing so, she helps to successfully navigate students through their academic careers and guides them as they identify passions for careers beyond Texas A&M.

She is an active member of the University Advisors and Counselors (UAC) and currently serves as the Vice President of Communications.  She is also a member of the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) where she promotes the enhancement of the educational development of students.

Carissa not only supports students, but she also supports her advising team as well as faculty and staff throughout the department in various academic areas.

Steve Cannon

Steve Cannon graduated from Texas A&M with a Masters in Agriculture with an emphasis in Equine Reproduction.  He has been working for Texas A&M University since December of 2007 in the athletic department as the Equestrian Barn Manager.  Steve then transferred to the animal science department in 2015 after opening the Hildebrand Equine Complex the year before.  In 2018, Steve began the role of Manager of Livestock Operations in March of 2018.

Steve lives in Caldwell, TX with his wife Maleigh, two daughters Kylan and Cayle, and son Keslee.  We have a small cattle operation and raise a few horses each year.