A 5th generation native of Bryan, Texas, Don grew up participating in Brazos County 4-H programs. He participated in broiler projects, on the rifle team, and on the public speaking team at the county and district levels. While in High School, Don was a member of the “Upward Bound Program”, the NJHS, and a participant in the Junior Air Force ROTC Program.

After High School, Don attended Prairie View A&M University where he received his B.S in Animal Science and M.S. in Agricultural Education. In 1998 he received his Ph.D. in Agricultural Education from Texas A&M University. From 1984 until 1993, Don worked in the agricultural chemical supply industry and as the Pesticide Registration Coordinator for the Texas Department of Agriculture.

Since 1993, Don has been on the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service team. He is the Extension Program Leader for the Agricultural and Environmental Safety Unit, an Extension Specialist and Coordinator of the Texas Pesticide Safety Education Program. Don is also the Co-Director of the Southwestern Technical Resource Center for IPM in Schools and Day Care Facilities.

Don holds membership in the Texas Agricultural Lifetime Leadership Program (TALL), the American Association of Pesticide Safety Educators (AAPSE), the Texas Small Farmers and Ranchers CBO, the Texas Vegetation Management Association (TVMA), the Texas Pest Control Association, and Gama Sigma Delta International Honor Society of Agriculture.

Don works to promote quality pest management educational programs for agricultural producers and pest management professionals to affect the adoption, implementation, and use of sound and positive agricultural, structural, public health and environmental protection Best Management Practices (BMPs).