Dr. Temple Grandin
May 2015 Honorary Degree Recipient
Doctor of Laws (honoris causa)
Dr. Temple Grandin is almost certainly both the world鈥檚 most famous animal scientist and the world鈥檚 most recognized person with autism. She turned the childhood pain of being different into a life of profound purpose, using her unique perspective to change the face of animal welfare and give hope and inspiration to millions of people and families living with autism spectrum diagnoses. In 2010, Dr. Grandin was named one of Time Magazine鈥檚 鈥�100 Most Influential People in the World鈥� in the Heroes category.
In 1970, Temple Grandin received a BA at Franklin Pierce College. In 1975, with her work on the behaviour of cattle in squeeze chutes, she earned her MSc in Animal Science at Arizona State University. In 1989, she was awarded a PhD from the University of Illinois. Half the cattle in the U.S. and Canada are handled in equipment she designed. Dr. Grandin is also deeply dedicated to improving the lives of people with autism. Her belief that being a person with autism is a gift and not a liability has changed the way we think about what she calls the 鈥渟pecialist mind鈥� and the promise it offers a rapidly changing world.
Dr. Grandin has published extensively on both autism and animal welfare. Her list of over 70 awards includes the Meritorious Achievement Award from the Livestock Conservation Institute and honorary doctorates from several universities. In 2010, HBO released a multi-award-winning TV movie about her life. Today, Dr. Grandin is Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University and enjoys a thriving business as a consultant.