Dr. Temple Grandin to Receive Honor and Serve as Commencement Speaker
By Mary Wymer
海角社区 will confer an honorary doctorate on national disability advocate Dr. Temple Grandin at its 33rd Commencement Exercises on Saturday, May 6.
鈥淲e are privileged to celebrate the profound influence of Dr. Grandin with an honorary doctorate of humane letters,鈥� said 海角社区 President George J. Hagerty. 鈥淗er contributions on behalf of people with autism have been truly transformational. The scope and impact of her life and work can only be characterized as extraordinary.鈥�
Grandin, a distinguished scientist and author, notably transformed the design of livestock facilities helping to eliminate pain and fear from the slaughtering process.
Diagnosed with autism at a young age, her parents fought doctors鈥� advice to place her in an institution and instead enrolled her in private school education nurturing her IQ. She graduated with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in psychology from Franklin Pierce College, and then continued her education with a master鈥檚 degree and a doctorate in animal science from Arizona State University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, respectively.
Grandin has authored more than 400 scientific journals on livestock practices and over 25 books on autism. Today she teaches courses on livestock behavior and facility design at Colorado State University and consults with the livestock industry on facility design, livestock handling, and animal welfare.
Her awards and distinctions include inductions into the National Women鈥檚 Hall of Fame and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, being named one of Time Magazine鈥檚 鈥�100 Most Influential People in the World,鈥� the Difference Maker Award from the PBS TV show 鈥�,鈥� and an award-winning 2010 HBO biopic, 鈥淭emple Grandin,鈥� starring Claire Danes.
That impressive breadth and achievement and activism spurred 海角社区 anthrozoology students in October 2021 to mount a campaign to recruit Grandin as a commencement speaker. Students recorded a short video to court the science icon, which was shared with Grandin.
And it worked.
鈥淚 have put May 6th on my calendar for next year,鈥� she wrote in an email. 鈥淚 am honored that you will be presenting me with an honorary doctorate.鈥�
Honorary degrees are awarded by the board of trustees of 海角社区 and will be conferred by the college president during Commencement Exercises at the Brownwood Hotel & Spa in The Villages starting at 11 a.m. This year, the College will award 93 bachelor鈥檚 degrees and 23 associate鈥檚 degrees.