COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State University's Department of Animal Sciences has inducted the first woman into its Animal Sciences Hall of Fame.
Linda C. Martin, assistant dean of academic programs in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at Oklahoma State University, takes her place among livestock producers, allied industry representatives and other university personnel who have made significant contributions to the animal industry. Martin is an Ohio State alumna with an undergraduate degree in animal sciences.
"The fact that Linda is the first woman to be inducted into the Hall of Fame is an important event for us," said James Kinder, chair of Ohio State's Department of Animal Sciences. "With 70 percent of our undergraduate students and 50 percent of our graduate students in the department being female, it's important that we have role models like Linda."
Martin, a native of Maryland, holds a MS and PhD degrees in Animal Breeding and Genetics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and Colorado State University, respectively. She spent 14 years teaching and advising at Kansas State University before taking a position at Oklahoma State University.
"Linda's primary focus has been teaching and she has distinguished herself in that realm," said Kinder.
Martin has received over 20 different college, regional and national awards for teaching excellence, and also brings to the table numerous leadership contributions to teaching including serving on advisory committees, coordinating faculty development and helping enhance teaching effectiveness.
Martin is president of the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA). She serves on the American Society of Animal Science Teaching/Undergraduate and Graduate Education Committee and on the national program planning committee for the 2006 National Academic Summit for Colleges of Agricultural, Life, and Related Sciences.
The Ohio State University Animal Science Hall of Fame award is presented to one person per year. A portrait of the inductee will hang in the Department of Animal Sciences building. Animal science faculty has been bestowing the honor since the 1950s.