“We are pleased to add 10 American women to the ranks of inductees whose leadership and achievements have changed the course of American history,” said Betty M. Bayer, the Hall’s co-president and professor of women’s studies at Hobart and William Smith Colleges.
Grandin has long been recognized for her contributions to the livestock industry, in addition to her more than 20 years of serving as a professor of animal science. For decades, she has earned a reputation for being the world’s leading expert on creating livestock handling systems and has traveled the world consulting with livestock companies on behalf of her company, Grandin Livestock Handling Systems Inc. She also wears the hats of: engineer, researcher, author, M+P contributing editor, lecturer, autism expert and many others.
“Her autism allows her to think in pictures, and that ability has made her a visionary in her field,” according to the Hall of Fame. “Her insights into animal behavior shaped innovative approaches to livestock handling, including methods and designs for humane slaughter that have become the industry standard.”
“Honoring Dr. Temple Grandin in this esteemed group of women not only speaks to the power of her research and advocacy, but also her impact as a role model for young women everywhere,” said Colorado State Univ. President Tony Frank. “Early in her career, her determination helped her break into what was a largely male-dominated animal production industry, and she continues to serve as an advocate for women in the sciences, for young people with autism, and for anyone unwilling to let artificial boundaries stand in the way of their personal and professional success.”
In 2010 Grandin was honored in Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World,” and in 2016 she was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and was one of six educators to receive the CSU Alumni Association’s Best Teacher Award.
According to the Hall of Fame, women selected for the honor must be US citizens, either by birth or naturalization, and their contribution must be of national or global importance and of enduring value.
The other women in the 2017 class of the Hall of Fame are:
• Matilda Raffa Cuomo
• Lorraine Hansberry
• Victoria Jackson
• Sherry Lansing
• Clare Boothe Luce
• Aimée Mullins
• Carol A. Mutter
• Dr. Janet D. Rowley
• Alice Waters
