LAWRENCE, Kan. — Temple Grandin, Ph.D., the leading authority on livestock handling and professor of animal science at Colorado State Univ., received the 2019 Dole Leadership Prize at the Univ. of Kansas on Dec. 11.

Grandin, who is a longtime contributing editor to MEAT+POULTRY, was awarded the honor for her advocacy of autism and her work in animal welfare during her career. In her work to advocate for autism, she fights for neurodiversity instead of a “cure” for autism.

Previous winners of the Dole Leadership Prize include Nelson Mandela, former Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, Congressman John Lewis and former Secretary of State James Baker.

The Dole Leadership Prize ceremony can be found below:

Grandin earned a reputation through her creation of livestock handling systems. She has traveled the world consulting with companies that supply some of the highest-profile quick-service chains and foodservice outlets. Besides operating Grandin Livestock Handling Systems Inc., she also teaches courses on livestock behavior at Colorado State.