Juan Marcos Fernandez '80

• Agriculture
• Lafayette, IN

Marcos earned a bachelor’s in agriculture focused in animal science in 1980. While working hard in his studies, Marcos was a work study student for the Department of Biology and in the Department of Agriculture. Marcos credits Dr. Clarence Moore with his career trajectory. He was a part of Dr. Moore’s’ research efforts and served as an undergraduate teaching assistant. In addition, he was involved with the horseback riding club, biology club, Association of Latinx American Students, Alpha Zeta honors fraternity, intramural sports, and undergraduate research.

Now he educates others as a professor of animal science at Purdue University. Prior to his current position, Marcos has been associate dean for academic programs/undergraduate education for the College of Agriculture at Louisiana State University and Penn State University. He served as national chair of the board on agriculture's academic programs section, association for public and land-grant universities. He is also a contributor and co-author of the highly utilized USDA/NIFA five-year reports “Employment Opportunities for College Graduates in Food, Agriculture Renewable Natural Resources, and the Environment, United States” for the past three reports.

He currently serves on the Alumni Association board of directors' Golden Redbirds and scholarship committees.