Juan Marcos Fernandez '80

• Agriculture
• Lafayette, IN

Marcos earned a bachelor’s in agriculture focused in animal science in 1980. While diligent in his studies, Marcos was a work study student for the ISU Department of Agriculture under the tutelage of Dr. Clarence Moore, a faculty mentor he credits with much of his success as a student and his eventual career trajectory. Marcos 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. Marcos continued to pursue his studies in animal sciences at the University of Tennessee, earning a master's in 1983, and North Carolina State University, earning a doctorate's in 1987.

Marcos retired in 2025 after nearly 40 years in higher education and now holds the title of Professor Emeritus of Animal Science with Purdue University. Marcos began his career as a research scientist at Langston University in Oklahoma. He was a research and teaching faculty in animal science and served 19 years total as associate dean for academic programs/undergraduate education in agricultural colleges at Louisiana State University (1991-2005), Penn State University (2005-2011) and Purdue University (2011-2025). On a national level, he served as president of North American Colleges & Teachers of Agriculture from 2020-2021, national chair of the Association for Public and Land-grant Universities Academic Programs Section from 2018-19, National Academy of Sciences (NAS) workshop contributor and proceedings reviewer on the NAS “Creating the Future Workforce in Food, Agriculture, and Natural Resources”; among other efforts. Moreover, he is 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. Lastly, Marcos is grateful to the ISU Department of Agriculture and CAST for nominating and inducting him as a member of the 2015 CAST Hall of Fame.

He currently serves on the Alumni Association board of directors' board development, RED, awards, and scholarship committees.