Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 2, 1993 TAG: 9304020432
SECTION: FOUNDERS DAY PAGE: FD-9 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
ASSOCIATE DAIRY SCIENCE PROFESSOR VERY MUCH IN DEMAND BY STUDENTS
Michael A. Barnes, associate professor dairy science in Virginia Tech's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, is another in the long line of outstanding teachers in the college, having received the university's Certificate of Teaching Excellence in 1987.Since arriving at Tech in 1981, Barnes has excelled as a classroom teacher and academic adviser, has coached the dairy cattle judging team to the National Intercollegiate Championship in 1984, into the top 10 since, and to four Southern Regional Championships and an Eastern State Championship.
After earning his Ph.D. in 1976 from the University of Connecticut, Barnes owned and operated a dairy farm for years. In 1978, he joined the faculty at Clemson University where he developed an excellent instruction and research program, before joining Virginia Tech's dairy science faculty.
At Tech, he has revised and taught three courses, which students consistently rate as among the best taught in the college.
To meet the needs of all the students who wanted his course on principles and practices in bovine reproduction, Barnes had to divide the class into two lab sections, meeting at 6 a.m. That means he had to arrive at the barn by 5:30 a.m., four days a week, and also had to present a 7 a.m. classroom lecture the fifth day for the 10 weeks of spring quarter.
He has served as adviser to the dairy science club for five years and as major adviser the past three years. During this period, the Virginia Tech Dairy Club has earned top honors in the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) Student Affiliate's national contest, finishing second twice, and first in the nation.
Each year the Tech club also places at the top in the Southern Regional ADSA Student Affiliate contest. Numerous Virginia Tech club members, under Barnes' direction, have been elected to regional and national offices.
Barnes serves on various university, college and department committees and is chairman of the dairy science department's recruitment committee. He manages a research program in dairy cattle physiology and advises graduate students.