Honoring the careers of two longtime animal scientists

The Purdue Animal Sciences Department celebrated the retirements of Marcos Fernandez, PhD, and Allan Schinckel, PhD on December 10.

Faculty, staff, students and members of the public gathered to honor and congratulate these longtime animal scientists, recognizing their contributions to the department and the field.

Fernandez has been at Purdue for over 13 years. He arrived at Purdue in July 2011 to serve as the Associate Dean for Academic Programs in the College of Agriculture. He moved to the animal sciences department in February 2020 after he stepped down from administration.

Fernandez received his bachelor’s degree in animal sciences from Illinois State University in 1980 and his master’s degree in animal sciences from the University of Tennessee in 1983. He also completed his doctoral degree also in animal sciences at North Carolina State University in 1987.

Schinckel has been a faculty member in the Purdue Animal Sciences Department for almost 42 years.

Schinckel received his bachelor’s degree in animal sciences from Iowa State University in 1978. He also completed his master’s degree in animal sciences in 1980 and his doctoral degree in animal breeding in 1982. He completed his master’s and doctoral degrees at the University of Nebraska.

The event was a fitting tribute to these two scholars, whose work will inspire future generations in animal sciences.

More photos from the event can be found below:

Featured Stories

The Ecology of Natural Disturbances class stands in front of the Smoky Mountains.
Disturbance Ecology Comes to Life on Spring Break Trip

Every other year, the FNR 53600/53601 Ecology of Natural Disturbances class takes a spring break...

Read More
The state fair midway, featuring crowds of people and a ferris wheel.
Meet Purdue Animal Sciences' 2026 Indiana State Fair Animal Ambassadors

Meet the Purdue Animal Sciences students educating visitors at Animal Town.

Read More
4 students stand in front of marshall porterfield, all in different space and NASA shirts, one carrying a plastic jug with a white fungus growing over a mycoponics tube inside. Grow tents line the background on each side.
Mushrooms in space: Purdue researchers invent mycoponics to cultivate fungi for Earth, the moon and beyond

Porterfield founded MycoGravity — the Purdue Innovates Office of Technology...

Read More
The bell tower reflecting in a mirrored sign that displays Purdue University’s fight song lyrics.
2026 Hovde Award nominees sought

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Each year, Purdue University recognizes a faculty or staff member...

Read More
Dr. Eva Haviarova receives her SWST fellow certificate in Korea; Haviarova stands with research posters about her work at the SWST conference.
Haviarova Named International Society of Wood Science and Technology Fellow

Eva Haviarova, professor of wood science, has been named a fellow of the International Society of...

Read More
Ag Barometer
After 3 months of decline, farmer sentiment rebounds in July

After three consecutive months of decline, farmer sentiment rebounded as the Purdue...

Read More