Even though she didn’t learn to speak until she was 3.5 years old, Temple Grandin is the author of six books, including the national bestsellers Thinking in Pictures: My Life with Autism and Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior. She is a professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University, a prominent and widely cited proponent for the humane treatment of livestock for slaughter, and a world-renowned autism spokesperson. Grandin has a bachelor’s degree in human psychology, as well as a master’s and doctoral degree in animal science. In 2010, Grandin was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people of the year. In 2016 she was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. An HBO movie based on her life received seven Emmy Awards.

Just last month, she was named to the National Women’s Hall of Fame, one of only 10 women to receive the honor this year. Betty M. Bayer, the Hall’s co-president, said “We are pleased to add 10 American women to the ranks of inductees whose leadership and achievements have changed the course of American history.” CSU President Tony Frank said,

Honoring Dr. Temple Grandin in this esteemed group of women not only speaks to the power of her research and advocacy, but also her impact as a role model for young women everywhere. Early in her career, her determination helped her break into what was a largely male-dominated animal production industry, and she continues to serve as an advocate for women in the sciences, for young people with autism, and for anyone unwilling to let artificial boundaries stand in the way of their personal and professional success.

Video: Temple Grandin’s 2010 TED Talk, “The World Needs All Kind of Minds.”