John McNamara, professor and animal scientist at Washington State University, will receive the Corbin Companion Animal Biology Award at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Society of Animal Sciences in San Antonio, Texas, on July 9.
The award recognizes research and teaching in companion animal biology. McNamara developed one of the first senior-level companion animal classes in the United States.
McNamara’s senior-level companion animal class explores such topics as problems with pet nutrition, inbreeding disorders, pet overpopulation and the dog genome project. Students are required to develop a computer program to teach some aspect of the course to others.
McNamara also developed a sophomore-level companion animal class on companion animal biology centered on nutrition.
More than 1,000 WSU students have enrolled in his companion animal classes over the past 18 years. He also serves as adviser of the Companion Animal Club.
He has authored or been co-author of more than 200 scientific publications in metabolic regulations of lactation. His textbook “Principles of Companion Animal Nutrition” is used by about 20 departments of animal sciences nationwide. His contributions in research and teaching have been recognized by the American Dairy Science Association, the WSU College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences and the Washington Science Teachers Association.
McNamara has been on the WSU faculty for 24 years.
Boon Chew, professor and animal scientist at WSU, received the first Corbin award in 2002.
