For Michael White, agriculture is a liberal art. His teaching combines concepts from diverse disciplines into a vivid picture of natural and living systems, and he strongly believes in the power of creative collaboration. “His teaching techniques involving teamwork and group writing are unique and effective,” says one student, “far more so than the typical lecture/exam format.”

White constantly uses and explores new teaching technologies but always puts student needs first. “He has a marvelous ability,” notes a colleague, “to both sense and address student needs.” He chaired his college’s faculty group that delineated a vision and agenda for “exemplary education,” and he is a respected mentor to other faculty.

A former student will always remember the subtle humor White incorporates into his teaching. “The humor is what made it easy to remember his material,” the student says. “I remember more things about his difficult Animal Growth and Development class than I do about any other class I have taken.” Many note the respect White shows for students. One student recalls that in White’s classroom “respect was always shown for every student’s opinion, question, or perspective.”

Liberal arts emphasize the whole. White is aware of and concerned for each student as a person. He is, in the words of one student, “an honorable educator. He challenged me to learn, participated in my learning process, and cared about my learning success.”