EAST LANSING, Mich.
Joe Domecq’s ability to relate to students and help them succeed keeps his classes full, keeps a steady stream of students in and out of his office and keeps him in daily contact with graduates of the dairy program at Michigan State University’s (MSU) Institute of Agricultural Technology (IAT).
It also won him recognition as this year’s Howard and Lili Ann Camden Endowed Creativity/Teacher/Scholar Award. The award is given annually and recognizes a faculty member whose creative teaching goes above and beyond the call of duty.
“Dr. Domecq has been a valued faculty member and respected teacher within the Department of Animal Science and as the coordinator of the Dairy Management Program in the Institute,” said Eunice F. Foster, associate dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and director of IAT. “His efforts have impacted the lives of not only current and prospective students, but also professionals from the dairy industry as well.”
Domecq arrived on campus in 1990, and enrollment in the Dairy Management Program jumped immediately due to his recruiting efforts. He earned his bachelor’s degree in dairy science from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo; his master’s degree in dairy science from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and his doctoral degree in animal science from MSU.
“The foundation of his (Domecq’s) teaching philosophy is based on helping students learn problem solving skills, reasoning methods, creative thinking techniques and common sense,” according to a letter of support from the Michigan Milk Producers Association.
Domecq said the recognition is an honor.
“It is an honor to be recognized for my efforts at MSU, and to know that the work I have done and continue to do has positively impacted many people and the dairy industry throughout the state,” he said.
The word typical could never be used to describe Domecq’s day, nor would it be used to describe his involvement in the dairy industry.
Domecq has seen more than 200 students graduate from the IAT Dairy Management Program; 120 of those students are employed as herdspeople or on their home farms. Others are employed as salespeople in the artificial insemination industry and nutritionists in the dairy feed industry.
In addition to advising 50 Dairy Management students, Domecq teaches two to three classes a semester. He also participates in countless 4-H activities throughout the year, including dairy judging, the Michigan Dairy Expo and 4-H Dairy Days. Additionally, he visits 25 students on internships during the summer months.
As an instructor, mentor and adviser, Domecq has found ways to connect differently with students.
“Success can be measured in many different ways and I tend to have different measures of success for different students,” he said. “I like to see the light bulb go on when a student finally understands something they have been doing on the dairy for years.
“It is my hope that all of the students and 4-H’ers that I have worked with stay involved in the dairy industry, and more importantly, have rewarding careers and lives. I hope that some of their success is due, in small part, to something I may have helped them with.”
