Known for her autism self-advocacy and work as an animal science professor at Colorado State University, Dr. Temple Grandin will be in Centreville this Thursday.

Dr. Grandin is featured in Glen Oaks Community College’s 2024 Viking Speaker Series. Her presentation is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday at Firm Foundations Ministries, 651 E. Main St., Centreville. It is a free, public event.

“We’re hoping to get her acclimated to St. Joseph County,” said Ben Fries, the speaker series chair and GOCC’s director of advising and counseling. “She’ll be able to really see our community.”

Grandin’s visit will include viewing agriculture at GOCC, including its 120-acre farm and the Nora Hagen House. The college calls Grandin someone who has revolutionized the livestock industry, particularly by improving the welfare of farm animals.

“She has authored numerous publications and books on the subject, advocating for compassionate and scientific approaches to livestock management,” GOCC stated.

Enthusiasm is building for Grandin’s speech, Fries said. GOCC’s Phi Beta Kappa students will work at the event, and other students will be attending and reading Grandin’s books thanks to the college’s student activities organization.

“She’s speaking about animals, which we hope is going to be very beneficial to our younger students and our 4-H students,” Fries said.

A book signing session is scheduled for 7:15-8:30 p.m. Thursday. It will allow Grandin the chance to further engage with audience members.

“Dr. Grandin is a past member of the board of directors of the Autism Society of America,” her biography states. “As a popular inspirational speaker, she lectures to parents and teachers throughout the U.S. on her experiences with autism.”

Half of the United States and Canada’s cattle are handled in equipment Grandin has designed. In 2010, her life story was made into an Emmy and Golden Globe-winning film for HBO. That same year, Grandin was recognized as one of Time’s “100 Most Influential People in the World.”

“We would love people to have a more open mindset about the neurodivergent community,” Fries said about Thursday’s event. “We really just hope that it can broaden people’s horizons and be something they want to be a part of.”

Frank Stanko is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.