Patricia Harrelson

Degrees, Licensures and Certifications: B.S., Kansas State University; M.S., Kansas State University; Ph.D., New Mexico State University

Research Interests: Impact of nutrition on reproduction in ruminants; Various feeding trials with cattle, sheep, and swine; Perceptions of students at a regional public university on animal agriculture based on their background and experiences

Bio

Patricia Harrelson was raised on a small diverse family farm in South-Central Kansas. She was very involved in 4-H and FFA, showing cattle, sheep, swine and horses. She attended Hutchinson Community College on a livestock judging scholarship and judged at the collegiate level for two years.

She went on to attend Kansas State University, majoring in animal science. While at KSU, she was involved in the dairy cattle and wool judging teams. After graduating with her bachelor's degree, she began her master's degree studies in animal science-ruminant nutrition–feedlot cattle at KSU. While earning her master's degree, Harrelson served as the assistant wool judging coach.

She pursued her doctoral degree in animal science with an emphasis in reproductive physiology at New Mexico State University. In her time at NMSU, she coached the wool judging team and assisted the livestock judging team. Her research focused on the effects of human antidepressants on lactation using an animal model. She completed her doctoral degree in the spring of 2012. She came to MSU in the Fall of 2012 semester, teaching various animal science courses and advising undergraduate students. She currently serves as co-advisors for both the Collegiate FFA and Delta Tau Alpha clubs.