By Faith Peppers
Georgia Extension
Service

Mark Compton, a University of Georgia poultry science professor,
received the 2003 D.W. Brooks Award for Excellence in
Teaching Oct. 6 in Athens, Ga.

Compton is a master in the classroom. He uses a multidimensional
approach to teaching. His animated lectures are often developed
around elaborate, multicolored chalkboard drawings that convey
vivid pictorial images of anatomical, physiological and
biochemical concepts.

His lab exercises are the central focus of his courses. They
provide hands-on experiences that are intimately integrated with
lecture material, from in-depth anatomy exercises to
miniexperiments on nutritional deficiencies in poultry.

Unique testing

Even his testing approach is unique. Virtually all of his exams
include an oral question that he evaluates one-on-one with each
student.

His “Avian Anatomy and Physiology” course is rigorous. Students
consider it among the hardest at UGA. It’s highly unusual for
students to give good teaching evaluations to professors who
teach tough courses. Yet they consistently name him as one of the
best teachers, if not the best, they’ve ever had.

Infectious excitement

Compton exudes an excitement about and knowledge of his subject
matter that’s infectious to his students. He creates an
environment in which students enjoy learning. Students
considering teaching careers often enroll in his courses to learn
not only the subject matter but also how to inspire and motivate
students.

He represents the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental
Sciences and the poultry science department at functions for
elementary, middle and high school students. His ability to
relate to young people makes him a natural for programs designed
to interest prospective science students. He has long been a
volunteer judge with the Georgia Science Fair.

Compton has been a faculty advisor for the Poultry Science Club.
He has been actively involved in club service projects and
activities from softball games and kayak trips to blood drives
and food bank collections.

Other winners

Other Brooks honorees this year were Reid Torrance, county
extension programs; Don Shurley, extension; and Casimir Akoh,
research.

The D.W. Brooks award was established in 1981 to recognize
faculty members who make outstanding contributions in the CAES
teaching program.

In 1983, the awards were expanded to include research, extension
and county extension programs. An award for international
agriculture was added in 1988 and is given in even-numbered years.

The awards include a framed certificate and $5,000 cash.

D.W. Brooks Lecture

Before the awards ceremony, Denis Avery, a senior fellow of the
Hudson Institute, delivered the 2003 D.W. Brooks Lecture, “Has
American Already Lost High-Yield Agriculture?”

The lecture and awards are named for the late D.W. Brooks,
founder of Gold Kist, Inc., and Cotton States Mutual Insurance
Companies. Brooks was an advisor on agriculture and trade issues
to seven U.S. presidents.

(Faith Peppers is a news editor for the University of Georgia
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.)