Marshall McDaniel, assistant professor in agronomy, is the recipient of the Early Achievement in Teaching Award from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in soil and plant growth and soil and plant relationships. McDaniel believes learning is best achieved through discovery and wants students to become comfortable with, and excited about, the same discovery process experienced by scientists. He is also co-teacher of an agriculture travel course that exposes students to agriculture and economics in Australia, Argentina and Spain. Observing the students experience and be transformed by the discovery of international agriculture is extremely rewarding.
McDaniel is very active in the undergraduate life of the department. He advises 15 to 20 undergraduate students, co-advises the agronomy undergraduate club and serves as a marshal at commencement.