David G. Topel received a B.S. degree in 1960 from the University of Wisconsin, an M.S. degree from Kansas State University in 1962, and a Ph.D. from Michigan State University in 1965. He joined the faculty at Iowa State University, where he gained international recognition for his research in pork quality and the etiology of the porcine stress syndrome. He was also an outstanding teacher and developed a widely recognized course in animal growth and development. He became head of the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences at Auburn University in 1979 and provided leadership for departmental programs in teaching, research, and extension. Topel was appointed dean of the College of Agriculture and director of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station in 1988. He has guided a funding initiative to completion that added $3 million to the base budget of the station for each of five years, has enhanced international programs for the College by encouraging faculty to assist in transfer of agricultural technology to underdeveloped countries, has provided leadership to revise and revitalize the undergraduate curriculum at Iowa State University, and has provided leadership to people in Iowa as major changes have taken place in the structure of agriculture. Dean David G. Topel's vision for sustainable agriculture has been focused on development of new technologies and education to help those in agriculture be competitive in a rapidly changing environment. Dean Topel recently received the 1999 Secretary of Agriculture's Honor Award, recognizing his many accomplishments and contributions to agriculture.