This interview is with Mary Delany, Professor Emerita of Animal Science. She accepted a joint appointment in the Avian Sciences and Animal Science departments in 1995 and retired from Animal Science in 2020.
Mary’s research focused on genetics, genomics and cytogenetics with emphasis on the chicken. Topics included chromosome organization, telomere biology, herpesvirus-host genome interactions, developmental mutations, and conservation of genetic resources. Her undergraduate teaching emphasized laboratory experiences. She also taught in the Animal Biology Graduate Group and the Davis Honors Challenge Program. She trained 17 graduate students from the Avian Sciences, Animal Biology and Genetics graduate groups.
Mary served as Chair of Animal Science from 2005-2009. In the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences she served as Associate Dean, Interim Dean and Executive Associate Dean over the period of 2009-2019.
She held the John and John Fiddyment Endowed Chair in Agriculture. Mary is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and also the Poultry Science Association. She received the "Exceptional Emeritus" award from her college in 2024. She especially enjoys her awards from the UCD Picnic Day "Cow Milking Contest" on the Memorial Union Quad.
In retirement, she volunteers in Davis elementary schools, fosters kittens, line dances, and enjoys time spent with friends, family and her partner-in-everything Bernie May.
She is interviewed by her friend and colleague, Cassandra Tucker, Professor of Animal Science.
