75. Animal Science

Twenty years ago, UMN Crookston launched a stand-alone bachelor’s program in animal science. Faculty pioneered a hands-on approach that includes small classes, faculty mentorship, and work with animals beginning as early as the second week of freshman year. The result? An enviable rate of advancement for undergrads. In 2026, 10 of 11 preveterinary students who applied to advanced programs were accepted—a 90.9 percent success rate, nearly 10 times the national average.

76. Zebrafish Insights

Kanza Khan, a 2013 UMN Rochester graduate, studied zebrafish—tiny, transparent critters who breed quickly and possess a simple nervous system—to understand human stress, behavior, and neurobiology. After earning a B.S. in health sciences, Khan earned a Ph.D. in psychology and studied how adult zebrafish respond to stress and treatment with antidepressants—and follow-up treatment with a placebo.

77, 78. Minnehaha Tuba

The first calf conceived through artificial insemination, “Minnehaha Tuba,” was born in 1936. UMN Twin Cities animal scientist Laurence M. Winters and graduate student Clarence “Stub” Cole proved that the process could move from experiment to practical agriculture.

79, 80. Gentle Leaders

UMN Twin Cities animal behaviorists changed the way we walk our dogs. Robert R.K. Anderson, a professor of veterinary medicine and public health, and Ruth Foster, a public health researcher and dog behavior expert, teamed up to invent the Gentle Leader head collar, a humane alternative to choke chains.

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