In association with the “The Legacy of George Washington Carver” celebration, Michael T. Nettles was named the George Washington Carver Scholar.

Nettles is presenting a lecture titled “Minorities in Teaching” tonight at 8 in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union.

“I’m going to talk about demographic changes in education and the achievement of African-American students from pre-school to higher education,” Nettles said.

Nettles is executive director of the Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute. The institute is located at the headquarters of the United Negro College Fund in Fairfax, Va.

He also is a professor of education and public policy at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Nettles received a bachelor’s degree in political science and master’s degrees in higher education and political science from the University of Tennessee. He also received a Ph.D. in higher education from Iowa State.

“I’m excited to be coming back to Iowa State,” Nettles said. “I look forward to visiting and talking to students and faculty of ISU. It is always nice to come here.”

Nettles said Carver’s legacy has had a lasting effect on him.

“He was one of the greatest Americans,” he said. “He was one of America’s greatest thinkers, leaders and inventors. He was a great man.”

According to Nettles, ISU made an impact on Carver’s life and interest.

“My impression is that Iowa State made a great contribution to his development and improvement,” Nettles said. “Through this, he benefited many other institutions, like Tuskegee University. Inversely, we have to respect what Iowa State meant to his life and legacy.”