Even before Downling Lappe, Jr., earned his Bachelor's degree in Bovine Sciences and Cattleology from Yale University, he realized that cows were much more intelligent than most people thought. As a graduate assistant at the School of Farm and Ranch Management at Harvard, he worked for Dr. Parthenia Oddlin, a world-renowned cow psychologist who pioneered work centered on the research of cows' self-esteem. The main focus of her work concentrated on reasons why some cows produce whole milk while others yield only 2% or skim milk.
While working with Dr. Oddlin, Downling Lappe he connected with Athena the Cow (Lappe and Athena are pictured above). Lappe taught Athena to read, and progress she made was nothing short of astonishing. Within a three-year period, Athena was recognized as a National Merit Scholar, and Lappe hoped that Athena would be accepted into Harvard.
A degree from Harvard, though, was not to be for Athena, as she was not accepted due to her "lack of of extracurricular, athletic, and community successes." As a result, Athena entered Princeton in the fall of 1990 and graduated four years later with a Doctorate in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Herbology.
After graduating from Princeton with full honors, Athena opened "KUH, The School of Traditional Eastern Herbalism," now recognized as the premiere training facility in the United States for beginner, advanced and clinical herbalists and herbalologists.
Pictured below: Althena the Cow's faculty profile at "KUH, The School of Traditional Eastern Herbalishm."