Painted in recognition of her tenure as department chair, from October 2001 until August 2003, the portrait took its place among the department's collection of past chairs, mounted on the atrium wall. Lamont accepted the appointment, pending the resolution of a national search to fill the position. Upon completion of her term of service, she returned to her faculty position with the Animal Breeding and Genetics group.
Lamont's service is particularly distinguished by the fact that she is the first woman to hold the animal science chair at Iowa State since the department's creation in 1896.
The portrait is the work of Mary Muller, an accomplished local artist who makes her home in Des Moines, Iowa. To capture their character and depth, Muller conducts personal interviews and multiple sittings with her subjects. Muller also painted the portrait of Dennis Marple, department chair from 1992 to 2001.
Sue Lamont with portrait