ASI - Key Persons

Curtis L. Kastner retired in July 2016 after serving as the director of the Food Science Institute at Kansas State University since 2001. He served as a principal investigator on the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department of Homeland Security initiatives focused on food safety and defense. He has also studied the feasibility of developing value-enhanced meat products.

Davis, Duane L.

Job Titles:

Emeritus Faculty
Professor

Denton, Angie

Job Titles:

Communications & Marketing Specialist

Dieball, Janeen

Job Titles:

Office Specialist II

Dikeman, Michael

Job Titles:

Emeritus Faculty
Professor Emeritus

Dr. Cassie Jones

Job Titles:

Professor / Teaching Coordinator
Teaching Coordinator

Dr. Dale Blasi

db..@ksu.edu

Job Titles:

Stocker Nutrition, Management, Forages

Dr. Dave Nichols

dn..@ksu.edu

Dr. Dave Nichols was raised on a commercial beef cattle, swine and crops operation near Brookston, Indiana. He graduated with honors from Purdue University and entered graduate school. He completed his M.S. and his Phd from Kansas State University. In October of 1981 Dave was hired by Dr. Don Good and joined the KSU faculty as an extension specialist. In 1983 he moved to an 80% teaching and 20% research appointment. Beginning in 1998 he served as the Undergraduate Teaching Coordinator for the Department of Animal Sciences and Industry upon the retirement of Dr. Miles McKee. He served in this role until July of 2021. His primary teaching responsibility is ASI 102 , Principles of Animal Science. Through the years, he has taught over 14,000 students in this class and also has taught courses in livestock and carcass evaluation, sales management, and beef systems management. He was also recently named coordinator of the the Purebred Beef unit. Dr. Nichols advises approximately 70 students. In 2011 he received the University Presidential award for Outstanding Advising. In addition he has received the Commerce Bank Outstanding Teaching Award in 2013 and the Dave Mugler Distinguished Faculty award in 2006. In 2019 he was inducted into the Kansas State Fair Wall of Honor. In 2020 he was recognized as the Outstanding Alumni Award from the Purdue Department of Animal Science. Dave coached the KSU Livestock Judging team from 1986 to 1988. He has judged numerous county fairs, state fairs and national shows and is a strong supporter of youth livestock activities. He serves on the board of directors for the Kansas Junior Livestock Show and the American Royal. Dr. Nichols has led student study abroad trips to Costa Rica, Brazil, Canada and China. He recently was a guest speaker at the World Charolais Congress in Porto Alegre, Brazil Dave and his wife Anita have two children, Drew and Amy, and recently welcomed their first grandchild, Madeline. In addition to his university responsibilities, Dr. Nichols owns and operates A&D ranch near Manhattan. Teaching Principles of Animal Science [ASI 102D] Livestock Sales Management [ASI 422] ASI Problem/AI [ASI 661] Livestock Production and Management [ASI 620] Principles of Animal Science [ASI 102]

Dr. Evan Titgemeyer

Job Titles:

Professor / Research Coordinator

Dr. Guy H. Kiracofe

Dr. Guy H. Kiracofe was born in Mt. Solon, VA. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1958 and 1960, respectively. He received his Ph.D. from Kansas State University in 1965, and then spent one year on a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Kentucky. He was on the faculty of Kansas State University and the University of Kentucky. He was on the faculty of Kansas State University from 1966 until 1991. He was chairman of the Department of Animal Sicences at the University of Kentucky from 1991 until retirement in 2000. He taught courses related to farm animal reproduction and beef science. Dr. Kiracofe has won the top awards given by Kansas State University for both excellence in undergraduate teaching and student club advising. A total of 13 Ph.D. and 22 M.S. degrees have been awarded under his direction. His research was among the first to demonstrate several physiological interrelationships that contribute to success and failure of synchronization of estrus in cattle. While he was chairman of Animal Sciences at the University of Kentucky, he maintained a close relationship with the beef, dairy, horse, meat, poultry, sheep and swine industries and was involved in the building of new beef, sheep, and swine facilities. Over the past couple of years Dr. Kiracofe helped the department working part-time as an academic advisor for pre-vet students as well as advisor for the pre-veterinary medicine club and visiting with prospective students. He also helped to lead the department through a departmental review last year. Dr. Kiracofe and his wife, Doris, have two children and five grandchildren.

Dr. Jaymelynn Farney

Job Titles:

Nutrition, Annual Forages

Dr. Joe Hancock

Dr. Joe Hancock grew up on a dry-land cotton farm near Gail, Texas. After his B.S. degree in Agricultural Education, M.S. degree in Swine Production, and Ph.D. degree in Animal Nutrition, Dr. Hancock joined the faculty here at KSU. His assignment is 50% teaching and 50% research.

Dr. Joel DeRouchey

Dr. Justin Waggoner

Dr. Karen Schmidt

Dr. Karen Schmidt earned a bachelor's degree in Food Science from the Pennsylvania State University. After graduating from Penn State, Karen joined Tony's Pizza Service in Salina, Kansas, as a quality assurance supervisor. After working in quality assurance and research and development with Schwan Sales Enterprises, Karen entered graduate school at the University of Minnesota and completed her master's and PhD degrees in Food Science. In January of 1990, Karen joined the University of Georgia in the Departments of Food Science and Technology and Animal Science as an Assistant Professor with research and teaching responsibilities. In 1994, she joined the Department of Animal Sciences and Industry at Kansas State University as an Associate Professor with responsibilities in teaching and research, where she currently holds a 50% teaching and 50% research appointment. In addition, she is a member of Kansas State University's Food Science Institute. Her teaching responsibilities include Fundamentals of Milk Processing, Food Product Evaluation, Dairy Foods Processing and Technology, and Quality Assurance of Food Products and her research program focuses on the processing and quality of dairy and non-dairy foods. Since fall 2016, she is the coordinator of the undergraduate food science program. Teaching Fundamentals of Milk Processing [ASI 405] Dairy Foods Processing and Technology [ASI 608] Food Products Evaluation [FDSCI 430] Quality Assurance of Food Products [FDSCI 695]

Dr. Mike Day

Job Titles:

Department Head

Dr. Sandy Johnson

Job Titles:

Reproduction, Cow / Calf Management

Dunham, James R.

Job Titles:

Emeritus Faculty

Ellis, Cole

Job Titles:

Research Assistant - Stocker Unit

Eulises Antonio

eu..@ksu.edu

Job Titles:

Animal Technician II - Dairy Unit

Eyster, Lauren

Job Titles:

Office Specialist III

Filby, Jeremy

Job Titles:

Agricultural Technician II - Dairy Plant

Fink, Anthony

Job Titles:

Food Service Manager - Call Hall Dairy Bar

Frey, Kristine

Job Titles:

Research Assistant - Dairy Unit

Goering, Mikayla

Job Titles:

Research Assistant - Physiology Lab

Goodenow, Nicole

Job Titles:

Laboratory Administrator - KABSU

Grund, Emily

Job Titles:

Communications & Marketing Assistant

Hancock, Joe D.

Job Titles:

Emeritus Faculty
Professor Emeritus

Hayes, Lexie

Job Titles:

Ext Assistant / Youth Livestock Coordinator

Hessman, Maison

Job Titles:

Lab Client Services Assistant - KABSU

Higgins, Julie

Job Titles:

Research Technician - KABSU

Hollenbeck, William

Job Titles:

Research Assistant - Stocker Unit Manager

Hollis, Larry

Job Titles:

Emeritus Faculty
Professor Emeritus

Hunt, Melvin C.

Job Titles:

Emeritus Faculty
Professor Emeritus

Huser, Kathy

Job Titles:

Student Services Coordinator / Academic Advisor

James Marsden

jm..@ksu.edu

James Marsden joined the ASI faculty in 1994 as the Regent's Distinguished Professor of Meat Science and retired December 31,2015. He had a 100 % research appointment. He also serves as the Associate Director of the National Agriculture Biosecurity Center - located at KSU. His research focus has been on the safety of meat products. This work has included the control of E. coli O157:H7 in raw ground beef and other processed beef products and Listeria monocytogenes in processed meats. He also acts as the Senior Science Advisor for the North American Meat Science Association and has been involved in food safety training for the meat industry. Dr. Marsden is the author of numerous publications and book chapters on food safety and quality and is the recipient of awards for research and teaching. He serves on a number of Advisory Boards for companies that provide food safety technologies to the meat industry and is a regular contributor to the television program -"World Business Review with Alexander Haig". He has also appeared on numerous television news programs as a food safety expert.

Jason M. Warner

Jason M. Warner grew up assisting with his family's farming and cow-calf operations in Nebraska. He was active in 4-H and FFA programs as a youth and attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln earning bachelor of science degrees in Animal Science and Grazing Livestock Systems. While at UNL, Jason was a member of the livestock judging and meat animal evaluation teams. Having a strong interest in conducting cow-calf systems research, Jason continued training at UNL and subsequently earned both master's and doctorate degrees in Animal Science. Following completion of his doctorate degree, Jason served beef cattle producers throughout different segments of the cattle industry as part of a private consulting company that focused on providing nutrition and management service to clients. Jason joined the faculty in the Department of Animal Sciences and Industry at Kansas State University in 2022 as an Assistant Professor and Extension Cow-Calf Specialist. His objective is to help support the mission of the land-grant system by serving people through extension and research as part of the K-State beef extension team. Jason's specific focus is to help provide leadership for state extension beef programming efforts, disseminate information to the industry, collaborate with allied industry personnel and stakeholders, conduct applied cow-calf systems research, and serve as a point of resource for area specialists and county extension agents. Jason enjoys spending time with and taking care of his family. He and his wife, Danielle, have two boys - Beau and Woodrow.

Jennifer Bormann

jb..@ksu.edu

Job Titles:

Assistant Dean / Professor

Jeon, Ike J.

Job Titles:

Emeritus Faculty
Professor Emeritus

John Stika

Job Titles:

CAB President

Kastner, Curtis

Kiracofe, Guy

Job Titles:

Emeritus Faculty
Professor Emeritus

Kuhl, Gerry L.

Job Titles:

Emeritus Faculty
Professor Emeritus

Leiker, Richard

Job Titles:

Research Technician - KABSU

Lemmon, Jack

Job Titles:

Farm Manager - Cow / Calf Unit

M. Antony, Reshma

Job Titles:

Assistant Scientist - Ruminant Nutrition Lab

Marple, Nicole

Job Titles:

Project Coordinator - Food Science Institute

Marsden, James L.

Job Titles:

Emeritus Faculty
Professor Emeritus

McMurray, Barbara

Job Titles:

Accountant I - Business Office

Megan Rolf

Job Titles:

Associate Professor

Melvin Hunt

Melvin Hunt, or Hunter as he is known, has been part of the ASI faculty since 1975. Prior to joining KSU he was a Research Chemist at the Tennessee Eastman Company, Kingsport, TN. His responsibilities include research (50%) and teaching (50%) of undergraduate and graduate meat and food science courses and he currently is Chair of the Food Science and Industry Undergraduate Program. His Ph.D. was in Food (Meat) Science from the University of Missouri. Class instruction includes: Food Science Senior Seminar, Principles of Meat Science (Distance Learning), Meat Science, Processed Meats Operation, and Advance Meat Science. He has been teaching via distance learning since 1988 and has cooperated with industry in making a series of videos useful for training and customer relations. In addition, Dr. Hunt has also led numerous study abroad tours to Italy and Spain for both undergraduate and graduate students. His research at KSU has focused on postmortem meat quality with particular interest of factors affecting meat color and myoglobin chemistry. Specific areas of research included: Cooked meat color and safety, Enhancement of fresh beef and pork, Case-ready packaging (CO-MAP, Lo-O2 MAP, Hi-O2 MAP and vacuum), Myoglobin color stability and lighting, Discoloration of bone, Color stabilizing mechanisms in meat, Color measurement methodology, and Dry-aging of beef. Hunter also has worked with low-fat ground beef and sausage, and collagen effects in meat texture and he continues to dabble in muscle histochemistry. Dr. Hunt has received numerous awards for teaching, research and student services. He has been Chair of the Muscle Foods division of the Institute of Food Technologists, Chair of the Meat Science-Muscle Biology Section of the American Society of Animal Science, Chair of the Reciprocal Meat Conference, and President of the American Meat Science Association. In his spare time, he enjoys photography, O-gauge model trains, and travel (either African safaris or attending the International Congress of Meat Science and Technology). Teaching Food Science Seminar [FDSCI 500D] Problem Food Science [FDSCI 630D]

Nelson, Mark

Job Titles:

Research Assistant - Swine Unit Manager

Nichols, David A.

Job Titles:

Emeritus Faculty
Professor Emeritus

Odde, Ken

Job Titles:

Department Head and Professor Emeritus
Emeritus Faculty

Olson, Casey J.

Job Titles:

Animal Technician II - KABSU

Parsons, Jared

Job Titles:

Operations Manager - Dairy Plant

Penner, Karen P.

Job Titles:

Emeritus Faculty
Professor Emeritus

Plummer, Nathan

Job Titles:

Agricultural Technician II - Farm Shop

Pope, Ronald V.

Job Titles:

Emeritus Faculty
Professor Emeritus

Rathbun, Theresa

Job Titles:

Research Assistant - Swine Lab

Reasoner, Sarah

Resser, Robert

Job Titles:

Seasonal Worker, Temporary - Poultry Unit

Ron Pope

Ron Pope is from Oklahoma and Texas. He joined the department in 1977 as the Research Assistant at the Beef Research unit and began his current rol in 1992. He teaches three sections of ASI 105, Animal Sciences & Industry laboratory, during the fall semester and two sections in the spring semester. He advises 12 undergraduate students. He is also responsible for conducting tours of the department for outside visitors. This includes school field trips, prospective students, and interested groups. He has also been the co-advisor for Block and Bridle for 20 years. Ron and his wife, Nita, have four children (all K-State alums), five grandsons, Blake, Rhett, Chisum, Bret, Ryatt and a new grandson on the way as well as two granddaughters, Vanessa and Kate. Their children are Russell ASI, BS 1999 and his wife Misty EDEL, BS 1999; Marie EDEL, BS 2002 and her husband Jeff Jones ASI, BS 1999; Bill ASI, BS 2005 and his wife Heather AS, BS 2005, DVM 2010 from Colorado State University; and Ronny ASI, BS 2006 and his wife Kelsey AGEC, BS 2008, MS 2009.