Graduate Program: Alumni
Ray Abner (BS 1979, MS 1981)
Director of the North America Anitox
Ray recently accepted a new position as Director of the North America Anitox located in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Anitox provides solutions for mold and salmonella/pathogen prevention and elimination from feed and feed ingredients, as well as efficiency solutions for the pelleting industry.
Heather Blackmon (MS 2002)
Clinical Embryologist, Carolina Conceptions
As the supervisor of an in-vitro fertilization lab, Blackmon says her favorite part of the job is “holding an eight-cell embryo in my arms nine months later.” The ’02 M.S. Animal Science graduate learned IVF techniques from Institute animal reproduction specialists Drs. Lannett Edwards and Neal Schrick while supporting herself with an off-campus job and keeping up with her studies. Today she remains involved in animal agriculture. “I do a lot of cattle work. Every opportunity I get I go play with the cows. Cattle are definitely my first love and sometimes a lot easier to work with than the ladies. I often joke around in my job that I wish I had a stock chute.”
James Heird (BS ----, MS 1971)
Associate Dean and Director of
teaching and outreach for the Equine Center at Colorado State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences.
On behalf of CASNR and the Alumni Council, Dr. Alan Mathew, head of the Department of Animal Science, presented Dr. James Heird the 2005 distinguished alumnus award. Dr. Heird holds a B.S. in animal husbandry and an M.S. in animal genetics from UT. He is currently associate dean and director of teaching and outreach for the Equine Center at Colorado State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences.
Michael Henson (MS 1981)
Department
Head, Purdue University, Calumet.
Dr. Michael Henson, who received the BS degree in Animal Science at UT Martin, the MS in Animal Science at UT, Knoxville and the PhD at the University of Arkansas, has spent the past 14 years on the faculty at the Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA. He recently accepted the position of Head of the Department of Biological Sciences at Purdue University, Calumet. The Purdue Calumet campus is located in northern Indiana near the city of Hammond. Dr. Henson and his wife Libby (also a UTM Animal Science Alumnus), have 3 grown children: Kate, Rachel and Chris. The Henson’s send their greetings to all UT Animal Science alumni and friends, wherever they may be.
James Klotz (BS 1996, MS 1999, PhD 2004)
Research Animal Scientist, USDAARS,
Forage-Animal Production Research Unit
Dr. James Klotz finds success with the USDA Agricultural Research Service at the University of Kentucky.“I was born in Clarksburg, WV in 1974. In the early years my family moved around a bit and finally settled in Columbia, TN. I graduated from Columbia Central High in 1992 and promptly started what would become a 12-year stint at the University of Tennessee. I ended my time at The University of Tennessee after receiving my third diploma in May 2004. Shortly thereafter, I accepted a post-doctoral position as a research animal scientist at the newly formed USDAARS, Forage-Animal Production Research Unit in Lexington, KY. Within the unit, I am part of a program led by Dr. James R. Strickland that is developing and validating in vitro and in vivo models for the study of forage-induced metabolic perturbations on grazing livestock. A component of this research is the characterization of the vascular effects caused by exposure to ergot alkaloids. For this, I have established a saphenous vein biopsy procedure that was originally developed by Dr. Jack Oliver’s research group at the University of Tennessee. Also, I have been collaborating with many of the Animal and Plant Science faculty at the University of Kentucky and simply put, have just been enjoying the academic, research, and life experiences that make up a post-doctoral odyssey."
J. Willard Lemaster (MS 1996)
Executive Director, Pennsylvania Center for Beef Excellence
Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff welcomed J. Willard Lemaster as the new executive director of the Center for Beef Excellence, a non-profit organization designed to strengthen the state's beef cattle industry. Lemaster brings a diverse and extensive professional background to the position, said Wolff, having worked in production agriculture, marketing, education and research. "The beef cattle industry contributes $1.9 billion annually to our state's economy and its continued success is essential to our state and our rural communities," Wolff said. "With Willard's leadership in the Center for Beef Excellence, we can continue to grow the commonwealth's beef industry and secure its role in our future.""We have been extremely impressed with Willard's credentials," said Jeff Nogan, president of the center's board of directors. "His knowledge of the industry and his experiences as a producer, researcher and educator make him a terrific choice, and I am confident he will use his knowledge and relationships within the industry to lead the center successfully." Lemaster holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal and Veterinary Sciences from West Virginia University and a Master of Science in Animal Sciences, with specialization in beef cattle reproductive physiology from the University of Tennessee. He is currently a Doctor of Philosophy candidate and is conducting research in food science and technology with a specialization in animal sciences at the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore.
Jenifer Nadeau (PhD 2001)
A big congratulations goes to Dr. Jenifer A. Nadeau, who received her M.S. in Comparative Experimental Medicine (1997) and Ph.D. in Animal Science (2001), as she was recently promoted to Associate Professor with Tenure in the Department of Animal Science at the University of Connecticut. The promotion and tenure will take effect as of August 2007.
Kevin Thompson (BS 1991, MS 1996)
Center Director, UT AgResearch
Middle Tennessee Research & Education Center and the Dairy Research & Education Center
Mr. Kevin Thompson has accepted the position of Center Director at the Middle Tennessee Research and Education Center in Spring Hill and the Dairy Research and Education Center in Lewisburg. Kevin will assume the Director role effective January 11, 2010.
Lacy Upchurch (BS 1967, MS 1977)
Tennessee
Farm Bureau President
The Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation’s new president earned two degrees from the Department of Animal Science and began his agricultural career as a UT Extension agent in Madison and Cumberland counties. Lacy Upchurch is the seventh state president for the 84-year-old Farm Bureau. He succeeds Sequatchie County dairyman Flavius Barker who served with distinction as the organization’s chief officer for the past 10 years. Barker announced earlier this year that he would not seek reelection and instead is returning to his farm near Dunlap to farm with his sons. After his years with Extension, Mr. Upchurch became a full-time farmer and began a successful swine operation. Later he moved more into beef cattle production. He is currently one of the county’s major producers.