Food Science Industrial Alumni Advisory Board

Established in 1989, the UMass Food Science Advisory Board is a who's who of the top leaders in the food industry worldwide, and a bridge between academia and industry. Under the current leadership of Linda Letcher, Director, Mondelez International, board members have raised funds to meet a variety of needs in the Food Science Department and members have served as guest lecturers and helped students secure employment in the food industry. "We've done well with melding a public-private partnership with advantages to everyone," says Gilbert A. Leveille '56, board member and former executive director of Wrigley Science Institute.

UMass Alumni  Industrial Advisory Board History

Founded in  1990

Chaired by Mr. Charlie Feldberg  retired VP at CPC International for 11 years!!!!

Goal: Keep UMass Food Science in the top echelon of Food Science Departments

Role:      4 key areas of activities :

Advocates of the DepartmentGoal : Be a voice of the Department

Outreach - Goal :  Develop a Personal connection with the Department

Economic Development - Goal :  Provide desperately needed funds

  • Act as Leaders in Giving and provide connections to industry

 Program DevelopmentGoal : Provide Advice on direction of Food Science Program

  • Help Solidify Strategic Plans
  • Prepare for the Future

Accomplishments:

  • Meet on Campus twice a year, since 1990, often with the Dean, the Chancellor and members of the Development  Department
  • Increase Alumni Interaction with the Department:
  • Established  Alumni Weekends and Alumni Breakfast at the IFT Annual Meeting
  • Helped establish successful on campus Industrial  Symposia:
  • Established 13 different endowment funds worth over $10 million
  • Established the Strategic Research and Food Policy Alliance

 

Advisory Board Members

  • Noel Anderson
    Managing Partner
    Mosaic Food Advisors
    IFT President Elect
  • Alan Baublis
    R&D Business Partner
    JPG Resources
  • Ivette A. Bassa
    Retired
    Mondelez International
  • F. M. Clydesdale
    Distinguished Professor 
    University of Massachusetts, Amherst
  • David Coles
    ​President
    D&S Ingredients Solutions
  • Otis Curtis
    Commercial Innovation Director - Taste
    Kerry
  • Eric A. Decker
    Professor 
    Department of Food Science
    University of Massachusetts, Amherst
  • Margaret Domejczyk
    R&D Manager
    ​Unilever
  • Peter Erickson
    Retired
    ​General Mills, Inc.
  • Charles Feldberg
    Retired
    CPC International, Inc.
  • William Flynn
    Global Account Director
    Kerry Inc
  • John Foley
    Sr. Scientist
    Human Nutrition North America
    BASF Corporation
  • Sandra Gifford-Steffen
    Retired
    PepsiCo
  • Stephen Kelleher
    Founder & Chief Scientist
    Proteus Industries, Inc.
  • Cassandra Knight
    Senior Scientist- Regulatory Affairs
    Pepperidge Farm- Campbell Snacks
  • Linda L. Letcher
    Director
    Mondelez International
  • Yongjing Li
    Regional President, Greater China
    DuPont Nutrition and Health
  • Donald J. Lynch
    Vice President
    Gorton's
  • Charles Manley
    Retired
    Takasago International
  • Toni Ruth Manning
    TRM Food Consultants
  • Stephen J. Nojeim
    Research Fellow, R&D
    Cranberry Ocean Spray
  • Doug Phillipsen
    R&D Director Productivity and Org Efficiency
    M & M Mars
  • Peggy Poole
    Vice President Tea Division
    Bigelow Tea Company
  • Michael Popplewell
    VP – Corporate Research & Development
    International Flavors & Fragrances
  • Steve Platt
    Vice President
    Star Kay White
  • David K. Rey
    Director Quality Assurance
    Concord Foods
  • Peter Salmon
    Retired
    The International Food Network, Inc.
  • Herbert Stone
    Retired - President & Founder
    Tragon Corporation
  • Spencer W. Sullivan
    Global Beverage R&D
    Pepsico
  • Susan Wagner
    Retired
    NBTY, Inc.
  • Shishan Wang 
    Senior Research Scientist- Microbiology/ Biochemistry
    Charm Sciences, Inc.
  • Pei-fen Wu
    Principal Flavorist
    International Flavors & Fragrances

 

Communicating Members

  • Joseph Allen
    President
    Allen Flavors
  • Michael Brodnitz
    Retired 
    International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.
  • Dr. Lim C. Chhuy
    Retired
    International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.
  • Donald Coffey
    Retired
    MGP Ingredients
  • Nancy Fogg-Johnson
    Principal & Co-Founder
    Nutri+Food Business Consultants
  • Larry N. Kuzminski
    Retired
    Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.
  • Gil A. Leveille
    Retired
    Wrigley and Cargill
  • Frank McDermott
    Retired 
    Merck & Company, Inc.
  • Dan Rosenfield
    Retired
    M&M Mars
  • Anil Shrikhande
    Retired
    Constellation Wines USA