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 of 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 Department—Goal: 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 Development—Goal: Provide advice on direction of Food Science program

• Help solidify strategic plans
• Prepare for the future

Accomplishments:

• Met on campus twice a year since 1990, often with the dean, the chancellor, and members of the development department
• Increased 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