By Whitney Baxter
Three Department of Animal Science faculty will continue their impactful research and teaching with support from donor-funded named positions.
Elisabeth Huff-Lonergan, University Professor of animal science, was named the Morrison Chair in Meat Science. Stephanie Hansen, professor of animal science, and Aileen Keating, professor of animal science, will hold the title of Tyrone D. Artz, M.D., Chair for Faculty Excellence in Animal Science. All three were recognized during a departmental faculty meeting on April 27.
Morrison Chair in Meat Science
Huff-Lonergan is the third faculty member to hold the Morrison Chair in Meat Science. The honor was previously bestowed upon Jim Dickson, professor emeritus of animal science, and the inaugural holder was Joseph Sebranek, distinguished professor emeritus of animal science.
She has been a faculty member at Iowa State University since 1998. Her research focuses on improving livestock muscle growth efficiency and fresh meat quality to produce safe, sustainable meat products that meet global protein needs. Through biochemical and protein chemistry research, Huff-Lonergan contributes to solutions that safeguard the safety and quality of meat, supporting public confidence in meat products.
One of the key themes of her current work is determining how the inherent molecular characteristics of fresh meat interact with heating methods that are critical for ensuring food safety. She also examines how these interactions influence the quality, healthfulness and nutritional integrity of meat products.
Huff-Lonergan earned her bachelor’s in food science and nutrition from the University of Missouri. She also has a master’s degree in meat science and a doctoral degree in muscle biology and meat science from Iowa State.
The Morrison Chair was established in 2008 by David and Judith Morrison to support Iowa State’s continued work in food safety as it relates to the meat industry. The Morrisons hope the holder of this position will continue Iowa State’s legacy of contributing to science-based solutions that ensure the safety and security of the nation’s meat industry and bolster the public’s confidence in animal source protein.
David was a former CEO of SAMPCO, Inc., a food and beverage company based in Chicago, Illinois. He earned a bachelor’s degree in food technology and a master’s in chemical engineering from Iowa State. Judith is also an Iowa State graduate with a bachelor’s degree in home economics and a master’s in home economics education.
Tyrone D. Artz, M.D., Chair for Faculty Excellence in Animal Science
Hansen and Keating are the newest holders of the Tyrone D. Artz, M.D., Chair for Faculty Excellence in Animal Science. The position was first bestowed upon Anna Johnson, Morrill Professor of Animal Science, in 2020.
Hansen joined Iowa State’s faculty in 2009. Her research focuses on beef cattle nutrition, specifically trace mineral metabolism. She is passionate about graduate mentoring and has recently published “The Graduate Mentor’s Trail Map,” a guide for faculty on the mentoring journey.
Outside of research, Hansen teaches advanced animal nutrition and graduate vitamins and minerals courses. She also advises undergraduate students in the Department of Animal Science.
Hansen earned her bachelor’s in animal science from Iowa State. She received her master’s in animal science and a doctoral degree in nutrition from North Carolina State University.
Keating has been with the Department of Animal Science since 2010. Her research investigates factors that impact fertility in female mammals, including production animals and humans. Such factors include chemical exposures, obesity and heat stress.
In addition to her research, Keating teaches courses related to reproduction and toxicology.
Keating has a bachelor’s in microbiology from the National University of Ireland and a master’s in biomedical sciences from the University of Ulster at Coleraine in Northern Ireland. She earned her doctoral degree in biochemistry from the National University of Ireland.
The Tyrone D. Artz, M.D., Chair for Faculty Excellence in Animal Science is made possible through a gift from the Dr. Tyrone and Kaelene Artz family. The award recognizes faculty members who show distinction in undergraduate education in animal agriculture and have a prominent research program in an area that strengthens and supports the improvement of animal agriculture in Iowa.
Tyrone earned his bachelor’s degree in zoology from Iowa State in 1964. He went on to medical school and had a successful career as an orthopedic surgeon. After Tyrone’s passing in 2015, Kaelene has continued to support the university in various capacities.