A gift from Dr. Jay-lin Jane-Topel and the late Dr. David G. Topel established the endowed chair to further research and education in the Department of Animal Science.
By Bennett Ford, ISU Foundation
The Iowa State University Foundation has established the David G. Topel and Jay-lin Jane-Topel Endowed Chair in Meat Science through a gift from Dr. Jay-lin Jane-Topel and the late Dr. David G. Topel. The endowed chair will strengthen research and education in meat science within the Department of Animal Science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Steven Lonergan, a Morrill Professor of animal science, was named the inaugural holder of the endowed chair during the Topel Medallion Ceremony on Monday, Aug. 31, on the Iowa State campus.
For more than two decades, Lonergan has studied the biological processes that influence fresh-meat quality, conducting research at the molecular level to better understand what happens to muscle as it becomes meat. His work contributes to Iowa State’s longstanding leadership in meat science research while preparing the next generation of students to advance the field.
Lonergan earned his bachelor’s degree in animal science from Iowa State in 1988 and his master’s degree in meat science in 1991. He joined the Department of Animal Science faculty in 1998, where he has built a career around research, teaching and mentoring students.
“It is a tremendous honor to be named the first David G. Topel and Jay-lin Jane-Topel Endowed Chair in Meat Science,” said Lonergan. “Dr. Topel was an important mentor in my career, and I have long admired how he brought physiology and biochemistry together to solve practical problems in meat science. I look forward to carrying that spirit forward by strengthening teaching, outreach and research in meat science. I am grateful to Dave and Jay-lin for their support of our program.”
As a named faculty position, the Topel Endowed Chair provides additional support for Lonergan’s research and recognizes the importance of faculty scholarship to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
“Dr. Lonergan’s pioneering research, outstanding teaching and commitment to mentoring students have strengthened Iowa State’s reputation as a global leader in meat science. It is especially fitting that he be named the inaugural holder of the Topel Endowed Chair, given the interactions he had with Dr. Topel as an Iowa State student,” said Ruth MacDonald, interim dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. “We are so grateful to the Topels for their generosity in establishing this endowment that will continue to benefit our faculty, students and industry partners for years to come.”
The chair is also a reflection of the Topels’ deep ties to Iowa State and their own contributions to agriculture and life sciences.
Jay-lin Jane-Topel earned her doctorate in biochemistry from Iowa State, where she focused her studies on carbohydrates. In 1987, she joined the university as an assistant professor in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition. She was named a Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agriculture and Life Sciences before retiring from Iowa State.
David Topel also joined the Iowa State faculty, where he gained international recognition for his research on the etiology of porcine stress syndrome. In 1988, he was appointed dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and director of the Iowa Agriculture Experiment Station.
Together, the Topels have continued to invest in Iowa State, including through gifts to University Museums. The new endowed chair extends that legacy to the Department of Animal Science, creating lasting support for faculty research, student learning and the future of meat science.
“I’m very pleased that the world-leading meat scientist Steven Lonergan is now leading meat science research at Iowa State University,” said Jane-Topel. “Under his leadership, I’m confident the program will become even stronger and further solidify its position among the best in the world, which we and future generations will be proud of.”