Meet Our Donors
Anthony W. Kotula, Ph.D.
2025-2026 Contributing Partners
Anthony W. Kotula, Ph.D., a Lifetime Member of Phi Tau Sigma, retired in 1992 as a Supervisory Food Technologist after 38 years of service at the Agricultural Research Service, USDA; 25 years of which were as the Leader of the Meat Science Research Laboratory. Tony has a ‘team’ philosophy and endeavored to work cooperatively with industry, academicians, and other regulatory agencies so that the research results would have a practical use: Impact. Tony served as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, as Supply Officer of the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 67th Reconnaissance Wing, 5th Air Force, at Kimpo Air Base, South Korea, during the Korean War. (Contribution to endow the Phi Tau Sigma Mid-Career Accomplishment Award)
Anonymous
2025-2026 Contributing Partners
Anonymous donation towards the endowment for the Phi Tau Sigma Founders’ Scholarship.
Hawkins, Inc.
2025-2026 Contributing Partners
Hawkins, Inc.manufactures and distributes specialty chemicals and provides functional solutions for a wide variety of industries. The Food Ingredients Group is a leading manufacturer of innovative pathogen control technologies and ingredients for the food industry. The formation of Ingredient Works, an entity conceived to capitalize on expertise in functional ingredient applications, food industry knowledge, technical service, and an extensive product portfolio, is focused on the comprehensive science of shelf-life, providing customized solutions to both the common and the highly complex issues faced every day by food manufacturers. The ultimate goal for the Hawkins Food Ingredient Group is to re-define the concept of shelf life and become a complete solution provider to the food industry. (Contribution to sponsor the Phi Tau Sigma Founders’ Scholarship and its endowment and Sponsorship of the Phi Tau Sigma Networking Event to be held in Chicago in 2026) Hawkins, Inc. is a Bronze level Contributing Partner.
American Meat Science Association (AMSA)
2025-2026 Sponsors and Donors
The American Meat Science Association (AMSA) works to cultivate a global community of professionals and students to discover, apply, and communicate meat science and technology. An independent, objective, and credible voice for meat science and technology, AMSA is an organization recognized for its unmatched competence and commitment to attracting and developing meat industry leaders. We are an association that encourages our members' active participation and engagement, and we welcome collaborative relationships with other groups and organizations.
Andrew Maust
2025-2026 Sponsors and Donors
Andrew Maust, a Lifetime Member of Phi Tau Sigma is a PhD student in Food Science at the University of Arkansas. He is known for his research on nonalcoholic beer, yeast fermentation, and flavor chemistry. He won the university's 3-Minute Thesis competition in early 2025 for his work on developing better nonalcoholic beers. (Donation to the General Fund).
Catherine Adams Hutt, Ph.D., RD and Peter Barton Hutt, LL.B., LL.M.
2025-2026 Sponsors and Donors
Catherine Adams Hutt, Ph.D., RD and Peter Barton Hutt, LL.B., LL.M., Phi Tau Sigma Lifetime Members. Catherine is a food safety and regulatory consultant and expert witness with RdR Solutions, and Peter is an attorney with Covington and Burling. Both are IFT Fellows. (Contribution for the Catherine Adams Hutt, Ph.D., R.D. and Peter Barton Hutt, LL.B., LL.M. Food Regulation Scholarship)
Connie Weaver, Ph.D.
2025-2026 Sponsors and Donors
Connie Weaver, Ph.D. a Lifetime Member and serves on the Board of Directors for Phi Tau Sigma is a Distinguished Research Professor of Nutrition Science at San Diego State University, California, Distinguished Professor Emerita at Purdue University, and CEO of Weaver and Associates Consulting, LLC. Dr. Weaver is past president of the American Society for Nutrition. She donated to the S. Suzanne Nielsen chapter award in her memory. Suzanne and Connie often roomed together at IFT annual meetings and remained in close contact up until Suzanne succumbed to cancer. They shared a love of food science, teaching and mentoring students, collaborating on research in food chemistry, and commitment to Phi Tau Sigma. Suzanne remained a positive force her whole life.
Fergus Clydesdale, Ph.D.
2025-2026 Sponsors and Donors
Fergus Clydesdale, Ph.D. a Lifetime Member of Phi Tau Sigma, is the Distinguished Professor and Director of the UMass Food Science Policy Alliance, University of Massachusetts Amherst and a member of Phi Tau Sigma since the 1960’s. (Donation to the General Fund)
Gary List, D.Sc.
2025-2026 Sponsors and Donors
Gary List, D.Sc. is a retired research chemist who worked at the USDA Northern Regional Research Laboratory in Peoria, Illinois. He is a professional member of Phi Tau Sigma, an IFT Fellow, a Dr. Carl R. Fellers Award Recipient, a Tanner Lectureship Awardee, and a Dr. Stephen Chang Awardee. (Donation to the General Fund)
Kathryn L. Kotula, Ph.D.
2025-2026 Sponsors and Donors
Kathryn L. Kotula, Ph.D., a Lifetime Member of Phi Tau Sigma. Kathy recently retired as the Executive Director and Newsletter Editor of Phi Tau Sigma after 13 and 15 years of service, respectively. A senior investigative food scientist at Investigative Food Sciences and former professor of food science, Dr. Kotula is a uniquely qualified expert on animal products throughout the farm to table continuum. She has shared her food science knowledge with consumers through the television, radio, and print media, and in lectures. (Contribution to sponsor the Phi Tau Sigma Mid-Career Accomplishment Award)
Rakesh K. Singh, Ph.D.
2025-2026 Sponsors and Donors
Rakesh K. Singh, Ph.D. is a Past President of Phi Tau Sigma, a Lifetime Member; and is a Professor and Graduate Coordinator in the Department of Food Science & Technology at the University of Georgia, where he was department head from 2001 to 2020. He is also a Fellow of IFT, Fellow of IAFoST, Fellow of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences of India, and Editor-in-Chief of LWT – Food Science and Technology. (Sponsorship of a Phi Tau Sigma Student Achievement Scholarship.)
Martha Cassens, M.S.
2025-2026 Sponsors and Donors
Martha Cassens, M.S., a long-time member of AMSA, a Lifetime Member and previous Director of Phi Tau Sigma, and Vice President of Product Innovation, Development & Quality at ACH Food Co. Inc. (Donation towards the endowment for the Phi Tau Sigma Founders' Scholarship.)
Mary K. Schmidl, Ph.D.
2025-2026 Contributing Partners
Mary K. Schmidl, Ph.D. is a Lifetime Member, Past President, and currently serves as Director on the Board of Phi Tau Sigma. Mary is also a Past President of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), a Past President of the International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST), and Adjunct Professor, Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota.
Peter M Salmon, M.S.
2025-2026 Sponsors and Donors
Peter M Salmon, M.S., MBA, a Lifetime Member of Phi Tau Sigma, is the Founder of International Food Network, Inc., currently retired. (Sponsorship of a Phi Tau Sigma Student Achievement Scholarship.)
Sasireka Rajendran Ph.D.
2025-2026 Sponsors and Donors
Sasireka Rajendran Ph.D. is a Lifetime Member of Phi Tau Sigma and serves as the Editor of the Newsletter. She works with the Minor Use Foundation to support specialty crop growers and address SPS trade barriers. Having worked extensively on multi-country projects across Asia, Sasi has developed a deep understanding of diverse cultures and the ability to navigate complex international landscapes. She is a strong believer in empowering and supporting students to achieve their full potential. (Donation to the General Operating Fund of Phi Tau Sigma)
Dr. Theodore P. Labuza
2025-2026 Sponsors and Donors
From the Trust of Dr. Theodore P. Labuza who was a Lifetime Member of Phi Tau Sigma, a Past President of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) and Emeritus Morse Alumni Distinguished Teaching Professor of Food Science and Engineering, Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota. Ted was active in Phi Tau Sigma having served on numerous committees and a Past President of the University of Minnesota Chapter. He was first nominated for membership with the MIT Chapter in 1962.
William Benjy Mikel, Ph.D.
2025-2026 Sponsors and Donors
William Benjy Mikel, Ph.D., a Phi Tau Sigma past President and a longtime Lifetime Member. (Recurring donation towards the endowment for the Phi Tau Sigma Founders’ Scholarship)
Leigh Schmidt, Ph.D.
2025-2026 Sponsors and Donors
Leigh Schmidt, Ph.D. is a Lifetime Member of Phi Tau Sigma and serves as Chair of the Future Directions Committee. She has a PhD in Food Science from Purdue University. Leigh is an active interdisciplinary researcher and foodie with several years food industry experience in innovation, quality and product development having worked with companies of all sizes on projects including product analysis, process improvement, new product R&D, custom formulations, renovations, scale-up, and shelf-life extension. (Donation to the General Operating Fund of a Phi Tau Sigma)
William L. Baran, Ph.D.
2025-2026 Sponsors and Donors
William L. Baran, Ph.D. is a Lifetime Member of Phi Tau Sigma and an IFT Fellow with a distinguished career spanning more than 50 years in leadership. Throughout his tenure, Dr. Baran has held pivotal roles at major organizations including Gino’s, Marriott, Chick-fil-A, Krystal, and Quaker Oats. His commitment extends to academia and public service, having served as an Adjunct Professor at Virginia Tech, an industrial associate at the University of Georgia, and faculty at Arizona State University. A veteran of the U.S. Public Health Service, he served as a Lt. Commander and Milk and Food Consultant assigned to the FDA. Dr. Baran’s service to the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) includes roles as a Scientific Lecturer, Chairman of the Foodservice Division, and member of both the Board of Directors and the IFT Foundation Board. (Donation to the General Operating Fund of a Phi Tau Sigma)