Nine graduate students have been selected for the inaugural 2023 Real Pork Scholars cohort designed to offer professional mentorship and build a strong peer-to-peer network and professional training to help communicate technical information.
The Real Pork Scholars program is an evolution of NPB’s Pork Scholars program, which primarily focused on supporting academic research related to pork production. The new program aligns with the current needs of the industry and the students involved, explains National Pork Board CEO Bill Even.
“The U.S. pork industry is connected to many different areas of study and cultural aspects – nutrition, economic development, environmental studies, consumer trends, and more. We have designed the Real Pork Scholars program to support students in many of those subject areas, which will help our industry gain valuable insights and create meaningful connections with these next generation leaders by helping them grow in areas outside the lab or classroom,” Even points out.
The two-year program, sponsored by the National Pork Board, focuses on network building, both with professional mentors and peers; communications training focused on helping students share research-based information with non-research audiences; and relevant research connected to current pork production challenges and the industry’s We Care Ethical Principles.
The 2023 Real Pork Scholars cohort includes:
- Lindsey Britton of North Carolina State University studying swine reproduction
- Abigail Jenkins of Kansas State University studying applied swine nutrition
- Molly Kroeger of Iowa State University studying immunobiology (PhD)
- Carolyn Lee of The Ohio State University studying veterinary preventative medicine
- Daniel Morales of Iowa State University studying field epidemiology (PhD)
- Isabel Rodrieguez of Iowa State University studying animal science – reproduction
- Haley Schwecke of University of Minnesota studying swine infectious disease
- Sudario Roberto Silva, Jr. of University of Minnesota studying swine nutrition, microbiome, sustainability
- Beth Stevermer of Drake University School of Law pursuing Juris Doctorate – agricultural law
The cohort began its Real Pork Scholars experience with a meeting focused on professional mentorship, held in October at National Pork Board headquarters.
“We’re excited about this opportunity to create a strong win-win experience for these students and our industry,” Even says. “We will gain knowledge and insights from the outstanding representatives of the next generation of leaders, while they will gain training to help them advance their careers and relationships that will benefit them for years to come.”
In the first year of the program, scholars will meet regularly with a mentor currently working in a segment of the pork industry relevant to the scholars’ interests and area of study. In addition to mentorship, the scholars will receive hands-on experiences to learn more about the pork industry. The program’s second year will continue the mentorship experience and focus on its communication training component.
Read More About Previous Pork Scholars:
How One Student is Using Image Analysis to Increase the Genetic Potential of Pigs
Cameras Forge New Paths in Swine Research
What Happens When Soybean Meal Levels are Increased in Swine Diets?
How Can Feed Flavor Spur Feed Intake in Sows and Piglets?
