Faculty and Staff
Sylvia Kehoe
Department Chair, Animal and Food Science; Professor, Dairy Science
Office: 246 Food Science Addition
Phone: 715-425-4321
Email: sylvia.kehoe@uwrf.edu
Education:
- B.S., University of California, Davis (Animal Science)
- M.S., Iowa State University (Animal Science)
- Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University (Animal Nutrition)
Expertise: Dairy Calf Nutrition and Welfare
Abbey Butler
Assistant Professor, Animal Science (Companion Animals)
Office: 319 Ag Science Building
Phone: 715-425-4643
Email: abbey.butler@uwrf.edu
Maria Jose Fuenzalida
Assistant Professor, Dairy Science
Office: 244 Food Science Addition
Phone: 715-425-3213
Email: maria.fuenzalidavalenzuela@uwrf.edu
Education:
D.V.M, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
M.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison (Dairy Science)
PhD., University of Wisconsin-Madison (Dairy Science)
Expertise: Dairy Herd Health and Management
Steve Kelm
Director, Farm and Industry Short Course; Professor, Dairy Science
Office: 247 Food Science Addition
Phone: 715-425-4326
Email: steven.kelm@uwrf.edu
Education:
- A.A.S, University of Minnesota-Waseca (Livestock Production)
- B.S., California Polytechnic State University (Dairy Science)
- M.S., Iowa State University (Animal Breeding)
- Ph.D., Iowa State University (Animal Breeding and Immunology)
Expertise:
Dairy Management and Dairy Cattle Evaluation
Grace Lewis
Assistant Professor, Food Science
Office: 249B Food Science Addition
Phone: 715-425-4873
Email: grace.lewis@uwrf.edu
Education:
- B.S., Pennsylvania State University (Food Science)
- Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University (Food Science – Dairy Chemistry)
Expertise: Dairy Processing to Enhance Dairy Protein and Milkfat Functionality
Justin Luther
Associate Chair of Student Success; Professor, Animal Science
Office: 207 Ag Science Building
Phone: 715-425-4382
Email: justin.luther@uwrf.edu
Education:
- B.S., University of Wisconsin-River Falls (Agricultural Education)
- M.S., North Dakota State University (Reproductive Physiology)
- Ph.D., North Dakota State University (Reproductive Physiology)
Expertise:
Reproductive Physiology and Management
Melkaye Melka
Associate Professor, Genetics and Genomics
Office: 320 Ag Science Building
Phone: 715-425-4070
Email: melkaye.melka@uwrf.edu
Education:
- B.S., South University, Ethiopia (Animal Science)
- M.S., University of Bonn, Germany (Animal Molecular Genetics)
- Ph.D., University of Guelph, Canada (Genetics)
Expertise: Molecular and Computational Genetics
Nathan O’Connor
Associate Faculty Associate
Office: 207c Ag Science Building
Phone: 715-425-4466
Email: nathan.h.oconnor@uwrf.edu
Education:
- B.S., University of Wisconsin-River Falls (Animal Science)
- M.S., University of Wisconsin-River Falls (Master of Management)
Expertise: 25+ years in the equine industry, training, showing and marketing western performance horses
Arquimides Reyes
Associate Professor, Animal Science
Office: 207A Ag Science Building
Phone: 715-425-4047
Email: arquimedes.reyes@uwrf.edu
Education:
- B.S., Texas A&M University (Animal Science – Meat Science)
- M.S., Angelo State University (Animal Science – Meat & Food Science)
- Ph.D., Colorado State University (Animal Science – Meat Science and Animal Nutrition)
Expertise: Beef Production and Management; Meat Science
Kurt Vogel
Professor, Animal Welfare and Behavior
Office: 206 Ag Science Building
Phone: 715-425-4704
Email: kurt.vogel@uwrf.edu
Education:
- B. S., University of Wisconsin-Madison (Animal Science)
- M.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison (Animal Science)
- Ph.D., Colorado State University (Animal Science)
Expertise: Food Animal Welfare and Behavior; Director Humane Handling Institute
Bonnie Walters
Professor, Animal and Food Science
Office: 243 Food Science Addition
Phone: 715-425-4715
Email: bonnie.s.walters@uwrf.edu
Education:
- B.S., University of Wisconsin-River Falls (Chemistry)
- M.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison (Analytical Chemistry)
- Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison (Poultry Science and Food Chemistry)
Expertise: Food Science and Poultry Science
Jennifer Weinert-Nelson
Assistant Professor and Equine Program Director, Animal Science
Office: 245 Food Science Addition
Phone: 715-425-4148
Email: jennifer.weinertnelson@uwrf.edu
Education:
- B.S., University of Wisconsin-River Falls (Animal Science)
- Ph.D. Rutgers University (Endocrinology and Animal Biosciences)
Expertise: Animal Nutrition, Forages, Rumen Microbiota
Staff
Karly Anderson
Scientist and Trainer, Humane Handling Institute
Office: 206A Ag Science Building
Phone: 715-425-4483
Email: karly.anderson@uwrf.edu
Education:
- B.S., University of Wisconsin-River Falls (Animal Science)
- M.S. University of Minnesota (Veterinary Medicine)
- Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Animal Science)
Expertise: Improving preslaughter stunning and on-farm euthanasia
Susan Bargellini
Academic Department Associate, Animal and Food Science
Office: 242 Food Science Addition
Phone: 715-425-4127
Email: susan.bargellini@uwrf.edu
Expertise: Licensed Wisconsin Cheesemaker with eight years experience, including certifications and coursework in dairy processing, HACCP, pasteurization, artisan and farmstead cheese.
Ashlynn Kirk
Program Manager, Humane Handling Institute
Office: 206b Ag Science Building
Phone: 715-425-4987
Email: ashlynn.kirk@uwrf.edu
Education:
- B.S., University of Wisconsin-River Falls (Animal Science)
- M.S., University of California-Davis (Animal Biology)
Expertise: Content development, planning and implementation of the Humane Handling Institute workshops
Karalyn Littlefield
Lecturer, Animal and Food Science
Office: 207b Ag Science Building
Phone: 715-425-4377
Email: karalyn.littlefield@uwrf.edu
Education:
- B.S., University of Wisconsin-River Falls (Food Science)
- M.S., University of Missouri-Columbia (Food Science)
Expertise: 20 years food industry experience in QA, product research and development
Lisa Meyer
Lecturer/Dairy Plant Project Coordinator
Office: 206C Ag Science Building
Phone: 715-425-4443
Email: lisa.meyer@uwrf.edu
Education:
- B.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison (Agricultural Engineering)
Expertise: Food industry process engineering experience; food marketing
Rueben Nilsson
Manager, Wuethrich Family/Grassland Dairy Center of Excellence
Office: 143 Food Science Addition
Phone: 715-425-4052
Email: rueben.nilsson@uwrf.edu
Education:
- B.S., University of Minnesota (Food Science)
Expertise: 15 yrs experience in cheese-making, ranging from small artisanal to large scale mass production operations.
Ryley Rehnelt
Manager, Meat Plant
Office: 149 Food Science Addition
Phone: 715-425-3923
Email: ryley.rehnelt@uwrf.edu
Education:
- B.S., University of Wisconsin-River Falls (Animal Science)
Expertise: Experience in the pork industry ranging form on-farm to plant operations
Katrina Rosik
Academic Adviser
- Office: 317 Agricultural Science Building
- Phone: 715-425-4338
- Email: katrina.rosik@uwrf.edu
Brittany Skarhus
Academic Adviser
- Office: 249A Food Science Building
- Phone: 715-425-4818
- Email: brittany.skarhus@uwrf.edu
Rachael Walker
Lecturer/IHSA Hunt Seat Team Coach
Email: rachael.walker@uwrf.edu
Education:
- B.S., University of Wisconsin-River Falls (Animal Science)
- M.Ed., William Woods University (Equestrian Education)
Expertise: 20+ yrs experience in the equine industry
