By Ashley Middleswarth, FAPC Communications Graduate Student

(Stillwater, Okla. – April 9, 2015) An Oklahoma State University and Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center faculty member was awarded the American Oil Chemists’ Society Merit Award.

Nurhan Dunford, OSU biosystems and agricultural engineering professor and FAPC oilseed specialist, will be recognized for this accomplishment during the 106th AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo in Orlando, Florida, May 3-6, 2015.

“Many AOCS members quietly, yet efficiently volunteer their time and talents to keep AOCS on the forefront of the science and technology of fats, oils and lipids,” Dunford said. “I am just one of these volunteers. It is a great honor to be recognized by my mentors and colleagues.”

The AOCS Award of Merit recognizes a member with outstanding committee work, activity or service. Merit winners provide productive and meritorious service to AOCS committee work, show marked leadership in administrative activities or special committees of AOCS and perform an outstanding activity or service that has advanced the society’s prestige, standing or interest.

Dunford first joined AOCS as a graduate student member 20 years ago and continues to be active in the organization. AOCS is an international professional organization that strives to advance the science and technology of oils, fats, surfactants and related materials.

She has contributed to the success of the society through a decade of committee work. Dunford has devoted much of her time within the AOCS Processing Division serving as member-at-large, secretary/treasurer, vice chair and chair of the executive board. She was instrumental in the implementation of two division awards, Processing Division Student Excellence and Distinguished Service awards.

Dunford currently serves on the AOCS Books and Special Publications Committee. She has edited two books for the AOCS Press and contributed several chapters to these books. She also has published numerous research papers in the AOCS journals.

“I see my involvement in the society activities as an opportunity for professional and personal development,” Dunford said. “Through my volunteer activities I expended my professional network, gained many very close friends and have had mentors who are experts in their field working at universities and industry.”

She also served as the general chair for the 2012 annual meeting held in Long Beach, California.

“The annual meeting is held in a different city every year,” Dunford said. “Thousands of industry personnel, scientists and students from USA, Canada, Europe, Asia, Japan, Austria and other parts of the world attend the meeting.”

Roy Escoubas, FAPC director, said Dunford is well deserving of this honor.

“This is quite an accomplishment for Dr. Dunford to be recognized for this merit award by her peers,” Escoubas said. “We are very proud of her and what she has accomplished during her tenure and participation in AOCS.

FAPC, a part of OSU’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, helps to discover, develop and deliver technical and business information that will stimulate and support the growth of value-added food and agricultural products and processing in Oklahoma.

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Oklahoma State University is a modern land-grant system of interdisciplinary programs that prepares students for success. OSU is America’s Brightest Orange. Through leadership and service, OSU is preparing students for a bright future and building a brighter world for all. As Oklahoma’s only university with a statewide presence, OSU improves the lives of people in Oklahoma, the nation and the world through integrated, high-quality teaching, research and outreach. OSU has more than 36,000 students across its five-campus system and more than 24,000 on its combined Stillwater and Tulsa campuses, with students from all 50 states and around 120 nations. Established in 1890, OSU has graduated more than 245,000 students to serve Oklahoma, the nation and the world.