Gilliland receives ADSA Distinguished Service Award
By Mandy Gross
FAPC Communications Services Manager
(Stillwater, Okla. – Sept. 10, 2009) A food microbiologist at Oklahoma State University’s Robert M. Kerr Food & Agricultural Products Center recently won the American Dairy Science Association Distinguished Service Award
Dr. Stanley Gilliland, Regents Professor and Sitlington Endowed Chair in the department of animal science, received the award for his involvement in the ADSA and his intensive research on probiotic cultures and their benefits for humans and livestock.
“It’s always nice to be recognized among your peers,” Gilliland said. “To be granted with the ADSA Distinguished Service Award is a great honor.”
The ADSA Distinguished Service Award recognizes those individuals who have contributed in an unusually outstanding manner to the welfare of the dairy industry. This award recognizes contributions made in areas such as industrial leadership, science, engineering, public health or education.
Dr. Ron Kensinger, professor and head of OSU’s department of animal science, nominated Gilliland for the award. Because Gilliland was unable to attend the meeting, Kensinger accepted the award on his behalf during the 2009 Joint Annual Meeting of the ADSA, Canadian Society of Animal Science and the American Society of Animal Science held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on July 12-16, 2009.
Gilliland served as board member, vice president and president of the association and board member, chairman and secretary of the ADSA Foundation. He also is on the Discover Conference steering committee and has chaired or co-chaired three former Discover Conferences, which provide a venue for scientists to discuss important industry topics.
“Dr. Gilliland has served ADSA very well during his career,” Kensinger said. “He is an outstanding recipient of the ADSA Distinguished Service Award.”
Gilliland received both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Oklahoma State University in dairy manufacturing before going to North Carolina State University to earn his doctorate degree in food science.
Gilliland teaches both upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses in addition to previously serving as coordinator of the food science graduate program.
In recent years, Gilliland has used more than $500,000 of intellectual properties royalty to fund graduate assistantships and purchase laboratory equipment.
“Outstanding graduate students are the backbone of university research programs,” Gilliland said.
Because of his expertise in the areas lactobacilli and probiotics, Gilliland has traveled to seven countries outside of the U.S. to present lectures and symposia papers, including a presentation to the World Health Organization.
During his tenure at OSU, Gilliland has published more than 100 journal articles, authored 24 book chapters, presented 114 papers at scientific meetings and received 24 extramural grants worth several million dollars.
In addition to his outstanding academia accomplishments, Gilliland assisted in the development of the FAPC and was interim director when the center first opened its doors, said Roy Escoubas, FAPC director.
“Stanley Gilliland is an essential contributor to our research efforts here at the FAPC,” Escoubas said. “His involvement in multiple research projects demonstrates the strength of his research capabilities and the value of his research laboratory to the FAPC, the department of animal science and the OSU Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.”
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