Attendees of the Rutgers Food Science Alumni Committee and the Food Science Undergraduate and Graduate student clubs’ annual Alumni & Student Speed Networking and Awards Ceremony.
On October 21, the Rutgers Food Science Alumni Committee and the Food Science Undergraduate and Graduate student clubs held their annual Alumni & Student Speed Networking and Awards Ceremony. The event took place at the NJ Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health on the George H. Cook campus.
Nearly 50 attendees, including more than a dozen alumni, gathered for dinner in the atrium, where they acquainted themselves with each other. After a few remarks from the alumni committee, representatives of the student clubs and the Department of Food Science, the professional alumni introduced themselves and shared the paths they took to their current careers. This helped the students formulate their questions and gravitate to certain alumni during the speed networking sessions over the course of the next hour. In each rotation, the alumni provided students with invaluable industry knowledge and career insight to help guide them along their burgeoning career paths.
Food Science alumnus Hank Izzo (at left) and former Food Science professor Rick Ludescher (second from left) interact with student attendees.
Chris Wippich (SEBS’26), president of the Food Science Undergraduate Student Club, found the experience valuable. “I participate to connect with alumni, students, and faculty. I greatly enjoy being able to expand my network and learn more about food science and the industry from a variety of esteemed individuals.”
After networking, the alumni committee presented awards to members of the community, recognizing their contributions to food science:
-Hank Izzo, Ph.D. (CC’89, GSNB’91, ‘93), Leadership Award, presented by Joe Panarisi M.S. (CC’89, GSNB’91)
-Kristine Lukasik, Ph.D. (DC’98, GSNB’04), Scientific Achievement Award, presented by former Food Science Professor Rick Ludescher
-M. Erhan Yildiz, Ph.D. (GSNB’03), Communication Award, presented by Marc Meyers, Ph.D. (GSNB’84, ‘85, ‘87)
-Joe Panarisi, M.S. (CC’89, GSNB’91), Special Recognition Award, presented by Laura Rokosz, Ph.D. (CC’84, GSNB’86, ‘92, ‘93)
-Marc Meyers, Ph.D. (GSNB’84, ‘85, ‘87), Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Akino Tomizawa (SEBS’21)
-Charley Wang, Student Award, presented by Trina Baptista (SEBS’23)
Food Science students and alumni will next have the chance to network at the New York Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Student Night on Cook campus on February 19, 2026.
The October event marked the end of Akino Tomizawa’s tenure as chair and the alumni committee and food science program extend their deepest appreciation for her dedicated service to the association and the department. Akino will be moving into a new role as chair of the Central New Jersey IFT chapter.
“We are sorry she is stepping down as chair, but glad she will remain involved with the committee and in leadership within the Central New Jersey subsection of IFT,” said Don Schaffner, chair of the Department of Food Science.
Akino regards her time as chair with gratitude. “Being a recent graduate (SEBS’21), I never could have imagined that 3 years later, I would be leading the Rutgers Food Science Alumni Committee as chair and planning the very events that had made such a large impact on me as an undergraduate, non-traditional/transfer student. I cannot recommend enough to both recent alumni, looking to gain valuable leadership skills, and industry veterans, looking for ways to reconnect with and give back to the community, serving in this role.”
Any SEBS/Cook/CAES/AG alum who is interested in networking or mentorship with students or alumni is invited to reach out to Brian McGonigle in the Office of Development and Alumni Engagement at brian.mcgonigle@rutgers.edu.
