FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Steven C. Ricke, director of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Center for Food Safety, received the Arkansas Association for Food Protection Fellow award during the AAFP's annual meeting in September. Ricke is a former president of the organization and served as one of its founding members in 2009.

"I am both deeply honored and humbled by this award as it is a reflection of how much this food industry organization has taken off over the years to become the premier food safety annual meeting for food industry professionals in the state of Arkansas," Ricke said. "AAFP does not achieve this without the dedication and volunteerism of the food safety industry and academic members who make this organization's continued growth and success possible." 

AAFP consists of food safety professionals from academics, industry, regulatory and retail backgrounds. As the Arkansas affiliate of the International Association for Food Protection, AAFP provides a forum for educational seminars and meetings on current trends and issues in food safety. AAFP through its educational conference provides its members with access to innovative scientific and technical information, as well as a connection to the food safety industry and some its top experts. AAFP's goal is to provide its members with practical information that they can take back to their workplace and apply.

Ricke holds the Donald C. "Buddy" Wray Chair in Food Safety at the university's Department of Food Science. His main research focus has been on virulence and pathogenic characteristics of foodborne salmonellae. Ricke holds B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Illinois and a Ph.D. degree from the University of Wisconsin. He was a professor at Texas A&M University until 2005 when he came to Arkansas to hold the endowed chair and to direct the Center for Food Safety. Over his professional career he has served as an editor for six books, co-authored more than 400 peer-reviewed research and review articles as well as more than 50 book chapters and has delivered more than 160 talks to a wide range of audiences.