Glenn, Shah Outstanding Food Science Alumni; Virtual Awards, Commencement Friday

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Kimberly Glenn (left) and Utkarsh Shah, outstanding alumni from Bumpers College's Department of Food Science, hold research and development positions with Tyson Foods and the Hershey Company, respectively.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Kimberly Glenn and Utkarsh Shah have been named 2019-20 outstanding alumni by the Department of Food Science in U of A's Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences.

The Department of Food Science is also holding a virtual awards and commencement celebration on Friday.

Glenn, director of research and development at Tyson Foods, is the Outstanding Alumna while Shah, who is manager of transformational research and development with the Hershey Company, is the Outstanding Young Alumnus.

"We are delighted to honor two outstanding alumni of our department," said Jeyamkondan Subbiah, professor and department head. "These awards are presented to University of Arkansas food science graduates in honor of their significant professional accomplishments in the field of food science and for contributions to society that bring distinction to our department. We are proud of their accomplishments and look forward to enhancing their interactions with our students."

Glenn earned her bachelor's degree in food science in 1995 under the guidance of Carolyn Sharp, who along with Roy established the Carolyn and Roy Sharp departmental scholarship.

Glenn has been with Tyson 25 years, and her role as a food scientist is to ensure a continuous safe environment for employees, and efficient production and innovation of food processing, but even more so through the COVID19 pandemic.

Her advice for graduates is a quote from Mark Twain:

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. Throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails."

Shah, from Mumbai, India, earned his Ph.D. in food science under the guidance of Emeritus University Professor Andy Proctor. Shah was recently selected to lead a cross-functional marketing assignment for the Hershey brand. His position allows him to infuse creativity in his job through food science and innovation to develop breakthrough technologies and execute novel food launches.

His advice for graduates is to "seek learning in the form of curiosity and apply. Everything else will follow."

The virtual celebration is via Zoom, and is Friday from 11-noon (central). To join, go here and use the password 002588.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture. For more information about Bumpers College, visit our website, and follow us on Twitter at @BumpersCollege and Instagram at BumpersCollege.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2.7 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.