National Authority Joins 3-A SSI Leadership

3-A SSI Chair Rick Heiman recently announced the appointment of Dr. Curtis Weller to the 3-A SSI Board of Directors. Dr. Weller has served as Head of the Department of Food Science and Technology, and as Director of The Food Processing Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln since July 2016.  He holds an appointment in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering, in addition to his role in the Department of Food Science and Technology. He received his BS and MS degrees in Food Science, and his PhD degree in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Professor Weller is licensed to practice engineering in South Carolina and Nebraska, is credentialed as a Certified Food Scientist and is a Life Member of Phi Tau Sigma.  He has taught courses in food and process engineering and continues to sneak into classrooms when he can. His research responsibilities are in the broad area of food engineering with particular attention on value-added processing of agricultural commodities and physical properties determination.  He has authored or co-authored over 110 refereed journal articles and lectured and consulted about various aspects of food processing throughout the world. Professor Weller received the AACC International Excellence in Teaching award in 2010 and the UNL College of Engineering Holling Family Master Teacher award in 2013, served as a Jefferson Science Fellow with the USAID Bureau for Food Security in 2011-2012 and was named an ASABE Fellow in 2014 and the ASABE PEI Professional Engineer of the Year in 2017. Prior to starting his career in Nebraska in 1992, Professor Weller served on the faculty at Clemson University and in quality assurance roles in the baking and dairy industries.

Dr. Weller brings a combination of industry expertise, knowledge and a strong network of contacts and connections to provide strategic insights and an active role in shaping the 3-A SSI vision and goals.