The AMSA Board of Directors is elected by the membership of the association. Each year, a nominations committee puts forward at least two candidates for each position being elected.
The board consists of the Executive Committee (President-Elect, President, Past President and Treasurer) and nine directors. The directors serve two-year terms. The Executive Director is the chief staff officer of the association and serves as an exofficio member of the board.
Board members' terms begin at the end of the annual Reciprocal Meat Conference.
Past Presidents of AMSA
2022-23 Board of Directors
Executive Committee
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Collette Kaster, M.S.
AMSA CEO
Collette Kaster is the AMSA Chief Executive Officer. She has previously served as a Director and President of the Association.
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Gretchen Mafi, Ph.D.
President
Gretchen Mafi is serving as President for the Association. She also served previously on the board as a Director. Gretchen is a Professor, Boulware Endowed Chair at Oklahoma State University.
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Ann Brackenridge, Ph.D.
Past President
Ann Brackenridge is serving as Past President for the Association. She also served previously on the board as a Director. Ann works for Cargill.
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Tommy Wheeler, Ph.D.
President Elect
Tommy Wheeler is serving as President-Elect for the Association. He also served previously on the board as a Director. Tommy works as the Research Lead for the Meat Safety and Quality Research Unit for the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center with USDA-ARS in Clay Center, NE.
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Jennie Hodgen, Ph.D.
Treasurer
Jennie Hodgen started as Treasurer for the Association in 2021. She also served previously on the board as a Director. Jennie is a Senior Account Manager, Corporate and Diversified Accounts Team for Merck Animal Health.
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Directors
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Mindy Brashears, Ph.D.
Director and 2023 RMC Chair
Mindy Brashears is a Director and has served on the Board of Directors since 2021. Mindy is a Professor and the Director of the International Center for Food Industry Excellence at Texas Tech University.
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Anna Dilger, Ph.D.
Director and 2022 RMC Chair
Anna Dilger is a director and has served on the Board of Directors since 2020. Anna is an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois.
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Megan Hobbs, M.S.
Director
Megan Hobbs is a director and has served on the Board of Directors since 2020. Megan is the Group R&D Leader for Cargill Protein.
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Jeff Sindelar, Ph.D.
Director and 2024 RMC Chair
Jeff Sindelar is a newly elected Director who joined the AMSA Board of Directors in June 2022. He is currently a Professor and Extension Meat Specialist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
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D. Andy King, Ph.D.
Director
Andy King is a Director and has served on the Board of Directors since 2021. Andy is currently a Research Food Technologist at the USDA-ARS, Meat Animal Research Center.
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Chance Brooks, Ph.D.
Director
Chance Brooks is a newly elected Director who joined the AMSA Board of Directors in June 2022. He is currently a Professor and Interim Chair at Texas Tech University.
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Marcia Reeves, M.S.
Director
Marcia Reeves is a director and has served on the Board of Directors since 2020. Marcia is the Head of R&D for Pilgrim's.
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Brandon Fields, Ph.D.
Director
Brandon Fields is a newly elected Director who joined the AMSA Board of Directors in June 2022. He currently works for PIC.
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Bridget Wasser, M.S.
Director
Bridget Wasser is a newly elected director who joined the AMSA Board of Directors in August 2021. Bridget is currently Associate Director of Customer Insights for Midan Marketing.
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