Michael K. Young

President
Texas A&M University

Michael K. Young became the 25th President of Texas A&M University on May 1, 2015, bringing a proven track record of academic leadership.

As president and tenured Professor of Law at the University of Washington from 2011 to 2015, he led the nation's top public university in competing for federal research funding, as well as its ambitious plan to double the number of new companies based on UW research. He also launched the Global Innovation Exchange, a partnership in the State of Washington between the University of Washington, a major Chinese university and European universities. The University also more than doubled its fundraising during his tenure. Prior to that, he served as President and Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of Utah. Under President Young's leadership, Utah raised its stature nationally and internationally, including becoming the nation's top university in the number of new companies generated from university research. The University also built over a million square feet of academic and research space under President Young's leadership.

Before assuming the presidency at Utah, he was Dean and Lobingier Professor of Comparative Law and Jurisprudence at the George Washington University Law School, and he was a professor at Columbia University for more than 20 years. He also has been a visiting professor and scholar at three universities in Japan.

A graduate of Harvard Law School, President Young has broad experience across legal, public service, and diplomatic arenas. He served as a law clerk to the late Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist of the U.S. Supreme Court, and he has held a number of government positions, including Deputy Under Secretary for Economic and Agricultural Affairs, and Ambassador for Trade and Environmental Affairs in the Department of State during the administration of President George H.W. Bush. Among many other international agreements, President Young worked extensively on the treaties related to German unification, as well as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and Uruguay Round negotiations leading to the World Trade Organization, and the U.N. Conference on Environment and Development. Subsequently, President Young served eight years on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, which he chaired on two separate occasions.

He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

David Saperstein

Designated by Newsweek Magazine as the most influential rabbi in America and by the Washington Post as the "quintessential religious lobbyist on Capitol Hill," for 40 years as Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, David Saperstein represented to Congress and the Administration, the Reform Jewish Movement, the largest segment of American Jewry. Under Rabbi Saperstein, writes J.J. Goldberg in his book Jewish Power, the Religious Action Center "has become one of the most powerful Jewish bodies in Washington, second only to AIPAC."

For over two years (through Jan. 2017), Rabbi Saperstein served the United States as the U.S. Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, carrying out his responsibilities as the country's chief diplomat on religious freedom issues. In this capacity, he served as a principal advisor to Secretary Kerry and President Obama on issues of international religious freedom and travelled widely as America's advocate for religious freedom across the globe.

Also an attorney, he taught seminars on Church -State law and on comparative Jewish and American Law for 35 years at Georgetown University Law Center.

During his career, Rabbi Saperstein has served as the chair or co-chair of several national interreligious coalitions including the Coalition to Preserve Religious Liberty and first chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious freedom. He has served on the boards or executive committees of numerous national organizations including the NAACP, People for The American Way, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the National Religious Partnership on the Environment and the World Faith Development Dialogue. He currently serves as a Senior Fellow at the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs as well as the Senior Advisor for Strategy and Policy for the Union for Reform Judaism.

His work has been recognized over the years from many sources, receiving numerous national organizational awards, (most recently as the inaugural recipient of the Embassy of the Netherland's "Anne Frank Award") and honorary doctorates, (most recently from Yale University in 2016). His articles have been published in publications ranging from the New York Times and the Washington Post to the Harvard Law Review. He has appeared on most major television news and talk shows, including Oprah, Meet the Press, ABC's Sunday Morning, the Rachel Maddow Show, PBS News Hour, Crossfire, Hardball, and the O'Reilly Factor. His latest book is Jewish Dimensions of Social Justice: Tough Moral Choices for our Times.

In his book Thunder in America, network news correspondent Bob Faw wrote of Rabbi Saperstein: "Saperstein learned from political masters... [His] energy is almost legendary - no one around him worked longer hours, no one darted in and out of more meetings... Once he'd taken on an assignment, he'd always guide it safely home to completion."

John Bolton

John R. Bolton was appointed as United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations on August 1, 2005 and served until his resignation in December 2006. Prior to his appointment, Ambassador Bolton served as Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security from May 2001 to May 2005.

Throughout his distinguished career, Ambassador Bolton has been a staunch defender of American interests. While Under Secretary of State, he repeatedly advocated tough measures against the nuclear weapons programs of both Iran and North Korea, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction worldwide. He led negotiations for America to withdraw from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty so that the Bush Administration could proceed with a national missile-defense program.

Ambassador Bolton has spent many years of his career in public service. Previous positions he has held include assistant secretary for International Organization Affairs at the Department of State, 1989-1993; assistant attorney general, Department of Justice, 1985-1989; assistant administrator for Program and Policy Coordination, U.S. Agency for International Development, 1982-1983 and general counsel, U.S. Agency for International Development, 1981-1982.

Ambassador Bolton is an attorney. Currently, he is of counsel at Kirkland & Ellis LLC with a focus on counseling domestic and international clients in complex corporate, litigation, internal investigations, regulatory and competition matters. From 1974-1981, he was an associate at Covington & Burling in Washington, where he returned as a partner in the firm from 1983-1985.

Ambassador Bolton is the author of Surrender is Not an Option: Defending America at the U.N. and Abroad, published by Simon and Shuster (November 2007) and How Barack Obama is Endangering our National Sovereignty, published by Encounter Books (April 2010).

Ambassador Bolton currently serves as a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), a contributor to FOX News Channel and FOX Business Network, and his op-ed articles are regularly featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times. AEI is a nonprofit public policy center dedicated to preserving and strengthening the foundations of freedom through research education and open debate.

Ambassador Bolton was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from Yale College in 1970, and received his Juris Doctor from Yale Law School in 1974. He currently resides in Maryland with his wife, Gretchen. They have one daughter, Jennifer Sarah, who also graduated from Yale College, and received her MBA and SM degrees from MIT in 2014 and is currently a senior manager at Nissan's manufacturing facility in Mississippi.

Kasia Madera

Kasia Madera is a BBC World News presenter and one of the main anchors of Newsday, the BBC's flagship fast paced news programme which is broadcast during US prime time hours. It was recently named Best News Programme at the 2017 Asian TV Awards. A regular host on many of the other BBC News flagship programmes, including Outside Source, Global and Impact, Kasia has 20 years broadcasting experience, 16 of which have been as a journalist for BBC News.

Kasia has broken many big news stories, including announcing the death of Nelson Mandela on a special rolling news programme simulcast across all BBC News output. Again simulcast across all output she anchored BBC News after the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony when the Channel achieved its highest ever viewing figures.

Whether it is election coverage or terrorists attacks, Kasia has immense experience and is versatile and adaptable in any breaking news scenario.

In July 2017 Kasia was among a handful of specially selected VIP guests who met the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at a private function. During the informal chat Prince William said he regularly watched Kasia and BBC World News.

Her Polish heritage means that Kasia has a strong following among the global Polish diaspora and is regularly featured in the Polish press.

In the US, BBC World News is available on a range of television service providers including Cablevision (Optimum TV), Comfast (XFINITY), Time Warner Cable, Verizon, DirecTV, Charter, AT&T U-verse, Buckeye Cable and others.

John Whitmire

Senator John Whitmire represents the 15th Senatorial District comprised of north Houston and parts of Harris County. He was elected to the Texas Senate in 1982 after serving 10 years in the Texas House of Representatives. With over 34 years of service in the Texas Senate, Senator Whitmire ranks first in seniority and is the "Dean of the Texas Senate."

Senator Whitmire serves as Chair of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee and works to bring about needed changes to the adult and juvenile criminal justice systems. He is also a member of the Senate Business and Commerce Committee and the Senate Finance Committee where he is committed to finding appropriate solutions for funding the state's many agencies and programs.

John Sharp

John Sharp was appointed Chancellor of The Texas A&M University System by the Board of Regents on Sept. 6, 2011.

On September 7, 2017, Governor Greg Abbott named him the commissioner of the Governor's Commission to Rebuild Texas, which is dedicated to rebuilding critical public infrastructure along the Gulf Coast in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

As Chancellor, Sharp leads one of the nation's largest systems with an annual budget of $4.55 billion. Enrollment at the A&M System's 11 universities has grown to more than 148,000, and externally funded research expenditures are in excess of $972 million.

The System's flagship, Texas A&M University, stands among the nation's top 20 research universities for total research expenditures, according to the National Science Foundation.

Sharp brings with him more than three decades of public service. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Texas A&M University in 1972, where he was a member of the Corps staff of the Corps of Cadets, a member of the 1972 rugby team and was elected student body president. Upon graduation, Sharp was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army Reserve.

In 1976, Sharp received a master's degree in public administration from Southwest Texas State University while working full-time with the Legislative Budget Board in Austin.

In 1978, he opened a one-man real estate firm in Victoria and became a successful small business owner. That same year he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives.

In 1982, he won a seat in the Texas Senate. Four years later, he was elected to the Texas Railroad Commission. Sharp was elected state comptroller in 1990 and re-elected in 1994.

He came to the A&M System from Ryan & Company, where he was a principal with the largest state and local tax consulting firm of its kind in Texas.

Geanie Morrison

State Representative Geanie W. Morrison, R-District 30, is currently serving her tenth term in the Texas Legislature. The south Texas district includes Aransas, Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Refugio, and Victoria counties.

For the 85th Legislative Session, Representative Morrison was appointed to chair the House Committee on Transportation, and serve as a member of the Higher Education Committee and the Select Committee on Ports, Innovation and Infrastructure. In the 84th Legislative Session, Representative Morrison served as the chair of the House Committee on Environmental Regulation, and served as a member of the House Committee on Higher Education. During the 83rd Legislative, Representative Morrison served as the chair of the House Committee on Elections, and as a member of the House Committee on Insurance. Representative Morrison has also served on the House Committee on Appropriations, the Appropriations Subcommittee on Education, and as vice-chair of the House Committee on Human Services. Representative Morrison served as the chair of the House Committee on Higher Education for the 78th, 79th and 80th Legislative Sessions.

Representative Morrison has received numerous awards and has been recognized by many organizations for her service to her community, and the State of Texas.

Roland Martin

Over the course of a journalistic career that has seen him interview newsmakers ranging from multiple U.S. presidents to the top athletes and entertainers in Hollywood, Roland S. Martin is a journalist who has always maintained a clear sense of his calling in this world.

Martin is a senior analyst for the Tom Joyner Morning Show, where his twice-a-week segment is heard on nearly 90 stations nationwide. He is also the creator/curator of AllThat.TV, a digital lifestyle and information website he launched in July 2017. He is also the creator, host and executive producer of "Roland Martin Unfiltered," his daily podcast that launches July 31.

In February 2017, Martin earned his third NAACP Image Award when he was named "Best Host," in the first year the category was created, defeating the likes of Steve Harvey, Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross, Joy Ann Reid and W. Kamau Bell.

He is the 2013 recipient of the National Association of Black Journalists' (NABJ) Journalist of the Year Award, and has received more than 40 professional media awards, as well as honors by numerous organizations for his contributions to the media. Martin spent six years as a CNN Contributor, and as a member of the network's "Best Political Team on Television" earned the esteemed Peabody Award (2009) for their 2008 Presidential Election coverage. Roland has been named four times to Ebony Magazine's 150 Most Influential African Americans list and was also named one of the Top 50 Political Pundits by the Daily Telegraph in the United Kingdom.

Martin is the author of three books: Listening to the Spirit Within: 50 Perspectives on Faith; Speak, Brother! A Black Man's View of America; and The First: President Barack Obama's Road to the White House as originally reported by Roland S. Martin.

A 1991 graduate of Texas A&M University, Martin has been honored with honorary degrees by Florida Memorial University; Lemoyne-Owen College; South Carolina State University; University of Maryland-University College; and Lane College.

Dr. Joseph Frassica

Joseph Frassica, MD, is Head of Philips Research, Americas and Chief Medical Officer, Royal Philips North America where he is focused on leading a broad-based medical, science and technology team to bring clinically meaningful innovation to the bedside. In addition, Joe also serves as Senior Consultant in Pediatric Critical Care at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Professor of the Practice at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Pediatric Editor for the Journal of Intensive Care Medicine.

Prior to joining Philips, Joe has served in multiple leadership roles in academic medicine including: Chief Medical Officer at Holtz Children's Hospital in Miami, Florida; Chief Medical Information Officer and Executive Medical Director of Aero-Medical Transport for the Jackson Health System; and Associate Chair for Clinical Affairs in the Department of Pediatrics and Professor of Clinical Pediatrics and Anesthesiology at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine; Chief of Pediatric Critical Care at UMASS/Memorial Medical Center and Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and Anesthesiology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School; Attending Pediatric Intensivist at Massachusetts General Hospital; Attending Anesthesiologist at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and Chief of Anesthesia at Franciscan Children's Hospital in Boston.

Carrie Byington

Carrie L. Byington, MD, serves as Dean of the Texas A&M College of Medicine, Senior Vice President of the Texas A&M University Health Science Center and Vice Chancellor for Health Services at The Texas A&M University System.

A federally funded investigator with continuous support as principal or co-investigator totaling about $80 million since 1998, Dr. Byington’s research spans the translational spectrum from basic laboratory science to health services research and has focused primarily on bacterial and viral respiratory pathogens in children.

A national leader in pediatrics and infectious disease, Dr. Byington’s career accomplishments include awards from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institutes of Health. Notably, she is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine and National Academy of Inventors.

Dr. Byington holds board certification and national recognition in both General Pediatrics and Pediatric Infectious Diseases. She received her Bachelor of Science in biology from Texas A&M University and Doctor of Medicine from Baylor College of Medicine, both with honors. She trained in pediatrics at Texas Children’s Hospital and in pediatric infectious diseases at the University of California, San Francisco.

At Texas A&M, Dr. Byington is focused on three priority areas: improving rural population health through innovative care delivery, providing care to active duty military and veterans, and collaborating with engineering to develop and implement new innovations to support health care in the 21st century.

Gerard Coté

Dr. Coté is recognized as a world-wide expert in optical sensing for diagnostic and biomedical monitoring applications. Specifically, his research focuses on the development of macro-scale to nano-scale systems using lasers, optics, and electronics for biomarker sensing. He develops hand-held, cell-phone-based, and wearable point-of-care technologies. Applications include development of glucose monitoring systems for determining blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes, optically monitoring perfusion and oxygenation for tissue transplants, remote detection of cardiac biomarkers, blood toxins, and malaria, and monitoring of heart rate, heart rate variability, and cuffless blood pressure. He has coauthored over 300 publications, proceedings, and abstracts, leading to him being named Fellow of four societies including the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES), and the international Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE). The research is multidisciplinary and involves several investigators from across the world including medical doctors, life science faculty, faculty from other engineering disciplines, national laboratory staff and industry personnel. Dr. Coté also performs translational research and contributes to the innovation ecosystem as the co-holder of several U.S. patents, working with large and small companies, and co-founding four medical device companies namely; DexNeo, BioTex, BasePair BioTechnologies, and Visualase (recently acquired by Medtronic).

Dr. Rod Pettigrew

Roderic I. Pettigrew, PhD, MD, serves as CEO of Engineering Health (EnHealth) and executive dean for Engineering Medicine (EnMed) at Texas A&M. Dr. Pettigrew also holds the endowed Robert A. Welch Chair in Chemistry.

Before joining Texas A&M, Dr. Pettigrew was the founding director of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Under Pettigrew's guidance, NIBIB is internationally recognized for its global leadership in developing and accelerating the application of transformative health care technologies. Prior to his appointment at the NIH, Pettigrew was a professor of radiology at Emory University, professor of bioengineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology and director of the Emory Center for Magnetic Resonance Research at the Emory University School of Medicine.

Known internationally for his pioneering work involving four-dimensional imaging of the cardiovascular system using magnetic resonance (MRI), Dr. Pettigrew's current research focuses on integrated imaging and predictive biomechanical modeling of coronary atherosclerotic disease.

Dr. Pettigrew has been elected to membership in two components of the U.S. National Academies, the National Academy of Medicine and the National Academy of Engineering. He has also been elected to the National Academy of Sciences, India. His awards include Phi Beta Kappa, the Bennie Award for Achievement at Morehouse College, the Most Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Miami (1990), the Hall of Fame of the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami, the Herbert Nickens Award of the Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC), the Pritzker Distinguished Achievement Award of the Biomedical Engineering Society, the Distinguished Service Award of the National Medical Association, the Pierre Galletti Award of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, the Distinguished Service Award of the International Society of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, and the Inaugural Gold Medal Award of the Academy of Radiology Research. He has received the Honorary Member Award of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine and was named Honorary Professor of the South China University of Technology in Guangzhou on the occasion of commencing their first medical school class.

Mario Armstrong

Mario Armstrong is an Emmy Award-winning talk show host, digital lifestyle strategist and regular contributor on NBC's TODAY show, CNN, and NPR, Inside Edition, Dr. Oz, Steve Harvey and Rachael Ray. Until recently, he also authored the monthly 'Learn It' column in Men's Fitness magazine.

Mario is now focused on his signature Never Settle Show, the world's first crowd-produced, livestreamed talk show with live participation from the in-studio & online audience. After just one season, the show won Best Live Show of 2017 by the International Academy of Web Television. The show is being coproduced by Al Roker's media company, Roker Media, filmed at NASDAQ Studio in New York City and distributed by NASDAQ on Facebook's new network, Facebook Watch, along with Entrepreneur Network.

When he's not playing host, contributor, and expert, he's living a balanced life, playing husband and father, devouring sushi, meditating, adding to his metal lunchbox collection, and taking his "sneaker head" status to borderline obsessive levels.

Mario Armstrong is many different things: TV host, media personality, public speaker, public servant, and social entrepreneur. As a speaker, he has traveled around the world speaking for corporations and conferences about the integration of digital media, the future of technology, and innovative marketing strategies.

Dr. Philip Galanter

Dr. Philip Galanter is an associate professor in the Department of Visualization at Texas A&M University. His work includes art-making, technical research, publishing art theory, and curating with research concentrated in the artistic exploration of complex systems, and the development of art theory bridging the cultures of science and humanities. He teaches graduate studios in generative art and physical computing, and graduate theory seminars and critique with Texas A&M MFA students.

Dr. Galanter's artworks include generative hardware systems, light sculptures, video and sound art installations, digital fine art prints, and light-box transparencies. His work has been shown in the United States, Canada, Netherlands, Peru, Portugal, Italy, and Tunisia as such venues as the College Art Association, ISEA (formerly Inter-Society for the Electronic Arts), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the International Computer Music Conference.

Dr. Ann McNamara

Dr. Ann McNamara is an associate professor in the Department of Visualization at Texas A&M University. Her research focuses on the advancement of computer graphics and scientific visualization through novel approaches for optimizing an individual's experience when creating, viewing and interacting with virtual and augmented spaces.

She is the recipient of a National Science Foundation Career Award titled "Advancing Interaction Paradigms in Mobile Augmented Reality using Eye Tracking," which investigates how mobile eye tracking can be used to determine objects of interest as it relates to an augmented reality view.

Dr. McNamara has long served on the Association for Computing Machinery SIGGRAPH committee.

Dr. Jinsil Hwaryoung Seo

Dr. Jinsil Hwaryoung Seo is an assistant professor in the Department of Visualization at Texas A&M University, a faculty fellow in the Center for Health Systems & Design all at Texas A&M University. She is an interactive artist and researcher focusing on aesthetics of interactive experience.

With interdisciplinary, interactive art practice, Seo investigates the intersection between body, nature and technology. Seo has been fascinated by the aesthetic qualities of human experience, the relationships that emerge through interactions within artworks, the underlying beauty and pattern inherent in the nature. Her current research concentrates on designing for tangible and kinetic aesthetics in the contexts of performance, child development and health. Seo has chosen interactive art for her creative practice and research in particular as it encourages immersive and embodied relationships within a work of art.

Jess Pryles

Jess Pryles is a cook, author, TV host and a professional Hardcore Carnivore. She creates dynamic original recipes with a Southern and Tex-Mex twist, and is also a respected authority on low'n'slow smoked meats, particularly Texas style barbecue.

In addition to being a maven of all things meaty, Jess is a co-founder of the Australasian Barbecue Alliance, creator of the internationally-acclaimed line of meat & steak seasoning rub, Hardcore Carnivore®, and has authored a cookbook of the same name.

Her original recipes, meat articles and photography reach hundreds of thousands of fans each year and resonate with likeminded meat-fans around the globe.

Jess' expertise in the meat world grew from humble beginnings - a regular consumer who enjoyed the occasional steak at home, but frustrated by her own lack of knowledge on the different cuts available, and more importantly, how to cook them.

Born and raised in Australia, she fell in love with Texas and now calls Austin home.

Dr. Davey Griffin

Dr. Davey Griffin is a professor, Extension meat specialist, and a member of the meat science section in the Department of Animal Science. After receiving his bachelor's and master's degrees from Texas A&M University, he accepted employment with Oscar Mayer Foods Corp. in Madison, Wis. In this position he conducted special projects for the quality assurance division and as a sales and marketing specialist in Montgomery, Ala. Griffin returned to Texas A&M University to complete his doctorate, and coached the TAMU Meat Judging Teams in 1983, 1984 and 1986.

Griffin serves as a liaison between industry, commodity groups, medical and dietary professionals and Extension personnel to provide research information and technology. His key program and interest areas include cutability and composition of carcasses associated with value-based marketing, current consumer issues concerning meat and meat products, youth development and cooperative research projects.

Professional memberships include the American Meat Science Association, the American Society of Animal Science and Phi Tau Sigma. In 2003, Griffin was elected to the board of directors for the American Meat Science Association. He also received the 2003 Vice Chancellor's Award in Excellence for his contributions as part of the Extension Beef 101 Team.

Ray Riley

Ray Riley is the first manager of the Texas A&M Rosenthal Meat Science and Technology Center, the most comprehensive facility of its kind in the USA devoted to the development of science and application of that science to the solution of problems in Animal and Meat Science. The center is also home to the nationally recognized Texas Aggie Brand Beef Jerky. In addition to his managerial duties, Mr. Riley teaches Animal Science classes and labs at Texas A&M, He serves as the assistant superintendent for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Junior Lamb Carcass Show and is an official for several 4-H, FFA, and Intercollegiate Meats Judging Contests. He has served as a member of the Texas State Technical Institute Advisory Committee and as an advisor to the TAMU Saddle and Sirloin Club.

Mr. Riley was raised with an interest in the efficient production of livestock and related products. While attending Texas A&M University, his experience was in these same fields broadening his background and hands-on experience through extra-curricular activities. While earning his bachelor and master's degree in Animal Science, he served as a student employee, a graduate research assistant, and an instructor for the Meats and Muscle Biology Section, Department of Animal Science at Texas A&M.

Professional memberships include the American Meat Science Association and Intercollegiate Meat Judging Coaches Association.

Dr. Jeff Savell

Dr. Jeff Savell is professor and leader of the meat science section in the Department of Animal Science, and holds the E. M. "Manny" Rosenthal Chair in Animal Science. He also holds appointments on the Faculty of Food Science and Technology. He received his bachelor's, master's, and doctorate in animal science from Texas A&M University.

Dr. Savell teaches the introductory course in meat science where he has taught over 8,000 Aggies since 1982, as well as a course in carcass composition and quality, and team teaches a graduate and undergraduate course in HACCP. In addition, he conducts research on the quality, quantity, safety and usefulness of meat and meat products through his appointment with Texas A&M AgriLife Research.

Professional memberships include the American Meat Science Association (President 2001-2002); the American Society of Animal Science; the Institute of Food Technologists; and the International Association of Food Protein.