News Release
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 10, 2006 |
Contact: Glenn Slack |
Ken Olson named NIAA Director of Educational ProgramsBOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Kenneth E. Olson, PhD, PAS, has been named director of educational programs at the National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA). Olson, a seasoned veteran in industry circles, enters the newly established position at a time when producer and stakeholder education is receiving more attention on many fronts. During the past year, Olson worked with NIAA to establish the National Johne’s Education Initiative that NIAA coordinates with a grant from USDA, APHIS, Veterinary Services. In addition to Johne’s, Olson will oversee a similar initiative that NIAA operates, addressing scrapie education in sheep and goats; NIAA’s award-winning animal handling and transportation resources; provide NIAA members with additional continuing education (CE) opportunities; and develop new education programs for the industry. He began his duties on May 1. “I am delighted that Dr. Olson is joining the NIAA staff as director of educational programs,” said NIAA Chairman of the Board R. Scott Stuart. “He is an enabler to get things done on behalf of animal agriculture. We look forward to having someone of his caliber to oversee existing NIAA educational efforts and develop new and stimulating programs for the future.” A native of Wisconsin, Olson received a degree from the University of Wisconsin–River Falls and his M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. His career includes 12 years on the Animal Science faculty at the University of Kentucky and 12 years with American Farm Bureau Federation as their national dairy and animal health specialist. Olson has also worked for the Federation of Animal Science Societies and as a consultant for National Dairy Herd Improvement Association and Dairy Management, Inc. He is a member of the American Dairy Science Association, Council on Agricultural Science and Technology, U.S. Animal Health Association, and certified by the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists. Olson, himself, is a past NIAA board chairman. One of Olson’s initial accomplishments has been the establishment of Johne’s Information Central, a website supporting the efforts of the National Johne’s Education Initiative (www.johnesdisease.org). “I look forward to the new opportunities this role will provide for NIAA to work with industry to proactively address the changing information and educational needs of animal agriculture,” Olson said. Since NIAA began operations in January 2000, the staff has grown to include directors of operations, member relations, communications and now, educational programs. “Having someone as experienced and well-respected as Dr. Olson in this new position will enable NIAA to serve the industry and our growing membership base in a greater capacity,” said NIAA President and CEO Glenn N. Slack. “This is a tremendous addition to our staffing resources.” NIAA’s mission is to provide forums for building consensus and advancing solutions for animal agriculture and to provide continuing education and communication linkages to animal agriculture professionals. More information is available at www.animalagriculture.org. # |