College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Animal Science

Michigan State University faculty, graduate students and alumni were recognized this year by the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA), the leading international organization of educators, scientists and industry representatives committed to advancing the dairy industry. The strong presence of Spartans among the 2025 honorees highlights MSU’s depth in dairy science research, education and outreach.

The ADSA awards are among the most respected in the field, recognizing contributions that span innovative research, teaching and professional service. As ADSA Fellow and MSU professor Pamela Ruegg said, “The ADSA is the most prestigious dairy science society in the world. The recognition helps us broaden the impact of our work, gain new collaborators and positively impact the Michigan dairy industry.”

MSU faculty member Adam Lock also reflected, “Not before have I seen such acknowledgment of outstanding faculty and students in one year from a single university. The breadth of recognition at this year’s ADSA Annual Meeting is a testament to the collaborative spirit and excellence that defines MSU’s dairy science community.”

Faculty honorees

Pamela Ruegg – ADSA Fellow

“Becoming a Fellow of the ADSA is important to me as it validates my work and indicates that others value my contributions. More than the individual award, I am so pleased that our multidisciplinary emphasis on dairy science at MSU has been recognized. MSU has recently invested in a new dairy farm and our success at ADSA is a good sign that the investment will pay off for Michigan farmers and Michigan cows.”

Pamela Ruegg, the David J. Ellis Chair in Antimicrobial Resistance and professor in the Department of Animal Science, received the ADSA’s highest honor.

The purpose of the ADSA Fellow Award is to recognize Dairy Foods division and Production division members of ADSA who have rendered distinguished service to the dairy industry 20 years or more.

A veterinarian by training, she has built her career around improving animal health and milk quality, often focusing on ways to connect research insights with practical applications for dairy producers. Before joining MSU in 2017, Ruegg held faculty and Extension appointments at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, worked in private practice and corporate technical service and taught at the Atlantic Veterinary College in Canada.

Ruegg is widely recognized for her leadership in mastitis management, her service as past president of the National Mastitis Council and her extensive record of publications and international presentations.

Andres Contreras – Zoetis Physiology Award

“It’s an honor to be recognized by peers in my field for the impact of our research. Our research productivity and these awards demonstrate that MSU’s dairy team is at the forefront of dairy science research globally, particularly in the areas of nutrition and animal health.”

Andres Contreras, professor in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, received the Zoetis Physiology Award for his research on adipose tissue’s role in metabolism and immunity in dairy cows.

Contreras’ laboratory focuses on understanding how fat tissue adapts during the transition to lactation and how those changes influence immunity, disease susceptibility and overall cow health. He is also committed to developing new health solutions and technologies that improve the well-being of periparturient cows and enhance profitability for dairy producers.

Barry Bradford – American Feed Industry Association Award

“The ADSA awards provide a good opportunity to stop and recognize all the hard work of scientists from around the world who contribute to making dairy foods healthier, more affordable and more sustainable. It’s a great honor to be recognized; however, the recognition is mostly for work that is done in teams — with graduate students, colleagues and collaborators from all over.”

Barry Bradford, professor and Clinton E. Meadows Endowed Chair in Dairy Management and Nutrition in the Department of Animal Science, received the American Feed Industry Association Dairy Nutrition Award.

His research focuses on the metabolic physiology of dairy cattle, aiming to develop strategies that enhance both the economic and environmental sustainability of dairy production. Before joining MSU in 2019, he spent more than a decade on the faculty at Kansas State University.

Reflecting on MSU’s leadership, he added, “I made the move to MSU in the middle of my career six years ago because I knew this was one of the top dairy programs in the world. With the new teaching and research facility that just opened, the sky is the limit.”

Adam Lock – Nutrition Professionals Inc. Applied Dairy Nutrition Award

“It was a great honor to receive this award, because I have focused my career on applied research, so to be acknowledged by the nominating committee shows me that what we are doing is having an impact where we hope to have it. This recognition is not just about my own work — it reflects the unwavering support of our students, staff, and the dairy nutrition community. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to work alongside such dedicated colleagues and to contribute to a community that values innovation, mentorship, and practical impact.”

Adam Lock, associate chair in the Department of Animal Science and currently interim chair of the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences in the College of Veterinary Medicine, received the Nutrition Professionals Inc. Applied Dairy Nutrition Award, which recognizes work that bridges scientific research and practical application in dairy nutrition. His lab broadly investigates the digestion and metabolism of fatty acids in dairy cows, aiming to generate practical insights that improve animal health, productivity, and the sustainability of dairy production.

Graduate student honorees

Ursula Abou-Rjeileh – ADSA Midwest Scholar Award

“It’s gratifying to be recognized by an organization as respected as ADSA — it reinforces the impact of my research and inspires me to continue contributing to the dairy science community. This award also speaks to the strength of our faculty mentorship, the resources available for impactful research and the university’s leadership in addressing critical issues facing the dairy industry.”

Ursula Abou-Rjeileh, a doctoral student in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, received the ADSA Midwest Scholar Award.

The ADSA Midwest Scholar Award recognizes and features the research accomplishments of recent PhD graduates or current PhD students from the ADSA Midwest Branch in the advanced stages of their program.

Her research explores how oleic acid affects adipose tissue metabolism, mitochondrial function and oxidative stress in dairy cows during times of metabolic stress. By uncovering the cellular and molecular mechanisms behind fatty acid metabolism, her work aims to improve cow health and resilience, while also advancing nutritional strategies that support both productivity and sustainability in the dairy industry.

Madison Myers – ADSA Midwest Scholar Award

“This award is not just recognition of individual accomplishments, but a reflection of how our work genuinely contributes to the dairy industry as a whole. There’s a reason we’re called Moo-U — MSU’s dairy science programs excel in every aspect, and that starts with the faculty.”

Madison Myers, a dual DVM-Ph.D. student at MSU, is mentored by Dr. Andres Contreras in the College of Veterinary Medicine. Her doctoral research investigates the endocannabinoid system and its role in regulating lipid metabolism and inflammation in dairy cows during the transition period. By showing how components of this system influence fat breakdown and immune responses in adipose tissue, her work opens new possibilities for strategies that improve cow health, productivity and overall welfare.

Jair Parales-Gir ó n – ADSA Midwest Scholar Award

“ADSA awards honor the curiosity and commitment that move the dairy industry forward. MSU's dairy research programs are top in the U.S. It's remarkable presence at every ADSA meeting reflects a continuous pursuit of excellence and a collective commitment to bring solutions to both dairy producers and dairy scientists.”

Originally from Colombia, Jair Parales-Gir ó n is a doctoral student in the Department of Animal Science working in Dr. Adam Lock’s laboratory. His research has focused on how fatty acid supplementation influences milk production in dairy cows during the critical early postpartum period. Through a series of studies, he has evaluated the interaction of fatty acids with dietary factors such as chromium, starch, metabolizable protein and oilseeds, generating practical insights that can help producers fine-tune nutritional strategies for early-lactation cows.

Hannah Carlson – ADSA Foundation Graduate Student Literature Review Award: Production Division (MS)

“As an individual recipient, it is encouraging to see my work continue in the industry and for calf health to be the forefront of that. I think it speaks volumes to recognize how many graduate students contribute to the research and outreach that shape both the dairy industry and veterinary medicine. Dairy is such a special industry not only for MSU but also for the state of Michigan. Graduate students and researchers from across the country come to MSU and collaborate with our faculty to learn from and contribute to the place we call home.”

Hannah Carlson, a graduate of MSU’s animal science and comparative medicine and integrative biology programs, received the ADSA Foundation Graduate Student Literature Review Award in the Production Division (MS).

During her master’s work in the Abuelo Laboratory, she focused on dairy calf nutritional immunology, leading a field trial on micronutrient supplementation and its impact on vaccine response and calf health. Carlson has since returned to MSU to pursue her DVM, with career goals in mixed-animal practice emphasizing neonatal food-animal care.

Undergraduate honoree

Brooke Seelenbinder – Undergraduate Original Research Presentation winner

“Being recognized at this level was completely unexpected but is incredibly motivating for me as a young scientist. It was a culmination of months of preparation, and even more than that, a celebration of the growth I’ve achieved.”

Undergraduate student Brooke Seelenbinder, who conducted research in Adam Lock’s laboratory under his mentorship, won first place in the ADSA Undergraduate Student Division’s Original Research Presentation competition for her study on dietary fatty acids in dairy cow diets.

Alumni honorees

Jacquelyn Boerman – Cargill Animal Nutrition Young Scientist Award

“I appreciate that people take the time to nominate others for these awards, meaning that they are noticing the efforts of others and wanting them to get recognized. I am amazed at the amount and breadth of work that people at ADSA have done in their careers and it was nice to be a small part of that this year. I think MSU has built one of the leading dairy science programs in the country and I am very thankful for having received a degree at MSU. They were, are, and I think will continue to be a leader in dairy science.”

Jacquelyn “Jackie” Boerman, an MSU alumna and associate professor of animal sciences at Purdue University, received the Cargill Animal Nutrition Young Scientist Award, which recognizes exceptional research contributions within the first decade of a scientist’s career. Boerman completed her Ph.D. in the Department of Animal Science at MSU under the mentorship of Adam Lock.

Boerman has built her research, teaching and Extension programs around dairy nutrition and management. Her work emphasizes tissue mobilization during the transition period, integrating whole-farm data and applying emerging technologies like video analytics to dairy production.

Jonas de Souza – Lallemand Forward Award for Scientific Excellence in Dairy Nutrition

“It’s an honor to be recognized for work that bridges research and real-world impact. My time at MSU laid the foundation for my career, and I’m grateful to now help bring science directly to dairy producers and nutritionists.”

Jonas de Souza, an MSU alumnus who completed his Ph.D. with Adam Lock, is Director of Technical Services and R&D at Perdue AgriBusiness. The Lallemand Forward Award recognizes his innovative applied research in dairy nutrition and his leadership in translating fatty acid science into practical feeding solutions for the dairy industry. Jonas’ work has shaped feeding practices across North America and beyond, benefiting both producers and the broader dairy community.

From undergraduate researchers to internationally recognized faculty, MSU’s representation at the 2025 ADSA Annual Meeting underscores the university’s leadership across every level of dairy science. With a new dairy teaching and research facility and a strong community of scholars, MSU is poised to continue shaping the future of the field.