Background

Gordon Smith currently leads a talented group of academics as Professor & Head of the unique department of Grain Science and Industry at Kansas State University. Prior to his transition to academia in 2015, Gordon acquired more than 20 years of industry experience working for the Sara Lee Corporation and ConAgra Foods. He has been a leader at Kansas State in bridging the industry academic gap through engaged research, teaching and outreach. In the private sector he has been recognized for business-critical patents, consumer and business impact, product development, innovation and leadership excellence.

Gordon has won numerous awards for his work, including the Jimmy Dean Outstanding Performance Award, Sara Lee Corporation Innovation Award, and the ConAgra Foods Excellence Award for Customer Impact.

IFT Highlights

Taught Food Science for the Non-Food Scientist Short Course since 2008.

Served on the Higher Education Review Board (HERB) 2011-2016.

Gordon was named a Fellow in 2017.

Attended every annual IFT meeting except one since 1988.

Education

BS Chemistry and Biology from the University of Tennessee at Martin

MS in Organic Chemistry from Texas A & M University

PhD in Food Science and Technology from Texas A & M University