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IFT Fellows

The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Fellow designation is an honor bestowed upon an IFT member to recognize career excellence and significant service, leadership, and contributions to IFT and the profession.

2026 Class of IFT Fellows

IFT is honored to announce the distinguished members of the 2026 Class of IFT Fellows!

Valente Alvarez, PhD
Adelia Bovell-Benjamin, PhD, CFS
Roman Buckow, PhD
Sarah Kirkmeyer, PhD, MBA, CFS
Xiaonan Lu, PhD
Olive Yao Li, PhD
Kasiviswanathan Muthukumarappan, PhD
Cristina Sabliov, PhD
Justin Shimek, PhD
Marcia Walker

IFT Fellows Information

IFT members who have demonstrated exceptional career excellence and made profound contributions to IFT and the broader science of food community are celebrated through the Fellows program. ThIS designation recognizes individuals whose impact and outcomes significantly promote IFT’s vision of improving food for everyone through their innovation, service, and leadership.

Each Fellow elected receives a plaque and pin from IFT, and is celebrated at IFT FIRST.

Criteria and Eligibility

Election as an IFT Fellow is a distinguished recognition awarded to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional career excellence and made significant, impactful contributions to IFT and the broader science of food community. The nominee must be an active member of the profession and have been a non-student IFT member for at least 15 years. Members who have spent all or part of their careers outside the United States may be considered for Fellowship if they have made substantial contributions through volunteer roles in allied organizations.

The nominee must exhibit the following contributions to the field:

Professional Leadership: Demonstrated through organizing and leading conferences, delivering impactful presentations, and spearheading training and development programs that align with IFT's vision. Leadership should reflect a commitment to creating positive change and addressing key challenges facing the global food system.
Service and Leadership: Significant involvement in external advisory committees or boards, including editorial boards, advisory boards of universities, professional organizations, or nonprofit entities, and corporate boards. This leadership should have contributed to shaping the science of food community and advancing IFT’s mission.
Ongoing Volunteer Service to IFT: Demonstrated through active roles in committees, work groups, task forces, Section leadership, and Division leadership. For members outside the U.S., service to allied organizations will be considered. Volunteerism should reflect a sustained commitment to IFT’s mission and a measurable impact on advancing its strategic goals.
Honors and Recognition: Awards and other forms of recognition highlighting the nominee’s influential role in the profession, demonstrating how their contributions have positively impacted the global food system.
Advancements to the Science of Food: Noteworthy achievements in advancing the science of food across industry, academia, government, and related organizations. Examples include research achievements (e.g., publications, patents, presentations), innovations in teaching, industrial advancements (e.g., product/process development, inventions), and regulatory innovations. The focus should be on how these advancements have improved the global food system.