Making the Most of IFT

While I was at IFT18 in Chicago, I had a chance to see some of IFT’s future leaders in action. Some were taking part in our Emerging Leaders Network, IFT’s two-and-a-half-day global leadership program designed for new professionals who are eager to expand their leadership skills. Others were division or section leaders, representing their communities at the annual event and networking with friends and colleagues, both new and old. Still others were student leaders, many attending the event for the first time and taking it all in with eyes wide open.

It was so exciting to see these future leaders in action. It reminded me of what IFT is at its best: the place where we, as science of food professionals, can come together to meet, network, and learn. By volunteering and taking on leadership roles, these IFT-ers were getting the most out of their membership, developing skills they will use throughout their careers.

Just as important, however, were the people guiding them—today’s leaders, volunteering their time and energy to help educate, inform, and support the next generation of science of food professionals.

I’m fortunate to be at a point where I can connect with both of those groups, and I can confidently say they are both incredibly rewarding.

IFT has meant so much to me over the course of my career, and I am honored to be serving as your president for the coming year. I first joined IFT more than 40 years ago, while I was a graduate student at Cornell University. In the years since, I have served in more than 30 volunteer positions, and each time, I’ve expanded my network and learned something new that I’ve been able to apply elsewhere in my professional life.

Take, for instance, when I started working at NASA. My first assignment was to assemble a group of more than 20 science of food professionals to discuss what we needed to learn in order to undertake a mission to Mars. As I started looking up experts from various fields who could participate in the workshop, I quickly realized they all had one thing in common: “Oh! I know them through IFT.” The network I’d made here gave me an opportunity to shine at my new job, and the leadership skills I had learned in IFT divisions, sections, and task forces gave me the skills and confidence I needed to excel at NASA and throughout the rest of my career.

I believe IFT’s success can be measured in the value it provides to its members and to the global science of food community. So, as I begin my year as IFT president, I’d like to ask you to think about what IFT can be to you—not what it is, but what you would like it to be. I have gotten so much out of my time at IFT because I’ve been as active as possible. Over the coming year, I want members to see IFT as more than just an annual event, but as a career-long network and resource. Because when you engage with IFT or use IFT as a platform to help you in your professional life, you will get back ten times more than you put in.

Looking to get more involved? Maybe start at the local level with a section meeting, where you can connect with fellow science of food professionals in your own community. It’s a consistent activity that helps you build your network, and you don’t have to travel far. From there, maybe branch out to one of our 24 divisions, which provide the opportunity to network with members who have similar professional interests. You’ll gain invaluable leadership skills and a vast professional network you can’t find anywhere else—trust me.

Meanwhile, if you’re a member who might have a bit more time and opportunity—or who might have more skills that you’ve already attained through IFT—then you should volunteer! Reach out to the IFT staff and get involved in a committee, or a task force, an award jury, or the Annual Meeting Scientific Program Advisory Panel. Nominate yourself for a seat on the Board of Directors. Volunteer through Feeding Tomorrow. Whatever way you choose to volunteer, the return on investment is remarkable.

So whether you’re a student or a retiree, a new professional or mid-career, a first-year member or if (like me) you’ve been a part of IFT since the 1970s, I would encourage everyone to do one thing: get involved! Have ideas on what else we can do? Reach out. We want your ideas and your passion. Your career will benefit from it, and the future of our profession and the global food system depend on it.

Michele Perchonok, PhD, CFS
IFT President, 2018–2019
[email protected]