Scott Eilert has been named head of the Kansas State University Department of Animal Sciences and Industry (ASI). Eilert, a university alum, spent 31 years with Cargill, most recently serving as senior director of responsible sourcing for their global food enterprise. His earlier roles at Cargill spanned research and development, food safety, regulatory affairs and customer technical services.
Eilert has kept close ties to K-State throughout his career. He has been an adjunct professor in the ASI department since 2010 and has helped manage Cargill’s corporate partnership with the university since 2003. He said his priorities include keeping curriculum and extension efforts current with industry needs, and enabling researchers to establish new partnerships and funding sources for the department.
Eilert grew up on a grain and cow-calf operation south of Beloit and earned his bachelor’s degree in animal sciences from K-State in 1989. He received his master’s and doctoral degrees in animal science, with an emphasis in meat science, from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.