Dr. Kristin Hales currently holds the Thornton Distinguished Chair in the Department of Animal and Food Science at Texas Tech University. She has used her skills as a ruminant nutritionist to impact several critical areas in the beef industry. A major testament to the beef industry’s acceptance of her research is her ability to secure financial support, over $2.2 million in external funding in just four years. Over the course of her career Dr. Hales and colleagues have published a remarkable 105 peer-reviewed publications. She has served as the major advisor for 4 Ph.D. and 6 M.S. students and served on the committees of 18 other graduate students. Dr. Hales has served as Associate Editor and acting Editor-In-Chief for Applied Animal Science and is currently the President of the American Society of Professional Animal Scientists and President of the Plains Nutrition Council. Her and her husband Chris live in Lubbock, Texas and are avid bass fishermen.