2021 ADSA/ASAS Northeast Section Awards
Distinguished Service Award
Dr. Kristen Govoni, University of Connecticut
Dr. Kristen E. Govoni earned her B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. (2003) degrees in Animal Science from the University of Connecticut (UConn). Her postdoctoral training was at the Musculoskeletal Disease Center in the Jerry L. Pettis VA Medical Center in Loma Linda, CA. Dr. Govoni joined the faculty in the Department of Animal Science at UConn in 2008 and her laboratory’s current research focuses on understanding growth and development at the cellular level to identify methods to improve animal health and efficiency of production. Dr. Govoni has secured over $1.9 million in funding, published 42 peer-reviewed papers, and mentored 14 graduate students as primary advisor and 15 as associate advisor. She has served as Northeast Section Director since 2016, ASAS Publications Committee Chair since 2016, member of the organizing committee for Perinatal Biology Symposium (2022), Section Editor for the Journal of Animal Science from 2013-2016, and coordinator for Northeast Graduate Poster competition from 2008-2016.
Young Scientist Award
Dr. Danielle Smarsh, Pennsylvania State University
Dr. Danielle Smarsh received an Honors Degree with Distinction B.S. in Animal Science from the University of Delaware in 2008. She then completed a Ph.D. degree in Equine Exercise Physiology at Rutgers University under the guidance of Dr. Carey Williams.
In 2013, Dr. Smarsh was hired as an Assistant Professor of Animal Science in the Animal Science Department at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls (UWRF). At UWFR she taught a number of classes including animal physiology and equine production.
In 2018, Dr. Smarsh joined the Department of Animal Science at Penn State University, where she currently serves as an Equine Extension Specialist and Assistant Professor of Equine Science. Dr. Smarsh coordinates, hosts, and speaks at workshops and
events across the state of Pennsylvania on topics including horse health and care, equine nutrition, and pasture management. She also teaches several classes at Penn State, including equine exercise physiology and embedded study abroad courses.
Student Competition Recipients
MS Poster Competition:
- 2nd Place: Gabrielle Dodd, University of Connecticut - Genome-wide association study for heat stress tolerance in swine using weighted single-step GBLUP
- 1st Place: Olivia Willoughby, University of Guelph - Long non-coding RNA expression profile associated with gastrointestinal nematode infection in divergent immune response sheep
PhD Poster Competition:
- 3rd Place: Tanya Muratori, Pennsylvania State University - Genotypes from different immune cell lineages and comparison to hair, dam and colostrum genotypes in a newborn calf
- 2nd Place: Longfei Han, Pennsylvania State University - Effects of genetic lineage and mild heat stress on ghrelin concentrations of pregnant Holstein heifers
- 1st Place: NicoleTillquist, University of Connecticut - Effects of poor maternal nutrition during gestation on lamb growth and feed efficiency
