The Giving Herd - ASAS Foundation Newsletter - August 2025
The Giving Herd "Inspire · Ignite · Invest"
In This August Edition:
Above (left to right): Matthew B. Wheeler, Ph.D., Paisli Ivey, Teresa A. Davis, Ph.D.
- Philanthropy in Action
Meet the 2025 Randel Lecture Award Recipient, Matthew B. Wheeler, Ph.D. - 2025 ASAS Foundation D.C. Animal Agriculture Internship Update -
"This internship has shaped my future as an animal scientist." - Paisli Ivey - A Member's Story - "ASAS became a constant companion, opening doors I never imagined." - Teresa A. Davis, Ph.D.
- New in 2025 - "Legacy Scholarships"
- Inspire ● Ignite ● Invest - A message from James M. Reecy, Ph.D.
- Thank You ASAS Foundation Partners!
Inspire · Ignite · Invest - Philanthropy in Action!
Matthew B. Wheeler, Ph.D.
"I am humbled to be invited to present the Randel Lecture. This tremendous honor acknowledges my research efforts to evaluate the viability of preimplantation livestock embryos. Receiving this recognition carries profound significance, as it was at the ASAS Western Section meeting in 1978 where I first presented my initial research findings on using embryo transfer in beef cattle.
Furthermore, being invited to present this prestigious lecture makes it even more special to me personally since it is named after Dr. Ron Randel, who I have admired and respected for many years. Adding further meaning to this award is the fact that it is made possible by the Ronald D. Randel Appreciation Club. Knowing that Dr. Randel and his wife Colleen will be in attendance makes this invitation especially significant to me." Matthew B. Wheeler, Ph.D. | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Congratulations, Dr. Wheeler, on being selected as the 2025 Randel Lecturer, supported by ASAS Foundation's Ronald D. Randel Appreciation Club.
To learn how you can support this award and other
Foundation initiatives, visit online here.
Inspire · Ignite · Invest - Philanthropy in Action!
Paisli Ivey
"This internship has shaped my future as an animal scientist."
Paisli Ivey | 2025 ASAS Foundation DC Animal Agriculture Policy Intern
"Over the summer, I interned with the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) as a member of the Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning (MEL) team. During my time in Washington, D.C., I was also able to be involved in some extremely unique events. I toured the USDA building with the nominee for Undersecretary of Farm Production and Conservation, Richard Fordyce. During this tour, I also met Mr. Fordyce's chief of staff, Andrew Fisher.
Above Left (left to right): Paisli Ivey, Renee Fordyce, Richard Fordyce. Above Right (left to right): Andrew Fisher, Paisli Ivey
Mr. Fordyce, his wife, Mrs. Renee Fordyce, and Mr. Fisher personally invited me to attend Mr. Fordyce's senate hearing, where I was a guest of the witness. At the hearing, I was able to take in the ag-specific questions senators and their constituents deemed pressing in Mr. Fordyce's hopeful term. I personally believe that this experience is the crux of what the ASAS Foundation's D.C. Summer Policy Internship stands for and I will be forever thankful for the invitation.
As for my time at FFAR, the culmination of my work was in the form of an oral presentation. I presented my evaluation of the SMART Broiler Program, an initiative lead by FFAR to enhance broiler welfare via advancing technological developments.
Above Left: Paisli Ivey. Above Right (left to right): Chris Gambino, Paisli Ivey
This evaluation consisted of analyzing Phase I projects and their success based on evaluation questions and criteria. Throughout the way, I had the help of my supervisor, Dr. Chris Gambino (who happens to be a former ASAS Foundation DC Summer Policy intern!).
This internship has shaped my future as an animal scientist and my continued interest in agriculture policy! Thank you so much once again!"
Paisli Ivey | Ph.D. Student| University of Georgia
Congratulations, Paisli, on being selected as the 2025 ASAS Foundation DC Animal Agriculture Policy Intern!
The ASAS Foundation D.C. Animal Agriculture Policy Internship is supported by the Jack H. Britt, Louis J. Boyd, Barb Glenn, Harold D. Hafs, and Robert G. Zimbelman Appreciation Clubs. To learn how you can support this internship, visit online here.
A Member's Story - "ASAS became a constant companion,
opening doors I never imagined."
Teresa A. Davis, Ph.D.
"Rooted in Purpose: A Life Bridging Animal and Human Science
"Born in the small town of Middlesboro, Kentucky and raised among the rolling hills of Kentucky and Tennessee, life began surrounded by the warmth of family and the rhythms of rural living. Days spent roaming my family's farm, which remains in our family to this day, planted the earliest seeds of my love for science, growth, and agriculture. Those formative experiences and my time in 4-H set me on a lifelong journey dedicated to both human and animal development.
That journey led me to the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS), which has played an essential role throughout my professional life. As a young scientist using pigs as a model for neonatal development, ASAS offered a unique and welcoming space where my research on pediatric nutrition could thrive alongside cutting-edge work in animal science. My involvement began with presenting at meetings and joining a committee, and from there, ASAS became a constant companion, opening doors I never imagined.
Coming from a family of educators, including my grandparents, aunts, uncles, mother, and sister, education is part of our family legacy.
Above Left (left to right): Marta Fiorotto, Mike Grusak, Hanh Nguyen, Teresa A. Davis, Doug Burrin, Barbara Stoll, Peter Reeds. Above Right (left to right): Diane Wray-Cahen, Hang Nguyen, Peter Reeds, Teresa A. Davis, Doug Burrin, Rhonda Vann, Marta Fiorotto
My transition into pediatric nutrition came when I joined the Baylor College of Medicine/USDA Children’s Nutrition Research Center, CNRC. Under the renowned mentorship of Dr. Peter J. Reeds, my research focused on the role of nutrition in skeletal muscle growth in neonates, a topic that sits at the crossroads of human health and animal physiology. That’s why ASAS felt like home.
Through ASAS, I’ve had the opportunity to mentor extraordinary postdoctoral fellows, travel the world as a President and representative of ASAS, and form relationships with scientists across the globe. I’ve recruited outstanding postdoctoral fellows through the society, and watching their journeys unfold has been one of the greatest rewards of my career.
My husband, Tom Wallace, and I met at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis at a party hosted by an undergraduate student he was mentoring. We raised two sons, Daniel, now a registered architect, and Ryan, an attorney. In addition, we love to spend time with our two granddaughters, Sophia and Penelope.
Above: Left (left to right): Ryan, Tom, Teresa, Daniel. Right (left to right): Teresa, Penelope, Tom, Sophia
Today, I serve as Director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture. In many ways, this is the culmination of a career built on the intersections ASAS helped illuminate.
Looking back, I’m filled with gratitude – for the farm, the family, the mentors, the fellows, and the colleagues I’ve met through ASAS. It’s more than a society. It’s a community. It’s a catalyst. And for me, it’s been a lifelong partner in growth. Teresa A. Davis
If ASAS has made a difference in your life, as it has in mine, I invite you to support the ASAS Foundation. Your generosity helps open doors for the next generation of animal scientists, just as others once opened doors for us. Together, we can continue to grow a future rooted in science, mentorship, and purpose."
Teresa A. Davis, Ph.D.
To read Teresa's full story, visit online here.
NEW - Legacy Scholarships!
Legacy Scholarships are an investment in graduate students in animal science. These awards provide the critical financial support students need to attend ASAS meetings, where they present groundbreaking research, connect with respected leaders, and take meaningful steps toward their future careers.
For many, this experience would be out of reach without the support of these scholarships, made possible through ASAS Foundation's Legacy Fund.
Your contributions help ensure that financial barriers never limit a student’s ability to participate, grow, and shine on one of the most important stages of their academic journey.
When you give to the Legacy Fund, you’re not just supporting a student - you’re shaping the future of our profession. Each scholarship fuels the development of emerging leaders, researchers, and educators who will advance the field of animal science. These students bring new energy, bold ideas, and a deep commitment to discovery, echoing the same passion that has built our community over generations. Together, we can pass the torch and strengthen the legacy of ASAS - one scholarship, one student, one future at a time!
For more information, including scholarship guidelines, visit online here.
Inspire · Ignite · Invest - Enriching Animal Science!
James M. Reecy, Ph.D.
“As the new Chair of the ASAS Foundation Trustees, I’m inspired by the generosity of our donors who are shaping a lasting legacy for animal science. Through the Inspire, Ignite, Invest campaign, we have a unique opportunity to honor the past, empower the present, and invest in the next generation of animal scientists. It’s exciting to see how every gift, of any amount, helps move animal science forward. Thank you for being part of this growing legacy!”
James M. Reecy, Ph.D. | ASAS Foundation Chair | Professor | Department of Animal and Range Sciences | Iowa State University
For the ASAS Foundation, every gift is more than a donation; it's a spark of inspiration. A spark that inspires innovation in research, ignites opportunities for students, and honors the mentors and leaders who’ve shaped animal science for generations.
Whether you’ve been part of our journey for years or are just learning about the Foundation, one thing is always true - you are part of fueling the future!
From scholarships that send students to present their first research, to legacy gifts that honor mentors and friends, the Foundation is a living tribute to the strength of our animal science community.
We’re building a future rooted in gratitude, driven by science, and inspired by every member of the ASAS family.
Want to learn more, get involved, or leave your mark? Visit us online at ASAS Foundation and let’s grow this legacy together.
Thank you!
Thank you to our ASAS Foundation Giving Partners!
To our incredible Foundation Partners - Thank You! Your support is more than generous; it’s transformative. Because of you, students are stepping onto national stages, groundbreaking research is being shared, and the future of animal science is being shaped with hope and purpose. You are a vital part of every success story we celebrate.
We invite you to see the impact of your generosity in action by exploring the ASAS Foundation 2025 Impact Report. It’s filled with the voices, achievements, and dreams you’ve helped make possible. Thank you for standing with us, believing in our mission, and fueling a legacy that will inspire for generations to come.
