Teresa A. Davis

"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. My grandfather ran both a farm and a general store – community anchors that taught me the value of hard work and connection. Days spent roaming that 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 Davis, Doug Burrin, Barbara Stoll, Peter Reeds.  Above Right, left to right: Diane Wray-Cahen, Hang Nguyen, Peter Reeds, Teresa Davis, Doug Burrin, Rhonda Vann, Marta Fiorotto)

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. As the old adage goes, “the rest is history.” We've been married for over 42 years and have built a life rooted in science, family, and shared purpose. 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: Teresa A. Davis. Above Middle, left to right: Ryan, Tom, Teresa, Daniel. Above Right, left to right: Teresa, Penelope, Tom, Sophia)

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 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. My work has always bridged pediatric nutrition and animal science, and ASAS has supported that bridge, providing a multidisciplinary community where I could share my work and learn from others.

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.

        
(Above Left: Teresa A. Davis. Above Right, left to right: Tom, Teresa, Jim Sartin, ASAS CEO)

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.

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.

    For information about the ASAS Foundation and how you can support current and future animal scientists, visit  
      online  HERE, or contact Amy Brainard, ASAS Chief Development Officer at amyb@asas.org or (217) 729-7600.