Alumni

Dr. Robert Roberts
Associate Professor of Food Science

Robert F. J. Roberts, associate professor of food science, has received the 2000 College of Agricultural Sciences Alumni Society's Excellence in Academic Advising Award. The award recognizes faculty for outstanding service to students in academic advising, career planning, and personal counseling. Advisers in the college are recommended by faculty, students, administrators, and alumni.

Roberts has been undergraduate intake coordinator and program coordinator for the department since 1991 and oversees the advising of more than 100 students. He coordinates the department's summer testing and placement activities for first-year students, conducts advising workshops for faculty, and works with students with extraordinary needs.

He also teaches three undergraduate courses and personally advises about 20 undergraduates. Roberts advises the department's Food Science College Bowl team and Food Science Club.

"Dr. Roberts has taught our students teamwork and leadership, rather than simply directing them," says Donald Thompson, associate professor of food science and former department head. "He has clearly established himself as a knowledgeable and caring adviser, one whom students seek out for advice in informal as well as more formal situations. That he devoted so much effort and energy to advising during the period that he was striving to achieve tenure is a testimony to his dedication to working with students."

"Bob is a 24-hour adviser," says Stephanie Doores, associate professor of food science. "Students have unlimited access to him, and if by some chance he cannot personally solve their problems, he has the resources to continue to work with the student until the problem is solved."

"Dr. Roberts is an excellent adviser because he is always available and willing to listen," says food science alumna Karen Cramp. "He is often at work at four o'clock in the morning preparing lectures and laboratories. He volunteers to help out the students, he drives the vans, he scoops the ice cream at fund-raisers, and he is our friend. He does all this with good nature and devotion."

A native of Burlington, Vermont, Roberts completed a bachelor's degree in animal science at the University of Vermont in 1984, a master's degree from South Dakota State University in 1986, and a doctorate in food science from the University of Minnesota in 1991. He joined Penn State's faculty in the same year.

Roberts has published research in two areas of microbial technology: bacterial production and utility of exopolysaccharide, and the biopreservative activity of various bacteria. He is recognized regionally and nationally for his research into the microbiology and technology of dairy products.

In addition, he directs the world-famous Penn State Ice Cream Short Course and the Pasteurizer Operators Workshop.

This year he developed and directed a new short course, the Cultured Dairy Products Short Course.