Alumni

Stephanie Doores
Associate Professor of Food Science

Stephanie Doores, associate professor of food science, has received the 2001 Excellence in Academic Advising Award from the College of Agricultural Sciences Alumni Society. The award commends faculty for outstanding service to students in academic advising, career planning, and personal counseling. Candidates are recommended by faculty, students, administrators, and alumni.

Doores has chaired the food science department's placement committee since 1991 and became undergraduate program coordinator in January 2001. She also holds regular workshops and presentations on resume writing and interviewing skills for undergraduate students.

Doores originated Food Science 408, the department's first food microbiology course, in 1980; total enrollment for the lecture and laboratory components of this course have exceeded 2,000 students.

"It is especially fitting that a student took the initiative to nominate Dr. Doores for this award," says Donald Thompson, professor of food science and former department head. "In my opinion, she is one of the most dedicated advisors on the food science staff, which, as a group, takes this responsibility very seriously. It has been obvious to me for some time that Dr. Doores is an exceptionally dedicated teacher as well, one who has the students' well-being foremost in her mind. She also has been the primary department contact for summer internships and job placements."

"Dr. Doores leads by professional example and consciously tries to impart that singular personal characteristic to her students," says James Mortensen, associate dean for undergraduate education. "She had groups of women students in food science in her home for discussions, and has worked hard to transfer a sense of academic excellence to her advisees."

"It is a great privilege for me to nominate Dr. Doores for this award," says undergraduate student Anne Panko. "She was not my assigned adviser, but she always had her door open for me. My freshman year, I approached her because she was the only woman available for me to consult at that time. Now, as a graduating senior, I approach her as a friend and colleague."

Doores earned a bachelor's degree in biology at the College of St. Elizabeth in 1971, a master's degree in microbiology at the University of Maryland in 1973, and a doctorate in food science from the same institution in 1979. Her research emphasis is in thermal resistance of microorganisms and microwave inactivation of pathogens; characterization of Sporolactobacillus and other Bacillus-Lactobacillus intermediates; growth and survival of Listeria in dairy foods; and the influence of cold shock proteins in survival at refrigeration temperatures. She also participates in a variety of extension teaching opportunities, including the Pasteurizer Operators Workshop, the Penn State Sanitation Short Course, and the Penn State Ice Cream Short Course.

She has participated as a Star Teacher in the Ms. Wiz program sponsored by Penn State's College of Engineering, which encourages appreciation of the sciences by fifth- , sixth- , and seventh-grade girls by providing hands-on laboratory experiments with women serving as academic role models.