Joseph O'Donnell - California Dairy Research Foundation

As executive director of the California Dairy Research Foundation (CDRF), Dr. Joseph O'Donnell leads a non-profit corporation that manages the research activities of the California dairy industry in the areas of Nutrition & Health, Dairy Manufacturing and Dairy Confidence. Dr. O'Donnell is the CDRF’s first executive director, joining the Foundation in 1990 after serving as the director of science and technology for the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board. He holds a B.S. degree in biochemistry from Benedictine University, a master's degree in biochemistry from Boston University, and a doctorate in nutrition from the University of California at Davis. In addition to his CDRF duties, Dr. O'Donnell lectures on dairy issues throughout the world, has authored numerous articles and abstracts and is a regular contributing writer to publications such as Cheese Market News and Western DairyBusiness. In addition, he chairs the International Milk Genomics Consortium and serves on the ADSA Animal Welfare Committee and the IDF Standing Committee on Nutrition and Health. He also served as the first executive director of the International Scientific Association for Probiotics & Prebiotics and was scientific chair for the 2008 IDF World Dairy Summit in Mexico.