Joining the Fresno State faculty in August 2014, Amanda McKeith is an associate professor
and graduate program coordinator for the animal science and meat science programs.
She also serves as a co-advisor for the Meat Science Club and Young Cattlemen’s Association
and coach for the Meat Judging Team, Meats Quiz Bowl and Taste of RMC Teams. Her research
interests include natural, organic and processed meat color, microbiology, packaging,
quality and safety topics. She is also studying the effectiveness of post-harvest
chlorine water washing procedures to control foodborne pathogens on fresh produce
sold at local farmers’ markets and development of a zinc finger protein array for
on-site detection of foodborne pathogens. She previously served as an assistant professor
of animal science at Western Kentucky from August 2012 to June 2014. She instructed
classes and labs on animal science, beef production, barbeque history, data analysis
& interpretation, live animal evaluation and selection, meats and meat products, meat
animal evaluation and principles and swine production. She also served as coach of
the Livestock and Meat Judging Teams and advisor for Block & Bridle. She received
her Doctor of Philosophy animal science degree from Penn State in 2012, and her Master's
animal science degree from Kansas State in 2008. She also received Bachelor's of Science
animal science and food science degrees from Kansas State in 2007, and a general agriculture
associate degree from Merced Community College in 2003. She also was a graduate research
assistant and livestock judging team assistant coach and meat quiz bowl team coach
at Penn State and a graduate research and teaching assistant and meat judging team
coach at Kansas State. As a student, she was active in the animal science and meat
science associations, livestock and meat judging teams, Alpha Zeta, Gamma Sigma Delta,
Kappa Alpha Theta and Collegiate Cattlewomen.
Natural, organic and processed meat color, microbiology, packaging, quality and safety
topics.
