Champaign, IL (May 8, 2026)—The American Dairy Science Association® (ADSA) is pleased to announce Grace Lewis as the 2026 recipient of the ADSA Foundation Early Career Award: Dairy Foods Division. The award will be presented on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, during the awards ceremony at the ADSA Annual Meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The ADSA Foundation Early Career Award was created to recognize two young scholars (one from the Dairy Foods Division and one from the Production Division) for their potential in research and/or educational leadership in identifying critical issues affecting the future of the dairy industry. Nominees must be within the first 3 to 5 years of their position following graduate school/postdoctoral fellowship completion (i.e., assistant professor, industry professional. Domestic and international nominations are welcome. The winner must deliver a symposium style address at the ADSA annual meeting to be scheduled as appropriate by the general program chair. The text of this address should focus on critical issues affecting the future of the dairy industry.
Grace Lewis, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Animal and Food Science at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls and a Dairy Innovation Hub Affiliate with the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Her research centers on processing‑driven modification of dairy proteins and lipids to enhance functionality, nutrition, and value‑added applications. Lewis has authored numerous peer‑reviewed publications and book chapters and serves as a section editor for the Journal of Dairy Science. She is a dedicated educator and mentor and has received multiple awards recognizing her innovation, teaching excellence, and early‑career scientific contributions.
It is with great pleasure that ADSA and the ADSA Foundation present Grace Lewis with the 2026 ADSA Foundation Early Career Award: Dairy Foods Division.
About the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA)
The American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) is an international organization of educators, scientists, and industry representatives who are committed to advancing the dairy industry and keenly aware of the vital role the dairy sciences play in fulfilling the economic, nutritive, and health requirements of the world’s population. It provides leadership in scientific and technical support to sustain and grow the global dairy industry through generation, dissemination, and exchange of information and services. Together, ADSA members have discovered new methods and technologies that have revolutionized the dairy industry. www.adsa.org