Animal & Dairy Sciences

    University of Wisconsin Madison

    UNIVERSITY of WISCONSIN-MADISON UW-MADISON

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    Michel A. Wattiaux

    Wattiaux Lab

    Professor - Dairy Systems Management

    Teaching, Research

    Phone

    608-263-3493

    Email

    wattiaux@wisc.edu

    Website

    View Website

    Office Location

    1675 Observatory Dr
    Room 648 Animal Sciences
    Madison, WI 53706

    Photo of Michel A. Wattiaux

    From a Family Dairy Farm in Belgium to a Ph.D. in Dairy Science … Michel was very involved in the daily work of the family dairy farm where he grew up in Belgium in the sixties and seventies. The thirst for knowledge to better manage the farm was a powerful motivator as he became a first-generation College student. In 1985 Michel came to UW-Madison and earned a Ph.D. in Dairy Science. 

    Ten years of International Dairy Extension… Michel began to work with the “Babcock Institute for International Research and Development” of the University of Wisconsin, Madison shortly after its inception in 1992. While at the Institute, he authored four dairy management-related books in a series of “Technical Dairy Guides” and 35 “Dairy Essentials”, which have been translated in six languages (Spanish, French, Russian, Chinese, Portuguese and Turkish) and have been distributed in more than 80 countries.     

    Assistant Professor in Dairy Science: Dairy Nutrition… In 2000, Michel joined the faculty of the Department of Dairy Science as an assistant professor with responsibilities in instruction (70%) and Dairy Systems Management research (30%). He revamped a senior level ruminant nutrition course and created five other undergraduate courses. His research focused on Nitrogen utilization of dairy cattle, which led to a Patent on the use of milk urea nitrogen (MUN) as a nutritional and environmental management tool for dairy producers. Michel was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure on the basis of excellence in teaching in the spring of 2006. 

    Associate Professor: Research and Teaching at a more “Global Scale” … Michel’s research program has focused on cow-level and farm-level nutritional strategies that reduce the undesirable impact of dairy production on air and water quality. His research seeks to enhance animal productivity and efficiency of production while reducing the emission of compounds known to have negative impacts on human health, the balance of natural ecosystems, and climate change (including for example ammonia, nitrate, nitrous oxide and methane). This research seeks to create “win-win” situations, making farms more economically profitable (reducing feed costs) and more friendly to the environmental and human health. To address these issues at a more “global scale,” Michel has forged networks of collaborations with scientists from Canada, France, Mexico, Costa-Rica, Peru, and Colombia. Michel’s meritorious activities during this period of his career have been recognized by a series of honors and awards (see below). Michel was promoted to Full Professor in the spring of 2011. 

    Full Professor: Sustainability of Agriculture and Food Systems… As a full Professor, Michel continued to expand the boundaries of his scholarship.  His research focused increasingly on holistic assessments of farm sustainability that are in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) set forth by the United Nations. His teaching included new courses on the roles of livestock in sustainable development, on the environmental and social dimensions of agriculture and food systems and on effective teaching in internationally diverse college classroom (for PhD candidates only). From 2019 to 2021, Michel served as interim Director of the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems (CIAS). In 2023 Michel received a Fulbright Award to work with colleagues in Québec on a project titled: “toward more equitable, resilient, and sustainable dairy systems.”

     

    More about Dr. Wattiaux is available here. 

    Select Peer-Reviewed Articles

    Víquez-Umana, F.L., M.-G. Erickson, J. Young, G. Zanton, M. Wattiaux, G. Suen, and H. C. Mantovani. 2025. Assessing the impact of oscillating dietary crude protein on the stability of the rumen microbiome in dairy cattle. 16 – 2025 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1568112.

    Santana, O., M. E. Uddin, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2025. Feeding behavior of Holstein and Jersey cows fed diets based on either alfalfa silage or corn silage at 2 forage fiber levels. J. Dairy Sci. 108:5803-5815. (https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2024-25708)

    Olivo, A., Godber, O. F., Perry, J., Wattiaux, M. A., and Q. M. Ketterings. 2024. Engaging secondary school students in sustainable assessments through farm nutrient mass balances. Nat Sci Educ. 2024;53:e20147. https://doi.org/10.1002/nse2.20147.

    Pizarro, D. M., M.-G. Erickson, C. A. Gómez-Bravo, V. D. Picasso Risso, D. Lucantoni, A. Mottet, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2024. Agroecological Performance of Smallholder Dairy Cattle Systems in the Peruvian Amazon. Agricultural Systems 233:104199 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2024.104199).

    Aguirre-Villegas, H. A., N. Rakobitsch, M. A. Wattiaux, E. Silva, and R. A. Larson. 2024. Environmental assessment of organic dairy farms in the US: Mideast, Northeast, Southeast, and Mountain Regions. Cleaner Environmental Systems (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cesys.2024.100233).

    Reed, K. F., T. Barros, M. A. C. Danes, J. M. Powell, G. I. Zanton and M. A. Wattiaux. 2024. Non-linear models of 15N partitioning kinetics in lactating dairy cows from individually-labeled feed ingredients provide evidence for a slow-turnover N pool. J. Dairy Sci. 107(11):9176-9196 (https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2023-24239).

    Letelier, P. G. I. Zanton and M. A. Wattiaux. 2024. Evaluation of protocols to determine urine output and urinary urea nitrogen excretion in dairy cows with and without dietary salt supplementation. J. Dairy Science 107(9): 6742-6757 (https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2023-24075)

    Erickson, M. G., L. A. Reinhardt, L. Svaren, M. L. Sullivan, G. I. Zanton, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2023. Crude protein oscillation in diets adequate and deficient in metabolizable protein: effects on nutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance, plasma amino acids, and greenhouse gas emissions. J. Dairy Sci: 107(6):3558-3572 (https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2023-24150).

    Wattiaux, M.A. 2023. Sustainability of dairy systems through the lenses of the Sustainable Development Goals. Frontiers in Animal Sciences:4. https://doi.org/10.3389/fanim.2023.1135381

    Erickson, M. G., G. I. Zanton, and M. A. Wattiaux. Dynamic lactation responses to dietary crude protein oscillation din diets adequate and deficient in metabolizable protein in Holstein cows. 2023. J. Dairy Sci. 106(12):8774-8786 (https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2023-23603).

    Danes, M.A. C., E. M. Paula, C. Parys, G. M. Souza, J. P. A. Resende, G. A. Broderick and M. A. Wattiaux. 2023. Effects of amount and profile of amino acids supply on lactation performance, mammary gland metabolism, and nitrogen efficiency in Holstein Dairy Cows. Animals. 13(11), 1866: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13111866 .
    Augarten, A., L, Malone, G. Richardson, R. Jackson, M. A. Wattiaux, S. Conley, A. Radatz, E. Cooley, and M. Ruark. 2023. Cropping systems with perennial and livestock integration promote soil health. Agricultural and Environmental Letters 8(1): e20100 http://doi.org/10.1002/ael2.20100.

    Letelier, P. G. I. Zanton and M. A. Wattiaux. 2022. Production performance of Holstein cows at four stages of lactation fed four dietary crude protein concentration. J. Dairy Sci. 105: 9581-9596. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2022-22146.

    Letelier, P. H. A. Aguirre-Villegas, M. Chacón Navarro, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2022. Dual-purpose cattle systems in developing countries: Milk to meat ratio dramatically alter allocation of enteric methane to milk or human-edible protein. Livestock Science 263:105013. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2022.105013.

    Aguirre-Villegas, H. A., R. A. Larson, N. Rakobitsch, M. A. Wattiaux and Erin Silva. 2022. Farm level environmental assessment of organic dairy systems in the U.S. J. Cleaner Production. 363:132390. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.132390.

    Bougouin, A. et al. (43 co-authors). 2022. Prediction of nitrogen excretion from data on dairy cows fed a wide range of diets compiled in an intercontinental database: a meta-analysis. 2022. J. Dairy Sci. 105:7462-7481 https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2021-20885.

    Letelier, P., G. I. Zanton, R. R. Dórea, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2022. Plasma essential amino acid concentration and profile are associated with performance of lactating dairy cows as revealed through meta-analysis and hierarchical clustering. J. Dairy Sci. 105:5044-5061 https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2021-21028 (Open access)

    Erickson, M.G. and M. A. Wattiaux. 2022. Case Study: Introductory student onboarding with a place-based, blended welcome tour. NACTA J. 66:123-132.

    Erickson, M.G. and M. A. Wattiaux. 2021. Practices and perceptions at the COVID-19 transition in undergraduate animal science courses. Nat Sci Educ. 2021:50:e20039 https://doi.org/10.1002/nse2.20039

    Martinez-García, C. G., C. Clugston, C. M. Arriaga-Jordán, J. Olmos-Colmenero, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2021. Strategies to mitigate economic hardship among family dairy farms of Central Mexico. Experimental Agriculture 33:1-10 https://doi.org/10.1017/S0014479721000077.

    Lobos, N., M. A. Wattiaux, and G. A. Broderick. 2021. Effect of rumen-protected lysine supplementation on diets based on corn-protein fed to lactating dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 104:6620-6632 https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2020-19835.

    Uddin, M. E., R. A. Larson, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2020. Effects of dairy cow manure and dietary forage on greenhouse gas emissions from manure during storage and after field application. J. Cleaner Production. (In press.). 

    Uddin, U. Md., O. Santana, K. Weigel, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2020. Enteric methane, lactation performances, digestibility, and metabolism of nitrogen and energy of Holsteins and Jerseys fed 2 levels of forage fiber from alfalfa silage or corn silage. J. Dairy Sci. 103:6087-6099. 

    Tricaricio, J., E. Kebreab, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2020. Sustainability of dairy production and consumption in low-income countries with emphasis on productivity and environmental impact. J. Dairy Sci. (In press).  

    Danes, M. A. C., M. D. Hanigan, S. I. Arriola Apelo, J. D. L. Dias, M. A. Wattiaux, and G. A. Broderick. 2020. Postabsorptive glucose and casein, but not acetate, stimulate milk protein synthesis in dairy cows through differential effects on mammary metabolism. J. Dairy Sci. 103:6218-6232. 

    Aguerre, M. J., B. Duval, J. M. Powell, P. Vadas, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2019. Effects of feeding a quebracho-chestnut tannin extract on lactating cow performance and nitrogen utilization efficiency. J. Dairy Sci. 103:2264-2271. 

    Santana, O., J. J. Olmos Colmenero, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2019. Replacing alfalfa hay with triticale hay has minimal impacts on lactation performance and nitrogen utilization of dairy cows in a semi-arid region of Mexico J. Dairy Sci. 102:8546-8558. 

    Velarde-Guillén, D. Pellerin, C. Benchaar, M. A. Wattiaux, and E. Charbonneau. 2019. Development of an equation to estimate the enteric emissions from Holstein dairy cows in Canada. Canadian Journal of Animal Science (https://doi.org/10.1139/CJAS-2018-0241 ) 

    Favre, J., T Munoz Castiblanco, D. E. Combs, M. A. Wattiaux, and V. D. Picasso. 2019. Forage Nutritive value and digestibility of Kernza intermediate wheatgrass in monoculture and in mixture with red clover. Animal Feed Science and Technology (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2019.114298). 

    Wattiaux, M. A., M. E. Uddin, P. Letelier, R. D. Jackson, and R. A. Larson. 2019. Invited Review: Emission and mitigation of greenhouse gases from dairy farms: The cows, the manure, and the field. Larson. Applied Animal Sciences 35 (2):238-254. 

    (Dataset) Barford, Carol; Sun, Fei, Aguerre, Matias, J. Wattiaux, Michel A. 2019. Data from: Starch and dextrose at 2 levels of rumen-degradable protein in iso-nitrogenous diets: Effects on lactation performance, ruminal measurements, methane emission, digestibility, and nitrogen balance of dairy cows. USDA National Agricultural Library: Ag Data Commons. (http://dx.doi.org/10.15482/USDA.ADC/1503442). 

    Sun, F., M. J., and M. A. Wattiaux. 2019. Starch and dextrose at 2 levels of rumen degradable protein in iso-nitrogenous diets: Effects on lactation performance, ruminal parameters, methane emission, digestibility, and N balance of dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 102:1281-1293 (http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2018-15041). 

    Barros, T., K. Reed, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2018. Short Communication: Milk urea-N as a predictor of N and urea-N excretion in urine of late-lactation dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 102:1601-1607. 

    Pellerin, D., E. Charbonneau, L. Fadul-Pacheco, O. Soucy, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2017. Economic impact of reducing nitrogen and phosphorus mass balance on Wisconsin and Québec dairy farms. J. Dairy Sci. 100(10):8614-8629 (http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.2016-11984). 

    Arndt, C., J.M. Powell, M. J. Aguerre, and M. A. Wattiaux. 2015. Performance, digestion, nitrogen balance, manure ammonia, enteric methane and carbon dioxide emissions of lactating cows fed varying dietary ratios of alfalfa silage and corn silage. J. Dairy Sci. 98(1):418-430. 

    Wattiaux, M. A. 2013. Change in students’ self-reported learning gains and worldviews in a Discussion-driven international livestock agriculture classroom. NACTA J. 57(3):83-90. 

    Aguerre, M. J., M. A. Wattiaux, J. M. Powell and G. Broderick, and C. Arndt. 2011. Effect of forage to concentrate ratio in dairy cow diets on emission of methane, carbon dioxide and ammonia, lactation performance and manure excretion. J. Dairy Sci. 94:3081-3093. 

    Wattiaux, M. A. 2010. Excellence in teaching for promotion and tenure in animal and dairy sciences at doctoral/research universities: A faculty perspective. J. Dairy Sci. 93:3365-3376. 

    Wattiaux, M. A. and P. Crump. 2005. Students’ perception of a discussion-driven classroom environment in an upper level ruminant nutrition course with small enrollment. J. Dairy Sci. 89:343-352. 

    Wattiaux, M. A. and K. L. Karg. 2004. Protein level for alfalfa and corn silage-based diets: II. Nitrogen balance and manure characteristics.  J. Dairy Sci. 87:3492-3502. 

    Wattiaux, M. A., D. R. Mertens, and L. D. Satter. 1991. Effect of the source and amount of fiber on digestion and specific gravity kinetics of forages in the rumen. J. Dairy Sci. 74:3872-3883. 

    Select Books & Book Chapters

    Wattiaux, M. A. 2021. Sostenibilidad del Sector Lechero: Retos y Oportunidades. Pg 14-25 In: Cambio Climático; XIII Cátedra CUMEX Medicina Veterinaria y Zootécnica “Dra. Aline Schunemann e Aluja.” Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México (UAEMéx), Toluca México.

    Wattiaux, M. A. 2019. Desafío de la Agricultura Ganadea Frente al Cambio Climático. Pg 33-47 In: Experiencias Ganaderas, Agrícolas, y Forestales en la Conservación de Recursos Naturales. ICAR, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México (UAEMéx). 

    Wattiaux, Michel A., Matias A. Aguerre and Sanjeewa D. Ranathunga, ‘Sustainable nutrition management of dairy cattle in intensive systems’, in J. Webster (ed.), Achieving sustainable production of milk Volume 3: Dairy herd management and welfare, Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, 2017, Cambridge, United Kingdom (print ISBN: 978 1 78676 052 4). 

    Wattiaux, M. A. 2017. Dairy sector across the world: National trends and opportunities for sustainable growth. Pp 3-18 in Large Dairy Herd Management, 3rd ed. American Dairy Science Association (https://doi.org/10.3168/ldhm.01101).  

    Wattiaux, M. 2015. Decoding and Encoding the “DNA” of Teaching and Learning in Institutions of Higher Education, pp 1-8, Ch 1 in: Molecular and Quantitative Animal Genetic, Wiley Blackwell (ISBN: 978-1-118-67740-7). 

    Wattiaux, M. 2012. Recognizing and Promoting Effective Teaching and Learning Practice Among Future and Current Instructors: Laying New Ground for the 21st Century pp 43-66 In Proceedings of a National Conference on Teaching and Learning in the Animal Sciences: Challenging Old Assumptions and Breaking New Ground for the 21st Century. University of Wisconsin System Boards of Regents (ISBN 978-1-59215-157-4) 

    Wattiaux, M.A., J. Blazek, and J. J. Olmos Colmenero. 2012. An Overview of the Mexican Family Dairy Production System: Result of Research done in Altos, Jalisco, Mexico. Babcock Institute Discussion paper 2012-2 (51 pp).  The Babcock Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison. 

    Van Eyck, M., L. Van Toll, and M. Wattiaux. 2012. Engaging Science Faculty in Internationalization: Teaching Innovation at UW-Madison. Institute of International Education Networker (IIEN), Spring 2012:28-31 Available at http://www.iiebooks.org/iisp20enfain.html 

    Wattiaux, M. A. 2008. Chapter 11: Signature Pedagogy in Agriculture: Animal and Dairy Sciences, Pp 207-223, In: Exploring Signature Pedagogies: Approaches to Teaching Disciplinary Habits of Mind. R. Gurung, N. Chick and H. Aeron (Eds). Stylus Publishing 

    Zartman, D. L. and M. A. Wattiaux. 2004. The Dairy Industry (13 pp). In: Encyclopedia of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Engineering and Technology Resources, Agricultural Sciences, edited by Rattan Lal, in: Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), developed under the auspices of the UNESCO, Eolss Publishers, Oxford, UK (http://www.eolss.net) 

    Wattiaux, M. A. 1999. Dairy Essentials: Nutrition & Feeding, Reproduction & Genetic Selection, Lactation & Milking, and Raising Dairy Heifers. UW-Madison Babcock Institute (140 pp). 

    Wattiaux, M. A. 1996. Technical Dairy Guide: Dairy Heifer Raising. UW-Madison Babcock Institute (125 pp). 

    Wattiaux, M. A.  1995. Technical Dairy Guide: Reproduction and Genetic Selection. UW-Madison Babcock Institute (161 pp). 

    Homan, E. J. and M. A. Wattiaux. 1995. Technical Dairy Guide: Lactation and Milking. UW-Madison Babcock Institute (94 pages). 

    Wattiaux, M. A. and T. W. Howard. 1994. Technical Dairy Guide: Feeding and Nutrition. UW-Madison Babcock Institute (121 pages). 

    Select Conference Proceedings

    Michel’s has contributed to seventy research-related and seventy-seven teaching-related national and international invited essays, presentations and proceeding articles (full list available upon request.)

    Select Posters

    Michel’s has contributed to one hundred and thirty-five research-related and thirty-eight teaching-related abstract and posters (full list available upon request.)

    Select Extension Publications

    Michel’s has contributed to thirty extension and popular press articles (full list available upon request.)

    Michel’s disciplinary research has focused on reducing the environmental impacts of dairy production through empirical studies (nutritional studies on dairy cattle) and through a holist approach to farming systems modeling and analysis. In addition, Michel has been involved in international collaborations focused on the assessment of the multi-dimensional contributions of dairy production to equity, resiliency, and sustainability of food systems. In addition, Michel has conducted research project on pedagogical issues in his own college classrooms. Research in teaching is one of the main defining attributes of “Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.”

    Below is a list of selected funded projects for which Michel served as a principal investigator (or co-principal investigator) categorized as “Disciplinary Research”, “International Collaborations” and “Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.”

    Disciplinary Research (Funded by USDA/NIFA/Hatch or USDA/NIFA/AFRI):

    • Uncovering the Role of Plasma Free Amino Acids in Ruminal and Post-Absorptive Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Lactating Dairy Cows
    • Protein Nutrition of Lactating Dairy Cow and Milk Urea Nitrogen as a Nutritional and Environmental Management Tool
    • Carbon and Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Wisconsin Dairy Production Systems
    • Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation in Dairy Production Systems of the Great Lakes
    • Assessing the Impact of Forage Fiber Digestibility and Feed Conversion Efficiency on Enteric Methane Emission and N Utilization from Dairy Cows
    • An Integrated Approach to Using Tannins to Abate gaseous Emission during Collection, Storage and Field Application of Dairy Manure.

    International Collaborations:

    • Evaluación del desempeño agroecológico de sistemas de producción de leche en pequeña escala (Collaboration with Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México (UAEMex), funded by SECIHTI, Mexican Federal government)
    • Transitioning toward more equitable, resilient, and sustainable food systems: The case of dairy farming in Mexico and Canada (Collaboration with UAEMex and Université Laval, Québec, Canada, funded by State Department Fulbright Award)
    • Pasture improvement in Andeans highlands of Peru (funded by USDA/Borlaug Program)
    • Low greenhouse gas emission strategies for livestock agriculture in Costa-Rica: A CATIE, USDA-FAS and UW-Madison collaboration (funded by USDA/FAS/LEAD)
    • School Enrichment and Livelihoods Accelerated through Milk (SELAM) Project: A social ecological approach to enhance child and community nutrition through establishment of a school milk feeding program in rural Ethiopia (funded by UW-Madison Global Health Institute)
    • Expanding N-CyCLE (Nutrient Cycling through Crops Livestock, the Environment and the Soils) model to predict greenhouse gases emissions from Dairy Farms.

    Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Projects:

    • Teaching and learning student-centered discussion-based multidisciplinary courses in flipped classroom centered on food systems and sustainable development
    • Establishing a college-wide trans-disciplinary capstone course: Food system, sustainability, climate change, health and wellness
    • An experiential curriculum to teach assessment of dairy production, crops production, and integrated livestock production systems sustainability
    • • Teaching and Learning in the Animal Sciences — A National Effort to Challenge Old Assumptions and Break New Ground for the 21st Century.

    Undergraduate Courses

    Dy Sci 471 – Food Production and Sustainability (3 credits, Spring)
    Course Description: This advanced interdisciplinary course delves into aspects of natural sciences (biology and agricultural sciences) and social sciences underpinning the assessment of food production systems as related to a variety of outcomes including but not restricted to human and environmental health, air and water quality, greenhouse gases emission, land use, economic opportunity, social justice, as well as mitigation and adaptation to climate change, both domestically and globally.
    Requirements: (Graduate or professional standing) or junior standing and satisfied Quantitative Reasoning (QR) B requirement

    Dy Sci 472 – Animal Agriculture and Global Sustainable Development (1 credit, Spring)
    Course Description: Interactive lectures and class activities focusing on global agricultural and rural development issues (trade, immigration, poverty, gender, health, etc.) followed by a discussion of the relationship between US and the Mexican Dairy industries.
    Requirements: Consent of instructor. 

    Dy Sci 473 – Study Abroad Field Trip Program in Mexico (2 credit, Summer (May))
    Course Description: Two-week program in central Mexico focusing on topics covered in DY SCI 472 Animal Agriculture and Global Sustainable Development.
    Requirements: DY SCI 472 and consent of instructor 

    Graduate Courses

    Dy Sci 824 – Ruminant Nutrition Physiology 1 (Carbon and Nitrogen Use Efficiency Section; 3 credit, Fall, every other year)
    Course Description: This 2-week section of course focuses on Nitrogen (N) losses (e.g., ammonia or nitrate) and carbon (C) losses (e.g., methane) with undesirable environmental impact. We review the recent literature to understand the sources of these inefficiencies and how to reduce them

    Dy Sci 875 – Effective Teaching in Culturally Diverse College Classroom (3 credit, Fall)
    Course Description: In this course, students learn the core skills of effective and savvy teachers who can use global perspectives, varied modes of instruction, and differences in students’ experiences as tools to increase the learning of every student in their classes. This is a discussion-based course modeled after what is now known as “flipped-classroom” and “blended learning,” students learn how to take advantage of the unique perspectives of each student in their classes to engage them fully in the course content. Requirements: PhD candidate, Consent of Instructor. 

    Dairy Science Department: 

    • Curriculum Cmt (since 2020)
    • Search and Screen Cmt Rumen Microbiology Faculty (2020); 
    • Faculty and Staff Development Cmt (since 2019); 
    • External Relation Cmt (since 2019); 
    • Chair Dairy Science Curriculum Cmt (2007-2018). 

    College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS): 

    • CALS Curriculum Cmt (2019-2021); 
    • CALS Global Advisory Cmt (2020-2023); 
    • Chair Search and Screen Cmt Center for Integrated Agricultural System Director (2018); 
    • CALS Institutional Animal Care and Use Cmt (IACUC; 2014-2017). 

    University of Wisconsin-Madison: 

    • UW-Madison Chancellor Distinguished Teaching Award Selection Cmt (2023-2026)
    • Advisory Board Global Health Institute (GHI; 2019–2021); 
    • Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies Governance Cmt (2019-2021); 
    • Chair Review Cmt 10-year Review Sustainability Certificate (2019-2020); 
    • Chair Review Cmt 10-year Review Development Studies Program (2015-2016); 
    • Advisory Board Madison Teaching and Learning Excellence (MTLE; 2012-2015);  
    • UW-Madison Teaching Academy (2005-2007, 2007-Chair); 
    • Institutional Review Board (IRB, 2007-2009); 
    • Faculty Senate, Dairy Science senator (2006).  

    Professional Societies: 

    • Editor Journal of Dairy Science American Dairy Science Association (2019-2021); 
    • Editor North America College and Teachers of Agriculture (since 2019); 
    • Planning Cmt 12th Discover Conference American Dairy Science Association (2006); 
    • Chair Undergraduate and Graduate Education Cmt American Dairy Science Association (2006-2009; 2019-2021; Chair 2021). 

    National and International

    • Fulbright Program Technical review Cmt (US State Department; 2024)
    • Production Expert Scientific Advisory Cmt (PESAC) on behalf of Dairy Farmers of Canada; (2022-2025).

    American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) Award of Honor 2023

    Fulbright Canada Research Chair in International Studies 2022/23

    North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Distinguished Educator Award 2022

    Myron H. & Anna Atwood Faculty Fellow Award, UW-Madison CALS 2022

    American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) Fellow Award 2021

    Spitzer Excellence in Teaching Award, UW-Madison CALS 2020

    UW-Madison Teaching Academy Distinguished Fellow Award 2018

    North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Educator Award 2017

    UW-System Alliant Energy Underkofler Excellence in Teaching Award 2012

    Excellence in International Activity Award, UW-Madison CALS 2011

    United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Agricultural Sciences Excellence in College and University Teaching Award, North Central Region 2009

    UW-Madison Scholar of the Wisconsin Teaching Fellow & Scholar Program, UW-System Office of Professional and Instructional Development 2009

    Recipient of the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA), Land O Lakes Purina Feed LLC Teaching Award in Dairy Production 2008

    Jung Excellence in Teaching Award, UW-Madison CALS 2008

    Fulbright scholar to Mexico, US Department of State and
    Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES) 2007

    UW-Madison Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award 2006

    Nominated for UW-System Alliant Energy Underkofler Excellence in Teaching Award 2005

    American Dairy Science Association (ADSA), International Dairy Production Award 2002

    UW-Madison Fellow of the Wisconsin Teaching Fellow Program, UW-System Office of Professional and Instructional Development 2001

    State of Wisconsin Governor’s Award for Achievement in Export (on behalf of the Babcock Institute for International Dairy Research and Development 1999

    Fellowship, Academic Staff Professional Development Program, UW-Madison 1994

    Fellowship, Latin American and Iberian Studies Programs, UW-Madison 1994

    Fulbright Scholar to the U.S., Belgian-American Educational Foundation, Inc. (BAEF) 1985

    Belgian delegate to the U.S., International 4-H Youth Exchange program 1982

    United States Patent US 9,955,673 B1 Milk Urea-N Yield (MUNY) as a Nutritional and Environmental  Management Tool for the Dairy Industry; Awarded May 1, 2018. 

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