CANR Alumni Association appoints new board representatives in fall 2023
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EmailFour new representatives were appointed to the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) Alumni Association in September.
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Jessie Lewis, Katie Ockert, John Schankin and Brian Troyer were appointed to two-year terms on the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) Alumni Association at its fall board in September. CANR Alumni Association board members serve as advisors to the college’s alumni officer regarding alumni programming, as well as liaisons between the college, the academic departments, the alumni and agriculture and natural resources industries.
Jessie Lewis, of Cary, North Carolina, was elected to the board to represent Packaging. Lewis earned her bachelor’s and master’s in Packaging from MSU. She is the Director of Systems Group Procurement, ICS Mainframe & Power Systems at IBM. An expert in developing and executing innovative strategies positioning organizations to proactively address a dynamic marketplace, Lewis has extensive experience in strategic sourcing, process reengineering and globalization. Lewis is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion, mentoring women and young people throughout the community. She is an executive sponsor of the IBM Tri-State Global Women of IBM business resource group and co-chairs IBM Emb(race) Procurement strategy.
Katie Ockert, of Saranac, Michigan, was elected to the board to represent Michigan State University Extension. Ockert earned her bachelors degree in Agriculture and Natural Resources Communications with a specialization in Animal Science in 2005. During her undergraduate years, she worked as a student employee in the Michigan 4-H office where she learned about the amazing work that Extension does across the nation. In 2005, she accepted a position with MSU Extension as a 4-H Educator in Ionia County. For the past eighteen years, Ockert has held various roles within MSUE with outreach and educational efforts in animal management, biosecurity, wildlife disease and zoonotic disease programs.
John Schankin, of Ceresco, Michigan, was elected to the board to represent the Institute of Agriculture Technology. Schankin earned a certificate in Livestock Production in 1989 and bachelor’s degree in Animal Science in 1991. He has spent his career in the animal health industry as both a territory manager and regional manager working for Schering-Plough Animal Health, Merial and Boehringer-Ingelheim Animal Health. He currently is an Account Manager with Animal Health International working with veterinarians and dairy producers in Michigan and Indiana.
Brian Troyer, of Cold Water, Michigan, was elected to the board to represent Animal Science. Troyer received his bachelor's degree in Dairy Science from MSU in 1981. He later earned his master’s degree from MSU in Animal Science in 1990. Troyer is currently a Dairy Business/Nutrition Consultant at Caledonia Farmers Elevator, where been employed for over 20 years. Prior to joining Caledonia Farmers Elevator, Troyer served as a dairy consultant with Land O’Lakes Co-op. He has also served in positions with Countymark Co-op, MSU Extension, Kellogg Biological Station Farm Learning Center and his family farm in St. Joseph, Michigan.
The CANR Alumni Association promotes and supports the college in a variety of ways, including fostering a meaningful connections and spirit among CANR alumni, promoting and supporting the college among current and prospective students, fellow alumni and other stakeholders, offering opportunities to network with and learn from outstanding CANR faculty and other alumni and supporting CANR students through the Distinguished Undergraduate Scholarships program. Learn more at: www.canr.msu.edu/alumni.
