Kerry E. Kaylegian, Ph.D.

Kerry E. Kaylegian, Ph.D.

  • Associate Research Professor
324 Rodney A. Erickson Food Science Building
University Park, PA 16802

Areas of Expertise

  • Dairy Food Processing & Quality
  • Dairy Food Safety
  • Sensory Analysis of Dairy Products
  • Artisanal Cheese
  • Value-Added Dairy Products

Education

  • Ph.D., Cornell University, Food Science, 2006
  • M.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison, Food Science, 1991
  • B.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison, Food Science, 1985

Research Interests

My program provides technical support to the dairy industry and delivers outreach programs focused on improving the safety and quality of dairy products. I direct and lecture in our annual short courses on dairy preventive controls and food safety, dairy basics for small-scale dairy processors, cheese making, pasteurizer operations, and cultured products, and assist with the ice cream short courses. I also provide customized training to domestic and international audiences.

My research is focused on creating tools for small-scale cheesemakers to improve the safety and quality of their cheese and meet food safety regulations. The tools include guidelines and spreadsheets and worksheet templates that processors can customize to meet their needs. Another area of my extension program is working with Value-Added Dairy Foods Working Group to create resources and assist small and medium-scale processors and entrepreneurs with value-added dairy foods processing and food safety.

I have a strong interest in the sensory evaluation of dairy products and judge cheese and dairy products at several national competitions, coach the Penn State Collegiate Dairy Products Evaluation Team, and Chair the Pennsylvania Farm Show Cheese Competition.

I support the industry as a faculty advisor for the Pennsylvania Association of Milk Food and Environmental Sanitarians (PAMFES) and the Pennsylvania Cheese Guild, and am on the Board of Directors for the American Cheese Society and the Collegiate Dairy Products Evaluation Contest.


Awards

Extension Excellence Award, 2019, Gamma Sigma Delta, Penn State

Garde et Jure, 2018, Guilde Internationale des Fromagers, New World Chapter

Julius Bauerman Lectureship Award, 2016, Philadelphia Section of the Institute of Food Technologists

American Dairy Science Foundation Scholar Award in Dairy Foods, 2015, American Dairy Science Association

Marie Kelso Memorial Award, 2014, Pennsylvania Manufacturing Confections Association


Recent Publications

Penn State Extension Guide for Implementing a Food Safety System in Small-scale and Raw Milk Cheese Plants. 2019. Caprera, L., and Kaylegian, K. E. Penn State Extension, University Park, PA. http://extension.psu.edu.

Penn State Extension Food Safety Plan for Raw Milk Gouda Cheese Teaching Example and Fillable Form. 2019. Caprera, L., and Kaylegian, K. E. Penn State Extension, University Park, PA. http://extension.psu.edu.

Farmstead and Artisan Cheesemaking. 2018. Cornelisse, S., Kaylegian, K. E., Kime, L., Harper, J., and Montgomery, E. Extension Ag Alternatives, Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Office, University Park, PA. http://extension.psu.edu.

Creating Health and Nutrition, Selecting Cheese for Health. 2018. Reed, S., Cooper, R., and Kaylegian, K. E. Lynn James (Ed.). Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Office, University Park, PA. http://extension.psu.edu.

Penn State Extension Cheese Tracking System. 2017. Caprera, L. and K.E. Kaylegian. Penn State Extension, University Park. Downloadable system with instruction guide, guide to setting up a sensory evaluation program, and 17 document and spreadsheet files that can customized. https//extension.psu.edu/penn-state-extension-cheese-tracking-system.

Ingredients in Milk. Skytte, U. P., and Kaylegian, K. E. 2017. In: Beckett's Industrial Chocolate Manufacture and Use. (5th Ed). Wiley Blackwell, West Sussex, UK.

Home Cheesemaking. 2016. Kaylegian, Penn State, College of Agricultural Sciences, University Park, PA. http://extension.psu.edu.

Syrko, J., and K. E. Kaylegian. 2015. Developing a Contemporary Dairy Foods Extension Program:  A Training and Technical Resource Needs Assessment of Pennsylvania Dairy Foods Processors. Journal of Extension.  53(5):http://www.joe.org/joe/2015october/rb1.php.

Key Concepts in Cleaning and Sanitation. 2015. Kaylegian, K.E. University Park, College of Agricultural Sciences, University Park, PA. http://extension.psu.edu.

Writing Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures. 2015. Kaylegian, K.E. University Park, College of Agricultural Sciences, University Park, PA. http://extension.psu.edu.

Rico, D. E., E. R. Marshall, J. Choi, K. E. Kaylegian, C. D. Dechow, and K. J. Harvatine. 2014. Within-milking variation in milk composition and fatty acid profile of Holstein dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci. 97:4259-4268.

Kaylegian, K. E. 2014. Milk-derived Ingredients for Confections. Manufacturing Confectioner. 94:33.

Pennsylvania Dairy Plant and Raw Milk Permit Directory. 2014. Kaylegian, K.E. University Park, College of Agricultural Sciences, University Park, PA. http://extension.psu.edu.

Yogurt:  Active Nutrition for Active Lifestyles. 2013. Kaylegian, K.E. University Park, College of Agricultural Sciences, University Park, PA. http://extension.psu.edu.

Publications

Context matters: environmental microbiota from ice cream processing facilities affected the inhibitory performance of two lactic acid bacteria strains against Listeria monocytogenes
Microbiology spectrum, Rolon, Laura, Rolon, M. Laura, Chandross-Cohen, Tyler, Kaylegian, Kerry, Roberts, Robert F., Kovac, Jasna, 2023

Sensory Evaluation of Dairy Products, 3rd Edition, Clark, Stephanie, Drake, MaryAnne, Kaylegian, Kerry, 2023

Identifying and Preventing Off-Flavors in Milk and Dairy Products, Kaylegian, Kerry, Carey, Nancy, Murphy, Steve, Wilson, Sharon, Traas, Laura, 2023

Biofilms in the Dairy Industry
Penn State Extension Website, Rolon, M. Laura, Kaylegian, Kerry, 2023

Listeria in the Dairy Industry
Penn State Extension Website, Rolon, M. Laura, Kaylegian, Kerry, 2023

Milk Quality and Safety Practices for Milk Industry Personnel – A Training for Quality Officers, Regulators and Academia (Ethiopia), Kaylegian, Kerry, Kebede, Muluken, Kovac, J, Zewdu, Ashagrie, 2022

Improving the Quality and Safety of Farm Milk: A Training for Women Dairy Farmers in Ethiopia. 2022., Gemechu, Alganesh, Keba, Abdi, Kaylegian, Kerry, Kovac, J, Zewdu, Ashagrie, 2022

Sensory Evaluation Guide for Cheesemakers, Caprera, Lisa, Kaylegian, Kerry, 2020

Sanitation Tips for Small-Scale Cheese Plants, Caprera, Lisa, Kaylegian, Kerry, 2020

MILK Symposium review: Improving the productivity, quality, and safety of milk in Rwanda and Nepal
Journal of Dairy Science, De Vries, A., Kaylegian, K. E., Dahl, G. E., 2020

Dairy Foods Processing Page on Extension Website, Kaylegian, Kerry, 2020

Penn State Extension Dairy Foods Newsletter, Kaylegian, Kerry, 2019

Penn State Extension Dairy Foods Newsletter, Kaylegian, Kerry, 2018

Creating Health and Nutrition, Selecting Cheese for Health, Reed, Stacy, Cooper, Rayna, Kaylegian, Kerry, 2018

Farmstead and Artisan Cheesemaking, Cornelisse, Sarah, Kaylegian, Kerry, Kime, Lynn, Harper, Jason, Montgomery, Emily, 2018

Penn State Extension Cheese Tracking System, Caprera, Lisa, Kaylegian, Kerry, 2017

Penn State Extension Dairy Foods Newsletter, Kaylegian, Kerry, 2017

Adding Value to Dairy Products, Cornelisse, Sarah, Kaylegian, Kerry, Fenton, Ginger, 2017

Home Cheesemaking, Kaylegian, Kerry, 2016

Dairy Foods Page Updates, Kaylegian, Kerry, 2016

Penn State Extension Dairy Foods Newsletter, Kaylegian, Kerry, 2016

Penn State Extension Dairy Foods Newsletter, Kaylegian, Kerry, 2015

Sanitation Controls for Food Processing, Kaylegian, Kerry, 2015

Dairy Foods Page, Kaylegian, Kerry, 2014

Within-milking variation in milk composition and fatty acid profile of holstein dairy cows
Journal of Dairy Science, Rico, D. E., Marshall, E. R., Choi, J., Kaylegian, K. E., Dechow, C. D., Harvatine, K. J., 2014