Catherine E. Adams Receives Penn State's 2008 Alumni Fellow Award

Catherine has spent her career in multiple sectors and brings a unique perspective to problem solving in her new role as an independent consultant with her own firm, RdR Solutions Consulting. She has worked at high levels in the public and private sector and survived all with integrity and left a legacy as a change agent, for the better! In her new role, Catherine will dedicate her time to bringing positive changes to health and food safety policy.

Catherine recently was corporate vice president for Worldwide Quality, Food Safety and Nutrition for McDonald's. Prior to this role, she led Quality and Environmental Safety at Coors Brewing Company, led North American Quality at H.J. Heinz, led Restaurant Quality at YUM Brands (Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, KFC restaurants), and led next-generation quality programs at the Campbell Soup Company. Prior to joining the industry, she managed scientific affairs at the Grocery Manufacturers of America and International Life Science Institute-Nutrition Foundation. She also was in the public sector as assistant administrator of the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, where she engineered the development of HACCP as international and national regulatory policy and industry practice.

Catherine graduated at the top of her class in 1979. She went on to graduate with a M.S. in Food Science and Human Nutrition from Michigan State University and a doctoral degree in Food Science from University of Illinois. Catherine is also a registered dietician. She was previously honored by Penn State as an Outstanding Alumnus in 1995 and currently serves on our Volunteer Committee for college fund-raising. Catherine proudly sponsored a laboratory in the new Food Science Building.

Catherine is a life member of the Penn State Alumni Association and lives now in both Washington, D.C., and Aubrey, Texas. In Texas, she owns and operates a working ranch, breeding and raising competitive cutting horses and registered Angus cattle. Her cattle herd began with foundation Angus purchased from the Penn State program and she has remained "true blue" to the Penn State genetics in her breeding program ever since.