Tawfik Sharkasi named 2009 Outstanding Alumnus by College of Agricultural Sciences

Sharkasi, vice president and chief science and technology officer for William Wrigley Jr. Company, graduated from Penn State in 1984, earning a doctorate in Food Science. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Tripoli, Libya, and his master's degree in 1979 from Washington State University, both in Food Science.

Sharkasi has 25 years of global experience in management of food manufacturing and Research and Development for top companies such as Nestle, Kraft and PepsiCo. His record of successfully coordinating research, technical and product development functions with marketing, production and finance has solidified his professional reputation in the food science industry.

In his current position at Wrigley, he is responsible for delivering new and innovative technologies in gum and confections. He previously was the company's vice president of Research and Development. His background includes a wide range of food and beverage products for retail, fast-food and specialty markets, from development of strategic research and development plans to factory management.

A member of the Institute of Food Technologists and the American Cocoa Research Institute, Sharkasi holds five U.S. patents for food technologies.

"Dr. Sharkasi's standing in both the discipline of food science and within the food industry reflects brightly not only upon his personal drive for excellence and devotion to service, but upon the university, the College of Agricultural Sciences and the Department of Food Science," said John Floros, head of Department of Food Science, in nominating Sharkasi for the award. "His willingness to serve as a member of the department's advisory board helps our program and curricula remain at the forefront of food science."