College of Agriculture and Life Sciences names Joe Marcy food science and technology department head
Virginia Tech's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has named Joe Marcy of Blacksburg, Va., head of the Department of Food Science and Technology. Marcy has held the position on an interim basis since last November.
“The Department of Food Science and Technology is a cornerstone of the college’s food safety and quality efforts and plays a vital role supporting Virginia communities and agriculture in sustaining and creating a viable economy,” said interim Dean Loke Kok. “Dr. Marcy’s leadership, expertise, and rich background in industry and academia are invaluable assets to the college and department. I am excited that Dr. Marcy has agreed to continue serving the college in this role.“
Marcy’s goals for the department include the expansion of existing programs. “The department has outstanding faculty, staff, and students, and I look forward to working with them to further expand the department’s food safety, quality, marketability, and availability efforts,” he said. “Our faculty and programs are nationally recognized for their excellence, and we are committed to sharing our expertise with students, professionals in the food industry, and citizens.”
Marcy’s academic program focuses on food packaging, food chemistry, and the interaction between food and its packaging, as well as dissemination of knowledge through instruction, research, and outreach. Prior to joining Virginia Tech, Marcy served as business development manager with Rampart Packaging Inc., where he developed and implemented a strategic business plan and was responsible for market development and transfer of food processing technologies to its European partners. He started his academic career as an assistant professor with the University of Florida.
The author of more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, Marcy’s work has been recognized by national and international professional organizations and by the university. He is a fellow of the Institute of Food Technologists and recipient of the institute’s Riester-Davis Award. Other awards include Virginia Tech’s International Faculty Development Award, the Gamma Sigma Delta Teaching Award of Merit, the college’s Excellence in Research Award as well as Certificate of Teaching Excellence, and the Italian Packaging Technology Award, which he received twice. Marcy is also a member of the Institute of Packaging Professionals, American Chemical Society, and Sigma Xi Scientific Honor Society, and the Virginia Tech Academy of Teaching Excellence.
Marcy graduated from the University of Tennessee with undergraduate and master’s degrees in food technology and science and received his doctorate degree in food science from North Carolina State University.
