CDR director to retire
The Wisconsin Center for Dairy Research (CDR) director and University of Wisconsin-Madison professor of food science Dr. J Russell ‘Rusty’ Bishop has announced his retirement from the center, effective the end of March, to become the director of research and development at Schreiber Foods, Green Bay.
“After 17 wonderful years at CDR, I was ready for a new challenge and a new adventure by taking my skills to a corporate environment,” shared Bishop in his announcement to staff. “It was not an easy or quick decision.”
During Bishop’s tenure, he has leveraged the investments of the state, dairy producer check of, and industry to create a research center that is science-based, yet is user-friendly to Wisconsin’s manufacturers, small, medium and large; has assembled the best collective talent pool in the world who are experts in all aspects of dairy technology; and has launched initial planning, with industry and UW commitment, to expand Babcock Hall dairy facility to include a new Dairy Foods Technology Center and a complete renovation of the existing facility.
“CDR is a model program demonstrating the Wisconsin Idea, with its true integration of the dairy foods research program with the outreach and education and training missions of the Department of Food Science, supporting innovation in Wisconsin,” states Irwin Goldman, Interim Dean, UW-Madison College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Through CDR’s work with dairy manufacturers, processors and food formulators, staff has worked with nearly every cheese maker in the state and many beyond, as well as several of the top food companies, suppliers, and cheese converters. In the past 12 years, CDR has generated more than $47 million in funding to leverage the university’s investment.
“We clearly recognize the contributions that CDR makes to this state under Rusty’s leadership, and the key role he has played in the growth and success of CDR,” adds Goldman. “To ensure a seamless transition, the college will work with its governance groups and stakeholders to initiate a nationwide search as quickly as possible for a new director.”
