By LaRayne Meyer

 

 

Don Beermann promotes beef. He doesn’t stand at the grocery store with a tray of delectable beef products for customers to sample or broadcast over radio air waves the benefits of a diet that includes beef. And he doesn’t necessarily promote beef by scooping corn into feedbunks. Rather, Beermann promotes beef by recruiting and encouraging animal science students and establishing other ag-related programs at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he has served as head of the Animal Science Department.

Beermann’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. On Nov. 29, 2007, he was presented with the 2007 Nebraska Cattlemen Industry Service Award at the organization’s annual banquet. The award is presented yearly to someone whose commitment and contributions to the beef cattle industry in Nebraska merit special recognition.

When Beermann is asked what he considers his most significant contribution to UNL’s animal science department, he will quickly and confidently reply that it’s hiring new faculty and staff during his eight years as department head. During that time, Beermann filled 15 faculty positions and added two new staff positions, as well as created a new admissions coordinator position.

Through his work, Beermann has developed a close working relationship with the leadership of meat and livestock groups across the state, while facilitating the expansion of enhanced beef feedlot facilities at the Agricultural Research and Development Center near Mead, promoting enlargement of the beef feedlot facilities at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center at Scottsbluff, and increasing the educational capabilities of the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory at Whitman.

Beermann’s promotional work at UNL has included a new and unique undergraduate and recruitment program that has resulted in increased numbers of animal science students. New student enrollment has increased by approximately ten students each fall for the last three years. As a result, the Animal Science Department has the largest number of students of all the departments in the College of Ag Sciences and Natural Resources – the most since 1997. During Beermann’s tenure, he nurtured and promoted both the Nebraska Beef Industries Scholars Program and the Nebraska Youth Beef Leadership Symposium. Beermann also had a role to play in the development of the Beef Web site, the newly formulated Beef Summit and rejuvenation of ag judging teams.

Beermann was instrumental in the formation of the new veterinary medicine program that’s held in cooperation with Iowa State University. The first class of 25 students will complete their first two years in Lincoln this semester.

In July, Beermann moved from serving as department head of the Animal Sciences division to split his time and responsibilities between the UNL Office of Research and the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) Agricultural Research Division. In addition, he has assumed responsibilities as director of the Institutional Animal Care Program for UNL and coordinator of the interdisciplinary “One Health” research initiative. As such, he will be responsible for providing professional direction for the care and use of animals in research, teaching and Extension within all UNL campus and out-of-state facilities, and will administer the UNL program for laboratory animal care and housing. He will also coordinate the development of future research and educational opportunities for the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources and its collaborators in those areas that bridge human and animal health, food animal production and ecosystems.

Beermann’s background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in animal science from Iowa State University in 1971, a master’s degree in meat and animal science from the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1974, and a doctoral degree in muscle biology and human psychology from the University of Wisconsin in 1976.   Y By LaRayne Meyer, NC contributing writer.

                       

 

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