Donald Beitz
Iowa State University
For significant contributions to Iowa State University's research mission and its chapter of Sigma Xi as secretary and treasurer since 2015.
Quote
"I became a member of Sigma Xi during my last year of graduate school at Michigan State University in 1967. I was active in the Iowa State University (ISU) chapter during my professional career as a faculty member. In 1982, I became a member of the Executive Committee for the ISU Chapter and continued serving until 1992, when I was elected chapter president. I rejoined the Executive Committee of the ISU chapter in 2015 as secretary-treasurer, a role in which I continue to serve. All in all, I have appreciated the opportunity to serve as a member and especially as a leader within the ISU chapter of Sigma Xi"
Biography
Donald C. Beitz was raised on a Guernsey dairy farm in Illinois where he developed an intense interest in agriculture with an emphasis on animal science. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees in agricultural science in 1962 and dairy science in 1963 from the University of Illinois and a Ph.D. degree from Michigan State University in 1967 with majors in dairy nutrition and biochemistry.
Dr. Beitz began his professional career at Iowa State University in 1967 with a joint faculty appointment in the Department of Animal Science and the Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology. He holds the title of Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor of Agriculture. Teaching responsibilities have included biochemistry courses for freshman veterinary students as well as for undergraduate and graduate students and two seminar classes. Dr. Beitz gains much satisfaction from advising undergraduate students with majors in agricultural biochemistry and graduate students (105 graduate degrees awarded) with majors in nutritional physiology and biochemistry. In his 54 years, he has taught over 13,000 students!
Dr. Beitz’s research activities have been collaborative, diverse, and related to practical problems of animal agriculture and human nutrition. His research has been focused on milk fever, lactation ketosis, plasma cholesterol regulation by diet, milk and meat composition, mitochondrial DNA and milk production, beef cattle growth, genetic control of the fatty acid composition of beef and milk, beef tenderness as influenced by vitamin D, and feeding of distillers grains and probiotics to dairy cattle. In addition to research collaboration with colleagues on the Iowa State University campus, he has maintained a long-term collaboration with colleagues at the USDA National Animal Disease Center. His research has been published in 290 peer-reviewed manuscripts, 341 abstracts, and 9 patents and described at about 250 off-campus professional presentations.
Awards and honors include several local and national awards for teaching, research, and advising excellence. He has had leadership positions in American Dairy Science Association (ADSA), American Society for Nutrition (ASN), American Society of Animal Science (ASAS), Federation of Animal Science Societies, Council of Agricultural Science and Technology, and National Academy of Science. His research and teaching activities have been recognized by numerous university and professional society awards. Moreover, he has been named a Fellow of ADSA, ASAS, ASN, Iowa Academy of Science, and American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Dr. Beitz has had a very rewarding career of teaching biochemistry and conducting research in a variety of topics in nutritional biochemistry. His greatest pride has been to participate in the scientific and personal development of numerous undergraduate and graduate students, post-doctorates, and visiting scientists during their studies and research on many different problems in human nutrition and animal agriculture. Current extracurricular activities include leadership activities in the Ames History Museum, Ames Town and Country Kiwanis Club, and Memorial Lutheran Church and enjoying a variety of sporting activities such as Iowa State University sports, Green Bay Packer football, Boston Celtic basketball, and St. Louis Cardinal baseball. Most of all, he is very proud of his lovely wife Judy, two children, five grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.