March 29, 2011

Apgar to lead Animal Science, Food and Nutrition

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- A faculty member in the Department of Animal Science, Food and Nutrition is taking on a new leadership role in the College of Agricultural Sciences at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Gary A. Apgar, associate professor of animal science, food and nutrition, will become interim chair of that department.

Todd A. Winters, interim dean of the college, said Apgar has been important to the college in many ways.

“Dr. Apgar has been a great asset to this college as a faculty member, coordinating counselor, assistant chair, and as a college representative on the Faculty Senate,” Winters said. “I am very excited about having him serve in this new role.”

Apgar earned his doctorate in 1994 at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, where he also earned his Master of Science degree in 1991. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1989 at Delaware Valley College, Doylestown, Pa.

Apgar specializes in swine nutrition. He previously worked in the swine industry where he focused on nutrition and progressive facility and operations management practices. He teaches undergraduate courses in swine management, feed formulation and introductory animal agriculture. He teaches graduate-level courses in nutrition and instrumentation as well as advising graduate students. He also supervises the SIUC Swine Teaching and Research Center, which is home to a 100-sow herd.

Apgar’s research focuses on reducing nutrient content of swine excrement, evaluating immunological activity of feed additives and investigating enzyme addition in swine diets for growth and performance.