Professor in Dairy Science
Bldg. 10, Rm. 133
(805) 756-6154
Dr. Yeung received his B.Sc. in Chemistry at the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1996, M.Sc. in Agriculture (Dairy Products Technology) at Cal Poly in 1999, and Ph.D. in Food Chemistry at Cornell in 2003. He received two more years of training as a post-doctoral associate at Cornell, working on a USDA-funded project with his advisor, Dr. Dennis Miller.
Prior to his current position, Dr. Yeung spent time as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Hospitality at South Dakota State University, and also as a lecturer of food science and dairy science at Cal Poly. In 2010, Dr. Yeung served as an Associate Professor of Food Science and the Associate Dean of Science and Technology at BNU-HKBU United International College in Zhuhai, Guangdong, China. During his 18-month stay in China, Dr. Yeung developed a strong interest in international education, especially with underprivileged students.
Dr. Yeung currently teaches undergraduate- and graduate-level dairy foods and dairy processing courses at Cal Poly. His research interest is in the area of dairy foods and health. He utilizes both in vitro and in vivo methods, including the human intestinal cell culture model and the rat model to assess the effects of non-digestible oligosaccharides (also known as prebiotics) on the bioavailability of minerals, and on the prevention of cell damage in small intestine and colon environments.
Katy Pankey
Creamery Production Manager & Industry Short Course Support
Bldg. 18A-Room 100C
(805) 756-6120
Katy Pankey graduated with her Bachelor in Food Science from Cal Poly. She has since joined the Cal Poly Creamery as the Cal Poly Creamery Operations Manager. While a student at Cal Poly, she worked in the creamery and then went on to found Farmgirl Creamery in Santa Margarita, California, where she built a regional reputation making French cheeses of the Savoie region.
Sam Bass
Education Director
Bldg. 18A-Room 106A
Sam Bass got her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science with a Dairy Science Minor from Cal Poly and then went on to get her Master of Science in Agriculture with a specialization in Dairy Products Technology from Cal Poly. She currently serves as the Education Director for the DPTC.
Dimitri Genard
Research Associate
Bldg. 18A-Room 100D
(805) 756-6104
Dimitri Genard graduated from Fresno State University in Food Science. After he graduated, Dimitri worked with Saputo Cheese USA. He currently serves as the primary research associate of the pilot plant at the DPTC.
Dr. Baheeja Zaitoun
Researcher
Bldg. 18A-Room 100B
(805) 756-6104
Dr. Baheeja Zaitoun is a Research Scientist at the Dairy Products Technology Center (DPTC) at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where she contributes to applied research, innovation, and industry collaboration in various dairy product development initiatives. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Nutrition and Food Processing, as well as both an MS and PhD in Food Science from Kansas State University, where her graduate research focused on optimizing the whey protein agglomeration process and enhancing the shelf life of high-protein dairy beverages. As a researcher at the DPTC, her work focuses on improving the nutritional value of dairy-based products, with specialized expertise in functional dairy ingredients, protein stability, and formulation techniques. Dr. Zaitoun emphasizes translating scientific research into practical, industry-relevant solutions that advance product quality, functionality, and consumer health.
Matt Arnold graduated from Cal Poly with his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. Matt currently serves as a research associate and instrument technician with the college of agriculture.
Kristen Murray
Administrative Program Assistant
Bldg. 18A Rm. 100
(805) 756-6101
Kristen (Kristy) Murray serves as the Administrative Program Assistant for the DPTC and Cal Poly Creamery. She has been with the Dairy Products Technology Center and Cal Poly Creamery for 15 years, making her the longest-serving employee at the center.
Associated Faculty
Dr. Mohamed Awwad
Associate Professor in Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Bldg. 192 Rm. 226
805-756-6243
Mohamed Awwad is an Associate Professor in the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, joining in Fall 2019. He earned his Ph.D. and M.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Central Florida and holds M.S. and B.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Cairo University, Egypt.
Before his tenure at Cal Poly, Dr. Awwad served in various academic roles at the State University of New York at Buffalo, the University of Missouri, Florida Polytechnic University, and the University of Central Florida. At Cal Poly, Dr. Awwad focuses on teaching Supply Chain Management and Analytics, Facilities Planning & Design, and Senior Design Advising, with prior experience in teaching a broad array of subjects, including Engineering & Project Management, Production Planning & Control, Probability & Statistics, and Design of Experiments, among others. Dr. Awwad has also engaged in consulting projects with various industrial and business partners. He is an APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) and a Certified Professional in Engineering Management (CPEM) from the American Society of Engineering Management (ASEM).
Dr. Moses Mike
Assistant professor in Agricultural Education and Communication
Bldg. 10, Rm. 237
(805)756-2892
Dr. Moses Mike is an assistant professor with the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Florida and his M.S. and B.A. from the University of the West Indies. Dr. Mike has extensive experience in developing digital media with an emphasis on agriculture and disaster communication. Moses collaborates with the center in the areas of digital communications with ongoing projects integrated with his teaching program.
Dr. Milena Ramirez-Rodrigues
Associate Professor in Food Science and Nutrition
Bldg. 10, Rm 237
(805)-756-6269
mrami217@calpoly.edu
Dr. Milena Ramirez-Rodrigues holds a PhD in Food Science and an MAB in Agribusiness from the University of Florida, as well as an MS in Food Science and a BS in Food Engineering from Universidad de las Américas Puebla in Mexico. Her areas of expertise include food processing, food engineering, and instrumental analysis. In recent years, she has taught a range of courses such as FSN 204 (Food Processing Operations), FSN 319 (The Science of Food for the Consumer), FSN 330 (Principles of Food Engineering), and FSN 474 (Advanced Food Processing). Her research and professional interests focus on beverage processing, fermentation metabolomics, phytochemical and aroma profiles in
food, and natural pigments.
