By Scout Nelson
Crystal Levesque, a professor of monogastric nutrition at South Dakota State University, is named the first Rick Wahlstrom Endowed Chair in Swine Production. The appointment recognizes her research work, teaching, and commitment to preparing students for careers in animal agriculture.
The endowed chair honors the late Rick Wahlstrom, who spent 36 years at SDSU and helped strengthen the university’s role in swine research and education. His work in swine nutrition contributed to advances in animal production and supported students and producers.
“Dr. Levesque’s research bridges the gap between basic and applied swine research. She integrates the teaching and research missions of SDSU well. Thanks to Dr. Levesque’s work, our undergraduate and graduate students are included in impactful research projects that not only benefit the swine industry but also improve our students’ preparedness to enter the workforce,” said Michael Gonda, interim department head of animal science. “I’m really excited that she is the inaugural recipient of the Wahlstrom Endowment in Swine Production. I think Dr. Wahlstrom would be excited, too.”
Levesque first met Wahlstrom after joining SDSU in 2013. She remembers him as someone who listened carefully and connected well with others.
“Rick Wahlstrom was the kind of person who actively listened,” she said. “It didn’t seem to matter what the topic was — he was always actively engaged.”
Levesque grew up on a farm in Saskatchewan, Canada, and developed an early interest in livestock production. She earned her doctorate from the University of Alberta and completed postdoctoral training at the Prairie Swine Centre at the University of Guelph.
At SDSU, her research focuses on maternal nutrition, alternative feed ingredients, piglet health, and advanced feeding methods for poultry. Her program has received more than $6 million in outside funding and produced more than 40 peer-reviewed research papers.
Levesque has also mentored 23 graduate students and helped train more than 130 graduate students in scientific communication.
“It is his desire and skill for engaging interaction that I strive to bring to my teaching and research,” Levesque said. “Active engagement with the students and active listening with the farmers is what ensures our training and research have relevance to commercial swine production and produce well-trained, engaged students to become the next leaders of the swine industry — leaders with influence like Dr. Wahlstrom had.”
She will be recognized at the University Leadership Honors ceremony on Sept. 24.
Photo Credit: South Dakota State University
Categories: South Dakota, Education