Announcing CFANS Commencement 2025 keynote and student speakers

CFANS Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony | Friday, May 9, 2025 at 2 p.m. | 3M Arena at Mariucci | Livestream

Keynote Address: Marla Spivak, PhD, is a world-renowned entomologist, MacArthur Fellow, and McKnight Distinguished Professor who dedicated her 30-year career at the University of Minnesota to the health and conservation of honey bees. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Humboldt State University in 1978 and her Ph.D. from the University of Kansas in 1989. As a professor in the Department of Entomology and founder of the Bee Squad, she was a tireless advocate for pollinators through research, teaching, and public outreach. Her groundbreaking work on honey bee behavior and colony health had global impact, and she mentored generations of students and beekeepers with compassion, humility, and vision. Spivak retired in December 2024, leaving behind a thriving Bee Lab and an enduring legacy of scientific excellence and environmental stewardship.

Undergraduate Student Speaker: Lauren Lugbauer (‘25) graduates with a BS in Sustainable Systems Management, specializing in Corporate Sustainability Systems with minors in Applied Economics and Retail & Consumer Studies. During her time at the University of Minnesota, she applied her passion for sustainability through research projects on textile recycling and sustainable feed manufacturing, and gained hands-on experience with organizations like Renewing the Countryside and Girls on the Run. A strong communicator and leader, Lauren served as president of the Sustainable Systems Management Club and as a student representative on the CFANS Collegiate Fees Committee. She looks forward to a career in environmental services, where she can continue driving meaningful, systems-level change.  

CFANS Graduate Commencement Ceremony | Saturday, May 10, 2025 at 1 p.m. | Ted Mann Concert Hall | Livestream 

Keynote Address: Julie Simonson, PhD, is a distinguished food science leader with over 35 years of experience in research and development. She earned her PhD in Food Science from the University of Minnesota, where she was inspired to pursue doctoral studies by Professor Howard Morris. Her academic foundation at the University instilled in her a passion for curiosity, problem-solving, and collaboration. Julie’s professional journey includes impactful roles at Kraft Foods, where she helped develop products like Kraft Easy Mac, and at Campbell Soup Company, where she led R&D teams across multiple product categories. She currently serves as Vice President of Technology Development at Schwan’s Company, overseeing research programs and open innovation initiatives. She also contributes to the advancement of food science through her leadership on the Executive Board of the Plant Protein Innovation Center at the University of Minnesota, where she played a key role in its organizational design.

Graduate Student Speaker: Caitlin Klaeui, PhD ‘25 Animal Science, received her undergraduate degree from the University of Idaho in Animal and Veterinary Science. She is finishing her doctorate degree in the Department of Animal Science with advisor Milena Saqui-Salces. Her research focuses on a bacterial pathogen, Lawsonia intracellularis, which commonly causes disease in the swine small intestine. Her dissertation seeks to add novel insights on how L. intracellularis induces disease in pigs to promote development of disease treatment and prevention strategies. Her research includes the development of new approaches to studying bacterial species which require host cells for survival, like L. intracellularis. Caitlin is passionate about student advocacy and her service positions include pPresident of the Animal Science Graduate Student Club, secretary of the CFANS Graduate Student Board, representative on the University of Minnesota Council of Graduate Students, and member of the Animal Science Inclusive Excellence Committee.