In recent months, the Washington State University Alumni Association honored United Nations Food Safety Officer Masami Takeuchi and Louisiana State University Professor Gail L. Cramer with WSU Alumni Achievement Awards.

A native of Japan, Masami Takeuchi earned her first bachelor’s degree in 1994 from Kwassui University in Nagasaki, Japan. At WSU, she completed a bachelor’s degree in 1999, a master of science degree in 2001, and a doctorate in 2004, all in human nutrition.

Based in Rome, Takeuchi is one of a small group of food safety and quality officers working for the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s Nutrition and Consumer Protection Division.

From 2007 to 2010, Takeuchi worked with the Ministry of Agriculture in Bhutan to develop and implement an integrated, environmentally sound approach to food safety and animal health. The program’s success prompted the FAO to develop similar programs in eight other countries—five in Africa and three in Asia. Takeuchi continues to travel to Africa and Asia to ensure the continued success of the programs.

Last August Takeuchi was the guest speaker for the School of Food Science Distinguished Lecture Series, sponsored by Washington State University and the University of Idaho.

Gail L. Cramer was honored for his outstanding contributions to agricultural policy, research, and global agribusiness.

Currently head of LSU’s Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Cramer is the recipient of a number of research grants from the USDA and other entities for agricultural research and the author of over 220 scholarly articles, book chapters, and volumes in his areas of expertise.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture economics from Washington State University in 1963 and a master’s of science degree from Michigan State University the following year. He earned his doctorate from Oregon State University in 1968. His academic posts include visiting associate professor at Harvard University, where he founded the International Agribusiness Management Association in 1992. He was named to his current position at LSU in 2000.

Cramer has been recognized with numerous awards and honors in his field. In 2004, he received the prestigious Gamma Sigma Delta Distinguished Achievement in Agriculture International Award. He was honored with the Sustainable Agriculture Education Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002. In 1989, he was appointed to the White House Agribusiness Commission.

In 2007, Cramer, with his wife Marilyn ’63 and their son Bruce ’92 and his family, established the Gail L. Cramer and Marilyn J. Karlenberg Cramer Endowed Scholarship at WSU. Cramer’s community service roles include service with Kiwanis Club, Key Club, and Babe Ruth baseball.

For more information about WSUAA and alumni chapters visit alumni.wsu.edu or call 1-800-258-6978.