Detwiler Receives 2016 Teaching Excellence Award

On May 13, Northeastern University in Boston, Mass., presented the 2016 College of Professional Studied Teaching Excellence Award to two outstanding faculty members, one of whom is Darin Detwiler, long-time food safety and policy advocate/educator, and QA Magazine columnist.

For over 20 years, state, federal, and industry stakeholders have called upon Detwiler as a voice in strengthening America’s food policies. After the loss of his son, Riley, to E.coli O157:H7 during the 1993 Jack in the Box outbreak, Detwiler spoke with then- President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore, met with USDA Secretary Michael Espy, and testified before a Congressional panel. He later became an FDA-certified food science educator and was appointed twice to serve as a regulatory policy advisor for USDA. He has since worked with FDA as regulatory policy advisor and to bring consumers’ voices to the table for FSMA rulemaking. He is a frequent speaker at FDA regional training events and national food policy conferences.

Each year, Northeastern University College of Professional Studies honors two faculty members for their excellence in teaching. In considering nominations, the committee seeks indication of especially high intellectual standards in terms of course content, rigor, and integration of the best scholarship, depth of knowledge in the subject and evidence of scholarly and pedagogical growth as new knowledge is created and new classroom technology is developed. Nominated by students in the Master’s in Regulatory Affairs of Food and Food Industries program, Detwiler’s students call him an “outstanding and engaging” instructor who “shares an enormous passion for his discipline that he instills in others.”

Detwiler currently serves as the acting program director and an adjunct professor for the Master of Science in Regulatory Affairs of Food and Food Industry program at Northeastern University in Boston. This program is designed to offer a combination of theory and practical training for professionals looking to enter into the field of food regulatory affairs. In this field, rapidly evolving regulations and expansion of international markets create an increasing need for highly trained professionals equipped to serve instrumental roles in the formation of efficient public policies, the implementation of regulatory guidelines, industry’s compliance with regulations, and the regulatory strategies of companies looking to create a sustainable competitive advantage in the food industry.

Detwiler is a doctoral candidate in law and policy, focusing on food policy, and writes QA's column "Consumer Perspectives."