Charles Odilichukwu R Okpala

Summary

Charles Odilichukwu R. Okpala is a Certified Food Scientist (CFS) - International Food Science Certification Commission (IFSCC-USA), Chartered Scientist (CSci) of the Science Council-UK, Fellow - Linnaean Society of London (FLS), Fellow - Institute of Food Science and Technology (FIFST-UK), Member - International Association of Food Protection (MIAFP-USA), Member - Institution of Agricultural Engineers (MIAgrE-UK), Professional Engineer (PEng-UK), Member - The Federalist Society (USA), among others. Charles' first college education was in Statistics and Computer Applications (CertDiplom, 2002) at the University of Nigeria Nsukka - Nigeria, followed by Agriculture (B.Sc. Hons, 2008) at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi-Ghana. Subsequently, he underwent specialist food science research training (M.RES., 2010) at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow-UK, and during that period, undertook chemical engineering training under the European Federation of Chemical Engineers at Koc Universitesi-Istanbul, Turkey(Intensive Lifelong Learning Diploma- Chemical Engineering, 2009). He recently accomplished an advanced specialist food nutrition technology research training at Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences(UPWr), Wrocław-Poland (Ph.D., 2023). He holds an excess of 75 other credentials, for example, Diplomas in Legal Studies, Social Work Studies, Psychology, Workplace Safety & Health, as well as certifications like FSPCA Preventive Controls for Human Food(USA); HACCP Meat & Poultry(USA); HACCP Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Packinghouse(USA); ServSafe® Instructor/Registered Examination Proctor(National Restaurant Association-USA); ServSafe® Food Protection Manager(National Restaurant Association-USA); Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Train-the-Trainer (Association of Food and Drug Officials, USA); etc. Currently, he is a County Extension Agent/Assistant Professor cadre with the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Georgia- Athens, USA. Before, he was a Research Scholar with the Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław-Poland. Before that, he held research positions at other notable institutions, like, a Research Fellow at IRBIM CNR (previously known as IAMC CNR) Mazara del Vallo, Trapani-Italy (2015-2016), a Research Scholar (School of Science, 2011-2013) and Research Associate (Global Public Health Unit, 2012-2013) at Monash University Sunway Campus, Malaysia. He is an Extension Educator and Subject Matter Specialist, Independent Academic - Research Practice Consultant, Lead Internal Quality Assurer, and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Practitioner, among others. He has over 100 scholarly works in promising ISI impact factor journals, with an excess of 2500 Google Scholar citations. In addition to being an academic/associate editor to some Scopus-indexed journals, he also serves as a scientific reviewer for over 45 others. He has delivered posters/presentations at regional/state/national/international conferences/seminars and received notable awards. Adding to being a proud Strathclyder, Charles' interests include the following: utilization of animal products in sustainable global food systems; family consumer sciences/extension services; agri-food processing/production/quality; consumer safety/food protection; foodservice industries and their personnel development; environmental public health/epidemiology; qualitative and quantitative research methods; quality management of agrifood products/socio-related aspects of foods. Very importantly, Charles trusts Almighty God to lead him in academic, administration, and vocational endeavors. He is extremely passionate/zealous about ensuring colleagues/students, as well as community members, excel, succeed, and thrive to their very best.

Agricultural Science Aquaculture, Fisheries & Fish Science Biotechnology Food Science & Technology Food, Water & Energy Nexus Nutrition Science & Medical Education

Past or current institution affiliations