Johnson & Wales University Names Elaine Black, Ph.D. as Inaugural Ecolab Executive-in-Residence

PRESS RELEASE

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — October 27, 2021 – Johnson & Wales University, a global leader in food innovation and technology education, recently launched an exclusive ‘Executive-in-Residence’ partnership with Ecolab Inc. to provide students and faculty with the opportunity to work closely with industry experts. Elaine Black, Ph.D., Ecolab’s Director of Food Safety and Public Health, has been named the inaugural Executive-in-Residence. As part of her residency, Black delivered a lecture at JWU on trends in food safety on Monday, October 25. 

 “Community and industry partnerships are a vital part of Johnson & Wales University’s success as a comprehensive institution with an emphasis on experiential education,” said Johnson & Wales University Provost Kyle J. McInnis, Sc.D. “Ecolab is a strong and engaged partner of JWU’s College of Food Innovation & Technology, enabling opportunities for students and faculty, providing tools for scholarship and research, and spurring growth in the teaching of science related to culinary arts.  We are proud to welcome Dr. Elaine Black as our inaugural Executive-in-Residence.”

Black is a food microbiologist and currently leads food safety and public health program and policy initiatives. In her 11 years at Ecolab, she has provided microbiology, food safety and regulatory guidance to key customers and brands across the globe.

“I am honored to serve as Johnson & Wales University’s inaugural Executive-in-Residence. The study of food science and food safety is integral to the growth and sustainability of the food economy,” said Elaine Black, Ph.D., Ecolab Inc. Director of Food Safety and Public Health.

The Executive-in-Residence program launched for the 2021-2022 academic year. Each year, the program will include an industry leader from Ecolab as faculty and students engage in a variety of research, experiential learning, and career development activities. The program is multi-disciplinary and draws on Ecolab’s diverse portfolio of solutions, services, and expertise. Students from an array of Johnson & Wales University academic programs spanning the Colleges of Food Innovation & Technology, Hospitality Management, Business, and Health & Wellness will have the opportunity to participate in the program.

The Executive-in-Residence partnership is the latest in a series of new initiatives at Johnson & Wales University designed to expand the university’s breath of expertise across the entire food sector. The newly repositioned College of Food Innovation & Technology builds on JWU’s reputation as a global leader in culinary education and is focused on the entire scope of the food economy – from sustainability to supply chain; health and wellness to packaging; product development to culinary.

About JWU
Founded in 1914, Johnson & Wales University is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution with more than 9,000 graduate, undergraduate and online students at its campuses in Providence, Rhode Island and Charlotte, North Carolina. An innovative educational leader, the university offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in arts and sciences, business, engineering, food innovation, hospitality, nutrition, health and wellness. It also offers undergraduate programs in culinary arts, dietetics and design. JWU’s unique model provides students with the personalized attention, academic expertise and industry connections that inspire professional success and personal growth. The university’s impact is global, with alumni in 125 countries pursuing careers worldwide. For more information, visit www.jwu.edu.

About Ecolab
A trusted partner at nearly three million customer locations, Ecolab (ECL) is the global leader in water, hygiene and infection prevention solutions and services. With annual sales of $12 billion and more than 44,000 associates, Ecolab delivers comprehensive solutions, data-driven insights and personalized service to advance food safety, maintain clean and safe environments, optimize water and energy use, and improve operational efficiencies and sustainability for customers in the food, healthcare, hospitality and industrial markets in more than 170 countries around the world. www.ecolab.com

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