WASHINGTON — The Partnership for Food Safety Education (PFSE) announced Barb Masters, DVM, vice president of regulatory policy, food and agriculture with Tyson Foods Inc., was recently elected as the chair of the board of directors.

The group stated that Masters brings a wealth of experience to the role of the board chair and will succeed Harold Chase of NSF who was chair since 2022.

“With more people eating at home, combining their meals with prepared and fresh foods for convenience, it’s so important to work across sectors to support information disseminators with science-based resources so they can be effective at influencing food handling behaviors,” Masters said. “I believe the Partnership is well positioned to provide such leadership.”

Masters holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Mississippi State University and a Food Animal Internship from Kansas State University. She has served on PFSE’s board since 2020.

Ashley Eisenbeiser, senior director of food and product safety programs at FMI – The Food Industry Association, was elected as vice chair of the PFSE board of directors. She graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Science in food science and technology, and earned a master’s degree in food science and technology from Virginia Tech. Eisenbeiser has served on PFSE’s Board since 2020.

One of Eisenbeiser’s passions is food safety education which she’s worked on as a previous family and consumer sciences extension agent with Virginia Cooperative Extension.

“We will continue leading the way in consumer food safety education, all with one goal: to serve our communities and reduce the risk of foodborne illness,” Eisenbeiser said.