The Department of Animal Sciences is excited to welcome Dr. Erika Eckhardt, who began her appointment as an Assistant Professor of Meat Science on August 24, 2026. Her position includes teaching and research responsibilities.
Dr. Eckhardt specializes in Meat Science, earning her BS degree from the University of Wyoming and her PhD from Michigan State University. Her research focused on the impacts of heat stress on production livestock and skeletal muscle cells, as well as pre-harvest nutrient supplementation effects on meat quality. Her research will be directly relevant to our regional livestock producers, and it is expected that she will be meeting many producers and industry partners in the near future.
Dr. Eckhardt grew up on an acreage in rural Southeast Nebraska where her experiences in 4-H/FFA and her grandparents’ farming operation led to a life-long passion for the meat industry. Her experience spanning both live animal production and meat quality provides an avenue to bridge research and teaching while addressing some of the major challenges facing Washington producers. Dr. Eckhardt’s goal is to serve and give back to an industry that has shaped her roots, educating and inspiring individuals who will one day be future industry leaders, while supporting producers and packers in finding solutions to enhance livestock meat production amidst current and future challenges. One aspect that she is excited for is to watch students connect material learned in other animal science classes and understand how management decisions can ultimately impact meat quality.
The Department of Animal Sciences is excited to bring back our livestock and carcass evaluation course and our meat science courses under her instruction, starting in the Spring semester of 2027.
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Erika Eckhardt to the Department of Animal Sciences. We are excited to have her expertise, enthusiasm, and industry experience as part of our faculty and look forward to the many contributions she will make to our students, stakeholders, and the Washington State Meat Science community.
Welcome, Dr. Eckhardt!