Dr. Adele Turzillo on the Campus Farm with one of our heifers.
Image Credit: Jonathan Stephanoff
Dr. Adele Turzillo joined the Department of Animal and Avian Sciences as our new department chair effective Oct. 1, 2024, bringing with her significant experience in academia and federal agencies. She succeeds Dr. Tom Porter, distinguished university professor, who served as interim chair since fall 2023, following Dr. Chad Stahl’s departure.
Dr. Turzillo came to the University of Maryland from Penn State University, where she served as professor and head of their Department of Animal Science since 2020. Under her leadership Penn State’s Animal Science moved into a new building, developed a departmental strategic plan, and brought on eight new faculty members.
Before Penn State, Dr. Turzillo spent over 15 years in various roles at federal government agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of the Chief Scientist, USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
From 2004 to 2008 Dr. Turzillo was a physiologist at FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine where she reviewed science supporting approval of new animal drugs, evaluating them for safety and efficacy. While in this role, she served as subject matter expert in a trade dispute eventually litigated in the World Trade Organization between the US and EU involving hormone implants regularly used in US beef production practices.
In 2008 Dr. Turzillo switched agencies to be the National Program Leader at USDA-NIFA focused on animal production systems, where she was involved in setting priorities and guidelines for grant programs and evaluating grant applications. She also set up a new program examining the interrelationships between climate change and animal production. In 2013 she became the Director of NIFA’s Animal Systems division where she provided oversight of programs in animal health and production with an annual budget of nearly $100 million. In 2019 she served as the senior adviser for animal health, production and animal products in the Office of the Chief Scientist at USDA.
Before her time working with the federal government, Dr. Turzillo spent over a decade in academia and research. She began her academic journey at Cornell studying biological sciences with a plan to enter medical school, but a lab opportunity working in dairy reproduction shifted her trajectory towards research. She continued at Cornell, earning her Ph.D. in 1992 with research using dairy cattle as a model to study hormonal regulation of ovarian function aided by newly developed ultrasonographic technology.
Dr. Turzillo became a post-doctoral fellow at Colorado State University where she switched to the sheep as an animal model to investigate regulation of gene expression in the pituitary gland, leading to many publications. In 1998 she became an assistant professor of physiology and animal science at the University of Arizona. Over the following 6 years she gained extensive teaching experience, mentored graduate students, and successfully competed for grants to support her research. It was also during this time that her two children were born, leading to interest in moving closer to family in the Northeast. When the opportunity arose they relocated to the D.C. area, beginning her time in the federal government in 2004.
Outside of professional life, Dr. Turzillo enjoys spending time with her dogs, downhill skiing, and kayaking in the Chesapeake Bay, which she described as, “one of my favorite things to do.” Her children live in Arlington and Philadelphia, so she enjoys cooking and family gatherings. Please continue to welcome Dr. Turzillo as her department looks forward to new ideas and future initiatives that will make Animal and Avian Sciences even better at the University of Maryland.
