Shawna Weimer receives PSA Early Achievement Award for Extension

This award recognizes the achievements of PSA members in the early stages of their career in poultry extension. It is given every other year.

Originally from Iowa, Shawna Weimer received her BS and MS degrees in Animal Science from Iowa State University. After working in compliance and procurement in the commercial swine industry, Shawna completed her PhD in Poultry Science at the University of Arkansas and post-doctoral training at Purdue University. In 2019, Shawna joined the University of Maryland as an Assistant Professor and Poultry Extension Specialist where she worked with small flock owners and the Delmarva poultry industry on education and applied research projects focusing on poultry welfare. In 2021, Shawna joined the University of Arkansas as an Assistant Professor and Director of the Center for Food Animal Wellbeing in the Department of Poultry Science. Her applied research efforts aim towards evaluating management factors and sensor technologies to improve poultry welfare. In addition to hosting an annual symposium, Shawna’s extension activities are rooted in collaborations with academic researchers, animal welfare organizations and poultry industry stakeholders aimed at developing training programs, conducting applied research, and serving on scientific advisory committees.