Hunter G. Perez is originally from Palm Coast, Florida, and earned his B.S. in Animal Science from Berry College in Rome, Georgia. He completed his M.S. in Animal and Dairy Science in 2025 at the University of Georgia and remained at UGA to pursue his Ph.D. His work integrates ruminant nutrition, rumen microbial ecology, and preharvest food safety, with an emphasis on applied science that improves cattle productivity, health, and sustainability. During his master’s research, he evaluated how abrupt shifts in forage quality influence Escherichia coli shedding, ruminal and fecal microbial communities, and methane emissions in beef cattle. His doctoral research examines various aspects of finishing beef cattle and its relationships with feedlot performance, carcass traits, stress physiology, and microbial ecology. In addition to his research program, Hunter is actively involved in teaching and graduate student leadership and is committed to translating science into practical outcomes for students, producers, and the beef industry.
Alyssa Marie Lancaster earned her B.S. in Animal Science from Berry College in Rome, Georgia. She is a Class of 2028 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine candidate at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine and works in the Clinical Pathology Laboratory at the UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Her academic interests are centered on the One Health framework, with an emphasis on how veterinary research can integrate animal health, clinical decision-making, and broader human and environmental health considerations. She is particularly interested in translational research that connects laboratory findings to applied veterinary practice.
