Title: Department Head and Professor
Company: University of Georgia
Location: Athens, Georgia, United States
Dr. Francis L. Fluharty, department head and professor at the University of Georgia, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements, and leadership in higher education.
Dr. Fluharty, a seasoned scholar and expert in animal science and nutrition, has been serving as a professor and department head at the University of Georgia in Athens since 2018. Since joining the faculty, he has been overseeing all faculty members and hiring staff while supervising approximately 35 staff members and over 30 doctoral candidates. He also manages the academic programs in the animal and dairy science department. Moreover, as part of his research, Dr. Fluharty oversees eight farms, a federally inspected meat laboratory, and a large animal research unit that conducts traumatic brain injury research using swine raised on these farms. His substantial expertise in beef cattle nutrition has been instrumental in his success as a leading authority in animal science.
Having begun his academic career over four decades ago in 1982, Dr. Fluharty was affiliated with his alma mater, The Ohio State University, for more than 35 years, starting as a beef feedlot manager on campus. Pivoting to research, he became a research scientist and coordinator for the Ohio Beef Industry Center at the university from 1993 to 2007. Subsequently, Dr. Fluharty began teaching as a research associate professor between 2007 and 2011, followed by the promotion to research professor from 2011 to 2018.
Highly educated in preparation for his career, Dr. Fluharty initially acquired a Bachelor of Science in animal science from The Ohio State University in 1982. Remaining on campus, he garnered a Master of Science in animal science in 1987 and a PhD in animal science and nutrition in 1993. Dr. Fluharty also became board-certified by the American College of Animal Sciences in Animal Nutrition, American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists, in 2014.
Beyond his degrees, Dr. Fluharty is a member of the American Society of Animal Science and the American Dairy Science Association. These memberships have been influential in his ability to network with like-minded individuals and remain at the forefront of his industry. Dr. Fluharty has also been engaged in various civic initiatives concerning the LGBTQ+ community. Additionally, he contributes to The Trevor Project, the Human Rights Campaign and the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia.
Dr. Fluharty was recognized as a member of the inaugural class of LEAD21, a program dedicated to leadership and professional development for the 21st century. He has also been honored with several professional accolades, including a Beef Industry Service Award from the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association in 2003, recognition as the Innovator of the Year by the Ohio Agricultural Research & Development Center in 2005, with a Friend of the Ohio Sheep Industry Award from Ohio Sheep Improvement Association and Ohio Sheep and Wool Program in 2013, and a Celebration of Students Award from the college of food, agricultural and environmental sciences at The Ohio State University in 2018.
Dr. Fluharty attributes his career accomplishments to his relentless work ethic. Throughout his remarkable career, he has always strived to excel in his field while being available to his students and families involved in production. In addition to his many accolades, Dr. Fluharty notes his most notable achievement, which involved developing an extension program that successfully assisted approximately 1,000 small-scale beef producers in the eastern United States. The program continues to help producers achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness in cattle production by using science as its foundation.
As Dr. Fluharty prepares for the future, he envisions establishing a renowned animal and dairy science department. His goal is to have it become recognized as a premier department in the U.S. and worldwide.
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