Our People
We Are
The Dairy Protein Institute is guided by leaders, directors, and advisors who bring deep expertise in dairy, research, economics, and innovation. Together, they help shape DPI’s mission, ensure farmer-first governance, and support the commercialization of dairy-based technologies and solutions.
Jenny Nelson
Co-Founder & CEO
Jenny Nelson founded the Dairy Protein Institute to bridge a long-standing gap between dairy innovation and real-world commercialization. Through more than 25 years working alongside dairy farmers, processors, researchers, and supply chain partners, Jenny has gained deep insight into why so many strong ideas stall before commercialization—and how farmers are often left out of the value they help create.
Driven by a belief in equitable innovation, she established DPI as a connected ecosystem designed to accelerate commercialization while returning intellectual property and financial benefit to producers. Jenny leads DPI’s vision, strategic direction, and partnerships across academia, industry, and the global dairy supply chain. Her work focuses on building a more resilient, collaborative, and opportunity-rich future for dairy.
Eric Bastian
Co-Founder & Research Scientist
Eric D. Bastian was born in central Utah and reared on a dairy farm. He obtained his education at Utah State University with a BS degree in Dairy Science, and MS and Ph. D. (1989) degrees in Nutrition and Food Sciences. He spent one year (1989-1990) as a research fellow with the Danish Government Research Institute for the Dairy Industry in Hillerod, Denmark.
In 1992, Eric accepted a faculty position at the University of Minnesota in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition and for six years he led a research team focused on milk protein and enzyme chemistry, process cheese functionality, and milk protein fractionation. In 1998, he was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure. In the same year, he accepted a position with Avonmore West (now Glanbia) as Director of Research & Development (R&D) and relocated to Twin Falls, Idaho.
Eric was promoted to Vice President of R & D for Glanbia Nutritionals in 2006 and he began leading the cheese R&D for Glanbia Foods in 2013. In 2015, Eric was promoted to Senior Vice President of Innovation. During his time at Glanbia Nutritionals, he developed a research team, starting with 5 people and building to a team of 80.
In July of 2016, Eric joined Dairy West as Vice President of Research & Innovation and, from 2019 - 2024, he served as Director of the Western Dairy Center. Eric has been instrumental in developing the BUILD Dairy Program, a technical research/workforce development for the dairy industry.
Rhitika Poudel
Scientific Research & Innovation
Rhitika Poudel is a nutrition scientist and innovation leader dedicated to advancing the role of dairy and functional ingredients in human health. With a background in nutritional science and a passion for translating research into real-world impact, she has built her career at the intersection of science, product development, and strategic growth within the global nutrition industry.
At Glanbia Nutritionals, Rhitika has led cross-functional efforts spanning research, applications, and commercialization—helping transform emerging science into market-ready solutions. Her work has focused on protein innovation, functional ingredient systems, and evidence-based product platforms that meet evolving consumer needs in areas such as active nutrition, healthy aging, and overall wellness. Known for connecting technical insight with business strategy, she partners closely with R&D teams, customers, and commercial leaders to bring differentiated, science-backed products to market.
Throughout her career, Rhitika has been a strong advocate for diversity in science and for creating pathways that empower the next generation of leaders in nutritional innovation. She is driven by a belief that rigorous science, collaborative partnerships, and inclusive leadership are essential to building a more sustainable and health-focused global food system.
Board of Directors
This board provides governance, oversight, and strategic guidance to ensure DPI fulfills its mission and maintains strong alignment with farmer interests.
Josh Webb (ID) — Chairman
Chace Fullmer (UT) — Vice Chairman
Seth Cannon (ID) — Secretary / Treasurer
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Advisory Board
This advisory group brings scientific, technical, and economic insight to DPI—informing research pathways, commercialization strategies, and industry-facing opportunities.
Loren Ward — Scientist, Glanbia
Younas Dadmohammadi — Scientist, Oregon State University / FIC
Sara Dorland — Economist, Ceres
Dan Smith — Business Development, Dairy West
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