Emily Melander

Quality Assurance Lead – NutriQuest LLC

Education: Feed Science and Management

Graduation Year: May 2017

Emily Melander currently serves as the quality assurance lead for NutriQuest LLC. In this position, Melander is responsible for maintaining compliance within all federal and state regulations. Along with those compliances, she also manages international product registrations and labels. Melander has developed, implemented and continued to manage the quality assurance program for the 30+ feed additives sold nationwide. She gets the opportunity to travel for about 20 percent of her work that involves annual audits and visits to NutriQuest LLC’s manufacturers.

K-State Experience

While at Kansas State University Melander was heavily involved in college life. She was a member of the Feed Science Club and often served in a leadership position, along with being a member of Alpha Mu, Department of Grain Sciences and Industry honor society. She served on the College of Agriculture Student Council as a representative of her club and as a co-chair for multiple events.

Looking back, Melander recognizes two classes, as paving a path for her current career. The classes were Qualities of Feed Ingredients and Principles and Analytical Methods in Animal Feed Safety. She says, “these two courses were instrumental in developing my core understanding and passion for feed science and framed the skillset I use routinely in my career today.”

Melander’s hard work landed her two internships. The first one was with Archer Daniels Midland as the operations management intern. The second internship was with Land O’Lakes (Purina Animal Nutrition) as a supply chain and operations intern. During her time as a student, Melander worked for the O.H. Kruse Feed Technology Innovation Center as a quality assurance program leader and the KSU Feed Science and Management Program Office as a department student worker.

Follow Your Passion

Many students are not sure what they want to study when they come to college, Melander says, “when I started at K-State, I thought I wanted to pursue a career in an entirely different field. I soon realized that I needed to stick to my passions for agriculture and helping feed the world.” She adds, “most importantly, follow your passion. Be sure to pursue something that you are passionate for, as this will allow you to truly enjoy your entire life. Yes, there are hard and exhausting days, sometimes weeks, but when you step back and look at the overall picture, you will find you really do have a fulfilling life.”