Speakers
The Center for Foodborne Illness Research & Prevention (CFI) is dedicated to increasing awareness and education about foodborne illness and related food safety issues. As such, CFI welcomes the opportunity to speak on these important issues in a variety of forums. The following members of CFI are available for speaking engagements and have extensive experience in various aspects of food safety research, education and advocacy. To request a speaker, please contact CFI at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by calling (724) 458-0767.
Patricia Buck, M.A.
Ms. Buck is CFI’s Executive Director and the grandmother of Kevin Kowalcyk, who died at age 2 ½ from complications due to an E. coli O157:H7 infection. Prior to founding CFI in 2006 with her daughter, Barbara Kowalcyk, Ms. Buck volunteered extensively for Safe Tables Our Priority (S.T.O.P.) as a food safety advocate. Currently, Ms. Buck serves on the Board of Directors for the Partnership for Food Safety Education (PFSE). Ms. Buck received a B.S. in Education; a M.A. in English and a M.S. in Education in 1994, all from Slippery Rock University. Ms. Buck holds four Pennsylvania certifications – Elementary Education, Library Science, Reading Specialist and Secondary English – and has taught at all levels. She is the mother of five children and currently resides in Grove City, Pennsylvania with her husband.
Barbara Kowalcyk, M.A.
Ms. Kowalcyk is CFI’s Director of Food Safety and the mother of Kevin Kowalcyk, who died at age 2 ½ from complications due to an E. coli O157:H7 infection. Prior to founding CFI in 2006 with her mother, Patricia Buck, Ms. Kowalcyk volunteered extensively for Safe Tables Our Priority (S.T.O.P.) and served as the organization’s President for two years (2005-2006). In addition, Ms. Kowalcyk has served on USDA’s National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) since 2005 and the Food Safety Research Consortium’s Advisory Board since 2006. Ms. Kowalcyk has given numerous presentations on food safety and has testified before the National Academies of Science. In addition to her extensive experience in food safety advocacy, Ms. Kowalcyk has over 10 years experience as a biostatistician conducting clinical research in the pharmaceutical industry. Ms. Kowalcyk earned her undergraduate degree from the Univeristy of Dayton in Mathematics and her Master’s in Applied Statistics from the University of Pittsburgh. Ms. Kowalcyk is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Public Health at Ohio State University and resides in Loveland, Ohio with her husband and three surviving children.
David Buck, Ph.D.
Dr. Buck is an Assistant Professor at Thiel College in Greenville, PA, teaching American and World history. Dr. Buck earned his undergraduate degree in American Studies from the University of Dayton; a Master’s in History, with an emphasis on Asian Studies, from Slippery Rock University, and his Ph.d. in History from West Virginia University. In regard to food safety issues, he has presented on the history of food safety legislation in the 19th and 20th centuries. He is currently working on two research projects dealing with food safety. He hopes to have an article on using The Jungle and Fast Food Nation in teaching 20th century United States history finished by Fall 2007. He is also starting to research for a book length project on the development of food safety legislation in the United States. Dr. Buck currently resides in Sharon, PA, with his wife and two children.
Michael Kowalcyk, M.A.
Mr. Kowalcyk is the father of Kevin Kowalcyk, who died at age 2 ½ from complications due to an E. coli O157:H7 infection. Since his son’s death, Mr. Kowalcyk has spoken on food safety issues on numerous occasions, including CBS Nightly News and Frontline, and has served on USDA’s National Advisory Committee for Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI) since 2003. Mr. Kowalcyk earned his undergraduate degree in Finance from the University of Dayton and a Master of Arts in Economics from the University of Delaware. Mr. Kowalcyk, who is an Associate Director with DunnhumbyUSA in Cincinnati, Ohio, has over 10 years experience in business analytics, econometrics, and direct marketing. Mr. Kowalcyk currently resides in Loveland, Ohio with his wife and three surviving children.