Alumni Spotlight

Name: Katie Marston

Current Title: Research and Development Director, Sensory and Consumer Experience

Organization: PepsiCo

Majors: B.S. Bakery Science and Management; B.S. Food Science and Industry (2006), M.S. Food Science and Industry (2009)

K-State College of Ag is proud to recognize alumni from all departments who continue to pursue their passion in their respective fields. It is through experience that we continue to grow as individuals and stewards of the industry. Through those experiences, we hope to be a continued resource for the next generation of K-State students to lean on for advice and continue to build our network!

What drew you to K-State?

I always knew I wanted to go to Kansas State University. I knew I wanted to be in the College of Agriculture because that's my background. I grew up on a farm but knew production agriculture was not a fit for me.

One of the things I looked for when considering K-State was the diverse opportunities offered and that's where I found bakery science. It's a unique program that receives a lot of international recognition for the quality of work and the students that come out of it. I was interested in agriculture and growing the food supply, so it seemed like a natural fit for me to find that niche program. I initially focused on the production side of food. However, I later realized my coursework provided me with a strong foundation for my future career. It gave me a broad understanding of the science behind food production and highlighted the diverse career opportunities within the industry.

How did your time at K-State prepare you for your career today?

I had the opportunity to work closely with the food industry while attending K-State and I had a good internship at Safeway Bakery in Seattle. Upon graduation, I received multiple offers in the production bakery segment of the business. I spent a couple of years gaining valuable experience working in a plant environment where I led a production shift focused on food manufacturing. Occasionally, product developers would come to the plant with new ideas for different types of bread or buns. Consulting with the developers was when I realized my passion was to create new products and introduce them into the marketplace.

I found another niche when pursuing my masters at K-State. Not every college has a great sensory science department and because of the research project I was working on, I had the opportunity to get exposed to it. That experience set me up for my future and the position I'm in today. After completing my master's degree, I went on to a job at ConAgra Foods in Omaha for five years and then got the chance to come to PepsiCo and work not just on things that are launched in the U.S. or Canada, but also on food and snacks that are sold globally. I get to travel to places like Europe, Brazil, South Africa and Australia to learn about consumer behaviors and preferences globally. It's an awesome opportunity to understand how similar we are in our consumption behaviors. There are differences among cultures but there are a lot of similarities you see in consumers with what they love and how they interact with food and beverages. Interacting with a diverse set of people and experiences I had at K-State set me up to work in a global environment.

What is your opinion of the value of continuing your education at K-State?

I believe the value of K-State lies in its people. This is something that always stands out to me, especially through my current work with our company’s internship program. It is an edge K-State has over other universities. The atmosphere of K-State, the attention and quality of people that it attracts and just Midwest nature go above and beyond to make you feel welcome and appreciated when you're at school. You even see it when you go to football games, the atmosphere that we create, we welcome our guests and students. We want the best for them and we want them to have a positive experience.

The people aspect K-State has is second to none when it comes to other universities and the ‘midwest nice’ we have creates a welcoming environment. Plus, the advantage of being in Kansas is you have unique programs around grain science and other ag sectors. The talent is here because that's where the action is and where the innovation happens. K-State has such big opportunities in grain science, food science and animal science because it's in the thick of where agriculture lives and thrives today.

What advice would you have given your college self?

I was super focused on different classes and I was also very competitive when I was in school. One thing that's natural to me is when I set a goal I put blinders on to make it happen. I wish I would have done more to look a little bit broader to see other opportunities that might have expanded my knowledge base and set me up for more success in the long run. I was very focused on the College of Agriculture but there were other things I could have pursued such as design, data science and psychology classes. These other opportunities could have added another layer to my resume before I got into the industry. I think looking back, I was too laser-focused on my major and extracurricular activities and didn't go as broad as I could have in the end.