Avanelle Kirksey Lecture

October 23, 2026
10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Location: TBA

Kathleen Keller, professor of nutritional sciences at Penn State, will present “The challenge of developing appetite self-regulation in the context of an ‘obesogenic’ food environment.”

Avanelle Kirksey Lecture Series

Avanelle Kirksey, a valued faculty member in Purdue University’s Department of Nutrition Science from 1961 to 1994, left a lasting legacy through her groundbreaking research, teaching, and mentorship. Her dynamic, productive, and imaginative research program helped bridge the gap between basic mechanistic science and a broader understanding of how diet influences human behavior and cognition. Beyond her research accomplishments, Kirksey served as an inspiring role model and mentor to generations of students.

In 1985, Kirksey became only the second woman at Purdue to be named a distinguished professor. In recognition of her contributions to the university and her field, Purdue awarded her an Honorary Doctorate in 1997. Today, the Department of Nutrition Science honors her enduring impact each spring through the Kirksey Lecture Series, which celebrates her groundbreaking research, dedicated teaching and commitment to community outreach.

This event is free and open to the public.

Lunch is by invitation only and you must register by October 9th.

Registration coming soon.