Dr. Derek Nolan
Dr. Derek Nolan is an Assistant Teaching Professor and Dairy Extension Specialist. He was raised on a dairy farm in northeast Iowa. Besides working on his family farm, he also worked for many other dairy farmers in the area. These experiences have made him very passionate about being able to help dairy farmers reach their goals. He obtained a BS in dairy science from Iowa State University and a masters and PhD in Animal Sciences from the University of Kentucky. His contributions in extension include providing educational material for dairy industry professionals. He wants to help dairy producers reach their goals by providing tools to make informed management decisions and improve milk quality. He focuses on providing hands-on experiences that help youth better understand the dairy cow and dairy production system. His role in extension also includes being the state 4-H Dairy Program coordinator. He tries to provide hands-on dairy experiences to 4-H members and youth in Illinois. He serves as the Illinois Dairy Ambassador Coach through the Midwest Dairy Association.
He is currently working on projects focused on the costs of dairy management decisions and farm energy costs. Additionally, he has a lab where he examines milk quality and mastitis in dairy cattle. His research background is in milk quality and decision economics. In high school, he was very involved in FFA. The experiences that he had during this time, as well as his agriculture teachers, are what drove him to a career in teaching and education. He was also very involved with the Iowa State Dairy Science Club. He wants to provide the positive experience he had in his undergraduate career to the students that he interacts with at the University of Illinois.
