AT the 16th International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST) Congress, Dr. Delia Rodriguez-Amaya was among ten speakers chosen to give their advice and perspective on what makes a great leader, on how to succeed, and on how they were able to persevere and become the success they are today.
Dr. Rodriguez-Amaya, the IUFoST Scientific Chair, said: “You should be someone who is both productive and pleasurable to work with. Have the humility to go work in a lower position first before going to the top.”
Starting at the bottom and working your way with humility and grace has certainly boded well for Dr. Rodriguez-Amaya, a Filipino professor based in Brazil.
Rodriguez-Amaya is a member of the Faculty of Food Engineering at the University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
For her achievements in food science and technology, Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III awarded Dr. Rodriguez-Amaya the Pamana ng Pilipino Award, which is given by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas’ (CFO).
The award recognizes Filipinos overseas, who exemplify the talent and industry of the Filipino and have brought the country honor and recognition, through excellence and distinction in the pursuit of their work or profession.
Rodriguez-Amaya became the first Filipino based in Brazil to receive the prestigious award.
Aquino conferred the award during rites held on December 2012 at the Rizal Hall of Malacañang Palace, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.
A full scholar and Magna Cum Laude graduate of Araneta University, Dr. Rodriguez-Amaya, is one of the most heralded individuals in her profession.
After earning her Master’s degree in Food Science from the University of Hawaii, where she was an East-West Center grantee and recipient of the EWC Professional Award for high scholastic achievement, she went on to earn a Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis.
She has authored 231 scientific publications, which are all peer-reviewed and in international circulation.
Many of her articles have made the top ten most read and/or most cited lists of international journals, the DFA said.
Dr. Rodriguez-Amaya has also presented more than 240 papers in 25 different countries and lectures worldwide in her field of expertise.
She is a member of the Editorial Boards of three international journals and two Brazilian journals.
Aside from being a professor, she is also a Fellow of the International Academy of Food Science and Technology, and the first woman to be elected president of the Academy.
Her other awards include the 2010 East-West Center Distinguished Alumni Award; the University of Campinas “Zeferino Vaz” Recognition Award for Excellence in Teaching and Research, three times (1994, 1997, 2003); the Andre Tosello Award (2005), major award of the Brazilian Society of Food Science and Technology; and the PAFT (Philippine Association of Food Technologists) 50th Anniversary Recognition Award.
(LA Weekend January 26-29, 2013 Sec. A pg.8)
