Katerina Mastovska Named AOAC International Chief Scientific Officer

Katerina (Kate) Mastovska has been named the Deputy Executive Director and Chief Science Officer of AOAC International, a nonprofit organization that serves to ensure the safety of foods and other products that impact public health. She will join the organization on January 30.

Mastovska has been an active member of AOAC International since 2004 and received the association’s highest scientific honor, the Harvey W. Wiley Award, in 2021. She has extensive experience in research chemistry—working for the University of Chemistry & Technology in Prague, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and founding her own independent consulting business, Excellcon International. In 2009, she joined Covance Laboratories, where her responsibilities grew rapidly. Following the acquisition of Covance Food Solutions by Eurofins Scientific, Mastovska continued to serve in roles of increasing importance, most recently as the Chief Scientific Officer of the Eurofins US Food Division.

AOAC International, founded in 1884, is an independent, third party, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) association that develops voluntary consensus standards. The AOAC Official Methods of Analysis database is used by food scientists around the world to facilitate public health and safety and to promote trade.

In addition, two current AOAC staff members, each with almost 20 years of experience at AOAC, Dawn L. Frazier and Deborah McKenzie, have been promoted.

Frazier has been promoted to the position of Deputy Executive Director of Engagement. Previously she served as the Senior Director of Membership, Marketing, and Communications. Her responsibilities include leading and implementing the organization’s engagement strategy, which includes developing and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders and partners, as well as overseeing outreach and communication efforts — all to achieve the organization’s strategic plan.

McKenzie has been promoted to the new role of Deputy Assistant Executive Director and Chief Standards Officer. McKenzie was previously the Senior Director of Standards and Official Methods. Her responsibilities include overseeing implementation and execution of voluntary consensus standards processes and the official methods. She and her team coordinate and administer associated activities with standards development and method approval programs.