91传媒鈥檚 Womack confirmed as State Chemist by Mississippi Senate
Contact: James Carskadon
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥91传媒鈥檚 Erika Womack has been confirmed as the State Chemist by the Mississippi Senate.
With Senate confirmation on March 23rd, Womack will continue to lead the Mississippi State Chemical Laboratory, a state agency housed on the 91传媒 campus that provides testing and analysis services on products sold in the state for a wide range of stakeholders. Womack joined 91传媒 as director of the lab and interim State Chemist last year.
鈥淚 appreciate and share the Senate鈥檚 confidence in Dr. Womack to fulfill these duties and continue the vital operations of the Mississippi State Chemical Lab. Erika and her team work to ensure the integrity of products that we use every day in Mississippi,鈥 said 91传媒 Vice President for Research and Economic Development Julie Jordan.
Before returning to 91传媒 last fall, Womack served as a research laboratory manager in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She is a two-time 91传媒 alumna, earning a doctorate in molecular biology and a bachelor鈥檚 degree in biological sciences. She also earned a master鈥檚 degree in biomedical sciences from Mississippi College.
At UAB, Womack was responsible for managing a biosafety level 2 lab while conducting research on the impact of traumatic spinal cord injury on skeletal muscle metabolism. She oversaw and mentored a team that included undergraduate and graduate students, scientists and medical residents. Prior to her appointment at UAB, she worked as a post-doctoral research geneticist in the U.S. Department of Agriculture鈥檚 Corn Host Plant Resistance Research Unit. From 2008-2016, she researched pediatric idiopathic scoliosis at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
鈥淚t is a privilege to accept this position and an honor to have been entrusted with this role as the State Chemist of Mississippi,鈥 Womack said. 鈥淚 am excited for the opportunity to lead this team of efficient and professional staff at the Mississippi State Chemical Laboratory, an organization with a reputation of excellence as a regulatory agency and fee-for-service analytical testing of agricultural products. I plan to preserve MSCL鈥檚 established relationships as well as cultivate new relationships within the regulatory and agribusiness communities.鈥
The MSCL works in cooperation with the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce to develop regulations for and conduct analysis of animal feeds, fertilizers, pesticides, agricultural limes and petroleum products sold in the state. It also assures the quality of retail foods, fuels, livestock feeds, crop protection products and more. For more, visit .
91传媒 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.