Neogen's Mike Clark Named AOAC INTERNATIONAL President

Neogen is proud to recognize Mike Clark, Global Senior Portfolio Manager for Food Safety at Neogen, as the incoming President of the AOAC INTERNATIONAL Board of Directors. Mike begins his term on September 2, 2026, succeeding Gary Swanson, Senior Vice President of Global Quality at Herbalife, and will serve through September 1, 2027.

The appointment reflects Mike's longstanding commitment to the scientific community, collaboration, and the advancement of analytical methods that help support food safety and product integrity. For Neogen, it's also an opportunity to celebrate a colleague whose work connects closely with an organization that plays an important role in the analytical science community.

A Commitment to the AOAC Scientific Community

For Mike, becoming President is about more than a leadership title, it's an opportunity to give back to a community that has shaped his career.

"What becoming President of AOAC INTERNATIONAL means to me most is the opportunity to give back to an association that has shaped me both professionally and personally. Over the years, I've had the privilege of learning from, working alongside, and building relationships with so many incredible people across this scientific community. To now have the opportunity to serve that community as President is a tremendous honor.

I'm looking forward to helping ensure that AOAC continues to evolve as the needs of our members, stakeholders, and the world around us change. I'm quite passionate about creating opportunities for new voices and the next generation of leaders to get involved, build relationships, and experience the same sense of community within AOAC that has meant so much to me."
— Mike Clark, Global Senior Portfolio Manager for Food Safety, Neogen

Mike's focus on community, collaboration, and developing future leaders reflects an important part of scientific progress. As laboratories, manufacturers, and regulators respond to new technologies and emerging challenges, creating opportunities for collaboration helps the analytical community continue to adapt.

Advancing Trusted Analytical Science

AOAC INTERNATIONAL brings the analytical science community together around the development and evaluation of trusted methods and laboratory practices, work with a direct connection to Neogen's food safety portfolio.

Neogen provides sampling and testing solutions across indicator testing, hygiene monitoring, pathogen detection, allergen testing, natural toxin testing, food quality analysis, and sample collection, along with technical expertise and educational resources for food safety professionals. Across many of these applications, third-party validations, including AOAC Performance Tested Method and AOAC Official Method of Analysis recognition, provide an additional level of confidence in analytical performance, giving laboratories access to solutions supported by independent evaluation.

Mike's History with AOAC and the Food Safety Industry

Mike's appointment builds on years of active involvement with the AOAC community. Within AOAC INTERNATIONAL, Mike has held several leadership positions:

• Co-Chair, AOAC Microbiology Community
• Member, AOAC INTERNATIONAL Board of Directors
• Secretary, then Treasurer, and now President

His contributions extend across the wider industry as well. Mike has led committees, task forces, and initiatives through both AOAC INTERNATIONAL and the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP), presented at numerous AOAC, IAFP, and other international and regional meetings, and helped develop and launch several products that have positively impacted the food safety industry.

Looking Ahead to a Year of Leadership

As President, developing future leaders will be a defining theme of Mike's year of service. By creating opportunities for new voices to participate, build relationships, and become part of the AOAC community, Mike hopes others can benefit from the same professional community that has meant so much to him.

Strong food safety programs depend on more than technology alone, they depend on trusted methods, scientific collaboration, laboratory expertise, and people committed to moving the industry forward.

Neogen congratulates Mike Clark on his appointment as President of the AOAC INTERNATIONAL Board of Directors and looks forward to supporting him in this next chapter of service to the analytical science community.