Full Name
Dr. Quita Bowman-Blackwell
Job Title
Humane Handling Enforcement Coordinator
Company
USDA
Speaker Bio
Dr. Quita Bowman Blackwell joined the Food Safety and Inspection Service as a Veterinary Medical Officer after some time in private veterinary practice. She worked in the field as a poultry veterinarian but also worked as a quasi-relief veterinarian in multiple species establishments. Dr. Blackwell is a native of Florida but moved to Southern California as a toddler. She is a true valley girl! She did her undergraduate work resulting in a B.S. in Zoology with a double minor in Voice and Chemistry from Howard University in Washington, D.C. She then obtained her Doctoral Degree in Veterinary Medicine from Tuskegee University in 1990. She completed the Key Executive Leadership Certification Program at American University, School of Public Health in Public Policy Implementation; several Executive trainings from The Brookings Institute; and the Harvard University Program on Negotiations. She is also a Federal Quality Review Board Certified, Senior Executive Service Candidate.

Dr. Blackwell has an extensive background in risk management, food safety policy development, animal health emergency management, the prevention of hazards into production and process, resource (financial and human) management, executive project management; agency modernizations, and safeguarding the consuming public. This is demonstrated through her senior level leadership experience over the past 28 + years with the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a senior manager directing policymaking activities. She is now the National Humane Handling Enforcement Coordinator. She also served as the Loaned Executive representing the Department of Agriculture to the Combined Federal Campaign on executive detail. She has been known as the HACCP Lady, the Chicken Lady, and the Catfish Lady. She is a classically trained Lyric Soprano, a Federal Scientist, as well as a Senior Manager.

Dr. Blackwell is currently the National Humane Handling Enforcement Coordinator with the Food Safety and Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Her goal is to have a positive impact on the consuming public to protect human health and safety. She is married to a Hampton University and Tuskegee University graduate (Ian Blackwell, a biologist with the EPA). They have one 19-year-old son (Lyr) attending Claflin University in SC and two feline and one canine sons.
Quita Bowman-Blackwell