ANR Awards

Rohini Mulchandani, Ph.D., of Columbus, Ohio, will be honored with the Michigan State University (MSU) College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) Dean’s Pinnacle of Excellence Award at the March 1 ANR Awards Program.

The CANR Dean’s Pinnacle of Excellence Award is presented to alumni who have obtained the pinnacle of achievement in their field and brought distinction to the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Created in 2023, this award is the highest accolade awarded by the dean. Dr. Gary Seevers will also be honored with a 2024 CANR Dean’s Pinnacle of Excellence Award at the March 1 ANR Award ceremony.

“I am thrilled to present the Dean's Pinnacle of Excellence Award to such extraordinary Spartans,” said Kelly F. Millenbah, Ph.D., CANR dean. “They have brought distinction to the college through their remarkable professional achievements, personal integrity and devoted service to MSU and their communities. Outstanding alumni like Dr. Rohini Mulchandani and Dr. Gary Seevers are an inspiration to CANR Spartans everywhere.”

Mulchandani arrived in the U.S. in 1964 to pursue a master’s degree in food science and technology from MSU after receiving a bachelor's degree in chemistry and a minor in physics from the University of Mumbai, India. During her time at MSU, Mulchandani was advised by Dr. Charles Stine and was the beneficiary of a graduate fellowship which helped her pay for her education. She graduated from MSU in 1966 and went on to earn a Ph.D. in dairy technology from the Ohio State University (OSU) in 1969.

In 1973, Mulchandani started her career with Abbott Laboratories in Columbus, Ohio, working at the Ross Laboratories division (now Abbott Nutrition International) on a multitude of significant product improvement and development initiatives. She is responsible for the development and commercialization of 10 “Forta” Nutritional Supplement Mixes for the geriatric market and three complete liquid Medical Nutritionals (Glucerna, Replena and Nepro) for the adult diabetic and renal markets.

She holds a patent for the Nepro formulation and two others for her work with stabilizing agents to improve the physical stability of medical nutritionals. During her time at Ross Laboratories, Mulchandani earned several awards for her outstanding achievements and scientific contributions. In 1987, she was awarded the Abbott Laboratories Presidential Award, as well as other individual and group technical awards.

Upon retiring from Ross Laboratories, Mulchandani started a new venture merging two of her greatest strengths – a technical knowledge of food science and entrepreneurship – to create Arjay Gourmet Foods LTD in 1998. As her business steadily grew, she became known as the “Chutney Lady,” having created 13 versions of award-winning chutneys and seasonings. Arjay Gourmet Foods has been awarded four Food Distribution Magazine Hot Sauce, Salsa and Chutney Competition Awards and two Fiery Foods Challenge Awards. In 1999, the Columbus International Festival named Arjay Foods the Best Commercial Ethnic Food Booth Exhibit and Mulchandani was recognized by the Ohio Senate with an Award for Entrepreneurship.

Throughout her career, Mulchandani has received many personal awards and recognitions. She has been featured on the PBS program “New Americans Short Stories.” She was the first woman inducted into the OSU Department of Food Science and Technology Hall of Distinction in 2014 and received the department’s distinguished alumni award in 2018. She was awarded the CANR Distinguished Alumni Award in 2017.

Since 2014, Mulchandani has been fully retired and has channeled all her efforts to her numerous philanthropic and volunteer endeavors. Instilled by her parents with a strong sense of responsibility for “paying it forward,” Mulchandani has donated generously to educational institutions and non-profit organizations in her community and around the world. Her cash and planned gifts to CANR are currently funding four “Mulchandani Fellows” from India pursing graduate degrees in Food Science at MSU. She has funded endowments at OSU and has supported the University of Mumbai and the Sacred Heart Convent School, Jamshedpur, India, where she attended elementary and high school.

She is deeply involved in the Columbus community, serving and supporting a variety of area organizations, including The Nature Conservancy of Ohio, The Dublin Food Pantry, Columbus Jazz Arts Group, Franklin County, Ohio, Department for Animal Care and many more. In addition to philanthropic support, Mulchandani has generously volunteered her time in a variety of capacities. She participated in Women in Science panels at OSU and organized a group of colleagues at Ross Products Division (Women in Stem) to participate in career day presentations at area high schools in metropolitan Columbus. She remains a leader in a number of civic and community-oriented groups, in addition to being an active parent and grandparent.