Dr. Phebus was born and raised in Waverly, Tennessee, a small town 70 miles west of Nashville.  He attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville from 1981-1992, earning B.S. (Animal Science), M.S. and Ph.D. degrees (Food Science).  Dr. Phebus joined the K-State ASI department in 1992 and has a 30% teaching and 70% research appointment within the Food Science discipline group.  He teaches both undergraduate and graduate level courses in Food Science and is very active in the distance learning Food Science program and student recruitment.  He specializes in food microbiology, food safety, food biosecurity and defense, and public health. 

Dr. Phebus also coordinates an active applied food safety research program.  He is a member of the K-State Food Science Institute and the National Agricultural Biosecurity Center.  Dr. Phebus holds graduate faculty status in Food Science, Animal Sciences and Pathobiology and he advises students in the Master of Public Health Program.  He works closely with food processors, regulators, and technology providers across the country to improve food quality and safety through laboratory-based and processing-based research and troubleshooting activities. 

Personally, Dr. Phebus is a rabid Tennessee Volunteer (beat Florida!) and K-State Wildcat (beat KU!) fan.  He lives west of campus near Keats, KS, with his wife Cindy and two children (Anteelah and Cole).  He is a member of the Manhattan Sunflower Lions Club and the Greater Riley County Optimists.  All of Dr. Phebus's spare time is happily spent participating in high school sports with his children and riding his gas-efficient motorcycle around the Kansas Flint Hills.