Emily Darchuk, M.S. '15

When Emily Darchuk was researching the impact of milk hauling while earning her master’s degree at OSU, she never thought her experience would be helpful in her future role as an entrepreneur. Her company — Wheyward Spirit — has lived up to its name, disrupting the industry with its sustainable specialty spirits upcycled from whey. Since its launch in the fall of 2020, Wheyward Spirit has received over 467 million impressions. It leads the conversation around upcycling and innovation in the dairy and spirit sectors through collaborations and partnerships with Ben & Jerry’s and Fever-Tree. Emily was named a Grist 50 Environmental Fixer and one of 20 women revolutionizing the alcohol industry.