BROOKLYN, N.Y. - TelAve -- The Daphne Zepos Teaching Endowment (DZTE) announced the recipient of its annual $7500 Daphne Zepos Teaching Award (DZTA) scholarship to long time cheese veteran and affinage specialist Lilith Spencer at the American Cheese Society conference in Sacramento, CA in July of 2025. They are the 12th recipient of the award since it was established in 2012. Lilith will spend the next year travelling domestically and internationally to learn about how different brines and salt concentrations can affect the finished cheese.

"It's something we talk about every day, but we could be talking about it more. The more cheese people I talk with, it becomes clearer the less we know," says Spencer.

"Lilith is about as well positioned to conduct this research as anyone in our industry. Their experience will be a valuable starting point. I'm looking forward to learning from them," says DZTE Operations Manager Tom Perry.

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About Lilith Spencer

Lilith Spencer has been a visible and groundbreaking member of the cheese community for more than a dozen years. They began their cheese journey at VIAC in Vermont in 2009 before starting their cheesemongering career at BKLYN Larder in 2011. They revolutionized cheese board presenation and have also been an integral part of the Cheesemonger Invitational, winning in 2016, and directing the judging of the event since 2019. Lilith is currently the Soft Cheese Affinage Supervisor for Jasper Hill Farm in Vermont.

Lilith will present the findings from their research at the American Cheese Society conference in July of 2026 in Louisville, Kentucky. You may follow their journey on Instagram @thebrinedrind.

About the Organization

The Daphne Zepos Teaching Endowment (DZTE) aims to grow a team of cheese professionals who teach about the history, culture and techniques in making, aging and selling cheese. Each year recipients are chosen to learn about cheese. The recipients share their learnings with the cheese community the following year. The Daphne Zepos Teaching Endowment is a 501(c)(3) non-profit.

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Learn more at http://dzte.org/

About Daphne

Daphne Zepos was one of the most outspoken, insightful and dynamic advocates for the cause of traditional cheese in the U.S. and around the world. Daphne played a prominent role in nearly every major cheese event in the U.S. and Europe. She lectured, moderated, and presented at the American Cheese Society's Annual conference. She taught at Slow Food's bi-annual Cheese in Bra, Italy, and at courses throughout the country, including the Cheese School of San Francisco and Zingerman's in Ann Arbor. She died in 2012.