Julie Funk, DVM, MS, PhD, has been named associate dean of Professional Academic Programs and Student Success for the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine. She will provide leadership to all academic and clinical veterinary programs, which include faculty and admissions and student affairs, curriculum and program coordination, and resource development and allocation.

Funk joined the College in 2006, and has served as the director of the Online Master of Science in Food Safety program and also as associate professor of pre-harvest food safety in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences.

"Dr. Funk is an excellent addition to my leadership team. She is an outstanding administrator with proven experience in curriculum development, student performance, and organized veterinary medicine," says John Baker, DVM, PhD, dean of the College. "I've known Dr. Funk since she was a veterinary student at MSU, and I am confident that her exceptional skills will enhance the growth and performance of our student body and her leadership will benefit the College in myriad areas."

As director of the Online MS in Food Safety, she increased the annual student acceptance by more than 400 percent and improved the student experience through curricular development and increased advising resources. Under her leadership, the MS program was recognized as the leading food safety degree program in the country by food industry leaders, prospective and current students, alumni, and in a third-party market research report.

Funk earned her DVM degree from the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine, and completed a residency in Population Medicine and a Master's Degree in Veterinary Clinical Sciences from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign College of Veterinary Medicine. She earned a PhD in Comparative Biomedical Sciences from the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

She will succeed Coretta Patterson, DVM, DACVIM, who has accepted a new position outside MSU.

Funk's appointment is effective July 1, 2014.