The MSU College of Veterinary Medicine has named Melinda Wilkins, DVM, MPH, PhD, as director of the Online Master of Science in Food Safety (MSFS) program and assistant professor in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences effective August 18, 2014. She will provide leadership to the program, which serves a critical role in training leaders in food safety.

“Dr. Wilkins’ experience with governmental agencies and industry, as well as in research and university environments, brings a set of skills that makes her uniquely suited for this role,” says John Baker, DVM, PhD, dean of the College. “She is passionate about mentoring professionals, and offering educational opportunities to those individuals who are already on the front lines working to make and keep our food supply safe.”

The MSFS program’s transdisciplinary approach to protecting an increasingly complex food system is central to the improvement of public health. An important component of the program is building a community of scholars that leverages all the knowledge of stakeholders, including alumni, academic leaders, government and non-governmental organizations—everyone who plays a role in food safety.

Wilkins comes to the College from the MSU Program in Public Health (PPH), where she was an assistant professor, instructor, and advisor in the online PPH. She will retain some teaching responsibilities in the program. Prior to joining the PPH in 2011, Wilkins was with the Michigan Department of Community Health, Bureau of Epidemiology, Division of Communicable Disease for 12 years, serving as the division director from 2004 to 2011. She began her career with the US Department of Agriculture Veterinary Services and has extensive experience consulting and teaching in international settings.

An alumna of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Epidemic Intelligence Service, Wilkins earned her DVM at MSU, her MPH from the University of Illinois Springfield, and then returned to earn her PhD from the MSU Department Large Animal Clinical Sciences with a focus in epidemiology. Her areas of expertise include disease surveillance (animal and human), surveillance system evaluation, zoonotic disease, epidemiology, and outbreak investigation.

“The association of the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences with the MSFS program makes this a significant appointment for the Department,” says Ray Geor, BVSc, MVSc, PhD, DACVIM, chairperson of the Department. “Her expertise in disease surveillance, zoonotic disease, and outbreak investigation will add depth to our work in preharvest food safety, one of our core research areas.”

She succeeds Julie Funk, DVM, MS, PhD, who has been named associate dean of Professional Academic Programs and Student Services in the College of Veterinary Medicine.

July 29, 2014