About the Institute for Societal Health

Mission and Vision

The Institute for Societal Health in College of Veterinary Medicine at Purdue University was established in 2025 to strategically advance our leadership and reputation in filling societal One Health needs. The Institute is committed to developing, evaluating, and implementing innovative, sustainable, scalable models that address societal One Health needs in veterinary shortage areas through mutually beneficial, reciprocal, and scholarly university-community partnerships.

The Institute for Societal Health’s three main pillars are:

• Increasing One-Health Science Literacy
• Developing a Veterinary Workforce Prepared to Address One Health Challenges
• Enhancing the Pipeline for One Health Veterinary Careers

Purdue Engaged College Program

As an active participant in Purdue's engaged college program, our first year goals for the center are:

• The League of VetaHumanz will validate an embedded superhero model to deliver a new movement-based K-4 science curriculum to increase the physical health and One Health science literacy of children.
• A model Global Engagement curriculum that produces veterinary students with communication, clinical, and collaborative skills, along with the practical experience needed to tackle global One Health challenges, will be evaluated. 
• Our Vet Up! programming will serve as a model pipeline program for leveraging academic, industry, and private partnerships to prepare students to fill shortage areas in public health, food safety and security, and rural or other under-resourced communities.
• Programs will be rigorously designed and evaluated through continued collaboration with the Evaluation and Learning Research Center.

Purdue Veterinary Medicine is proud to be Purdue’s first engaged college!

Leadership

Program leadership and decision-making will be shared, consistent with Purdue’s engagement protocol for scholarly community engagement.

Co-Directors

Sandra San Miguel DVM, PhD | Associate Dean for Engagement, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine | League of VetaHumanz, Principal Investigator | Dr. San Miguel serves as the Administrative/Corresponding Director for the Institute.

Addison Sheldon | Director, Global Engagement, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine

Darryl Ragland, DVM, PhD | Director, Purdue Veterinary Medicine Extension | Professor, Food Animal Production Medicine | Section Head, Production Medicine | Principal Investigator, Vet Up!

Lindley McDavid, PhD | Senior Evaluation and Research Associate, Evaluation and Learning Research Center, Purdue University College of Education

Erin Phillips, MA | Principal, Thomas Miller Elementary School, Lafayette School Corporation.

Team

Grace Craig | Senior Administrative Assistant, Institute for Societal Health and Office of Engagement, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University

Ann Bessenbacher | Senior Research Associate and Lead Data Scientist, Evaluation and Learning Research Center, College of Education, Purdue University

Wilella Burgess, MS | Director, Evaluation & Research Scholar, Evaluation and Learning Research Center, College of Education, Purdue University

Loran Carleton Parker, PhD | Principal Associate Director, Evaluation & Research Scholar, Evaluation and Learning Research Center, College of Education, Purdue University

Laura Warner | Senior Administrative Assistant, Evaluation and Learning Research Center, Purdue University College of Education

Matthew Winzeler | Program Administrator, Global Engagement, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University

*Please see individual program pages for a full list of members, partners, and supporters.

Gratitude

Much appreciation goes to our community, academic, and industry partners; federal agencies including support form NIH, NIGMS, SEPA and HHS HRSA HCOP; and those providing gifts that support the Institute’s programs. These initiatives and their impacts would not be possible without your generosity and support.

If you wish to contribute, please email ish@purdue.edu.