Executive Leadership

Executive Director: Maureen Lichtveld, MD, MPH

Provides overall strategic direction, institutional alignment, and external representation. Serves as the primary liaison to university leadership, state agencies, and national partners.

Scientific Director: Suresh V. Kuchipudi, PhD, MVSc, MBA

Leads scientific strategy, research integration, and priority setting across consortium initiatives. Oversees thematic programs, cross sector scientific coordination, and alignment with emerging infectious disease priorities.

Director of Operations: James Holt, DVM

Leads operational execution, consortium monthly meetings, stakeholder coordination, and implementation strategy. Ensures alignment between scientific priorities and partner engagement across academic, government, and industry sectors.

Associate Director: Firoz Abdoel Wahid, MD, PhD, MPH

Supports strategic program development and cross institutional coordination. Contributes to research integration, international partnerships, and program expansion aligned with consortium priorities.

Program Management Core

Program Director: Kaitlin Kirkpatrick

Leads program development and partner coordination, oversees communications, and supports execution across consortium initiatives. Manages program level budgeting and reporting and ensures alignment and coordination with Executive Leadership.

Project Manager: Beth Junecko

Manages day to day operations, including scheduling, logistics, communications support, timelines, and deliverable tracking. Coordinates operational reporting and ensures smooth implementation of consortium activities across partners.

Standing Committees

Research Committee

Chairs: Suresh V. Kuchipudi and Val Beasley

Responsibilities:

• Coordinate multi-institutional research initiatives

• Develop collaborative funding proposals

• Promote shared data and research infrastructure

• Align scientific priorities with statewide and national One Health needs

Education Committee

Chair: Jennifer Punt

Co-Chair: Justin Brown

Responsibilities:

• Develop cross disciplinary training programs

• Advance workforce development initiatives

• Support student and trainee engagement

• Coordinate continuing education and professional development activities

Community Engagement Committee

Chairs: Danielle Tufts and Sarah States

Responsibilities:

• Strengthen engagement with agricultural, public health, and community stakeholders

• Translate research findings into actionable guidance

• Develop policy relevant briefs and outreach materials

• Promote resilience and wellbeing initiatives in farming communities

Advisory Board

The Advisory Board provides strategic guidance, external perspective, and accountability to ensure the Consortium remains aligned with statewide priorities, partner needs, and measurable outcomes

Advisory Board Members:

• Andrew Hoffman (Chair), Dean, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine

• Melissa Bilec, Co-Director, Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation, and George M. and Eva M. Bevier Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh

• Lisa Graybeal, Deputy Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

• Iulia Vann,  Public Health Director, Allegheny County Health Department

• Paul Duprex, Director, Center for Vaccine Research, University of Pittsburgh

• Deepanker Tewari, Director, Pennsylvania Veterinary Laboratory, Harrisburg, PA