CORE - Staff

• edachedave@vet.k-state.edu

David earned his undergraduate degree in Animal Science from the University of Agriculture Makurdi in Nigeria, where he was born and raised, before moving to the UK to complete an MSc focusing on ruminant nutrition, particularly mineral supplementation in pasture-raised lambs. After graduating in 2019, he pursued a PhD in Italy studying developmental programming in dairy heifers, with an emphasis on how maternal dietary challenges during pregnancy affect offspring gastrointestinal development. He is strongly interested in research using animal models and aims to advance both academic and R&D-based work. He is currently a postdoctoral research fellow under Dr. Natalia Cernicchiaro, where he investigates the antiviral properties of sorghum-derived polyphenols against the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV).

• veloso@vet.k-state.edu

Dr. Vanessa Horton received her DVM from Federal Fluminense University, Brazil, in 2017, followed by an M.S. in Beef Cattle Nutrition (2020) and a Ph.D. in Veterinary Epidemiology (2025) from Kansas State University. Currently, Dr. Horton is a Research and Innovation Associate with Heritage Veterinary Partners and the Center for Outcomes Research and Epidemiology (CORE), where her work integrates epidemiologic methods, field data, and stakeholder perspectives to support evidence-based decision-making in livestock systems. Her research interests include animal health and disease, risk mitigation, production efficiency, antimicrobial stewardship, food safety, sustainability and economics, with an emphasis on translating research findings into practical solutions for veterinary and production stakeholders.

• dkiiza@vet.k-state.edu

David holds a PhD in Veterinary Medical Sciences from the University of Florida, an MSc in Veterinary Epidemiology from Murdoch University, and a DVM from Makerere University. His work focuses on veterinary epidemiology, infectious disease modeling, One Health, risk analysis, disease surveillance and animal health economics, particularly for zoonotic and transboundary diseases. He has extensive experience working with government and international organizations (including FAO, USAID, IFAD and the European Commission) in research, project management and consultancy roles. His research is driven by evidence-based approaches to inform policy and improve decision-making, and he is currently affiliated with the Center for Outcomes Research and Epidemiology under Dr. Michael Sanderson.

• kimoreno@vet.k-state.edu

Dr. Moreno has over 10 years of experience translating science into emergency preparedness and response, with strengths in translational observation, iterative problem-solving and transforming complex systems into decision-support tools through collaborative approaches. She is passionate about generating evidence that informs interventions and policy, emphasizing clear communication, transparency, and flexibility. She holds a PhD in Epidemiology from Ohio State University, a DVM, and an MSc in Wildlife Disease Ecology from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Her experience includes serving as an ORISE Fellow at USDA-CEAH-ARS, where she used data analysis, visualization and modeling to support animal health preparedness and trained government officials in modeling techniques in both English and Spanish to enhance knowledge transfer.

• sschrock@vet.k-state.edu

Sarah earned a B.S. in Biology from Olivet Nazarene University, an M.S. in Epidemiology from the University of Colorado, and an M.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Science completed in 2025 with a focus on wildlife health and disease ecology. She has worked as an epidemiologist at National Jewish Health and the New Mexico Department of Health, focusing on maternal and child health. Her research centers on modeling spatiotemporally dynamic host–pathogen interactions and takes a One Health approach linking human, domestic animal and wildlife health.

• gshakil1@vet.k-state.edu

Golam received his Ph.D. in Economics from Washington State University. He worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Paul G. Allen School for Global Health, where he worked on the Global Burden of Animal Diseases and USDA-APHIS–funded analyses of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza control strategies. He is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for Outcomes Research and Epidemiology (CORE), focusing on modeling foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks in cattle and evaluating their economic impacts. His research interests include economic modeling of animal health systems, econometrics, and the integration of epidemiological data into economic frameworks.

• Advisor: Dr. Michael Sanderson
• tdunlea@vet.k-state.edu

Torre completed her undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences at the University of Texas, San Antonio.  In the fall of 2021, Torre completed her master's in Epidemiology of Infectious Disease and Antimicrobial Resistance at the University of Glasgow. Her primary research focus is modeling transmission risk for Foot-and-Mouth Disease to identify optimal outbreak management strategies.

• Advisor: Dr. Natalia Cernicchiaro

Stephen received his DVM from Nigeria in 2021 and his MS degree from Kansas State University. His MS research focused on assessing Salmonella enterica burden and control measures in dairy Cattle. His PhD program focuses on understanding and modeling the transmission of Japanese encephalitis virus so as to suggest effective measures of preventing its introduction and spread in the United States. His passion has always been to transfer theoretical knowledge and practical skills gained to students for the attainment of their academic and professional goals.

• hoora@ksu.edu

Hoora is pursuing an M.A. in English with a concentration in Cultural Studies at Kansas State University. She currently serves as an Outreach Communications Student Worker at CORE, where she supports outreach initiatives, digital communications and student engagement. Previously, she taught undergraduate English courses as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. Her professional experience includes leadership in graduate student organizations, social media management, editorial work for the Kansas State literary magazine and digital content creation. She has experience in social media communications, media and visual communication, and creating user-centered digital content. Her interests lie at the intersection of communication, design, storytelling and community engagement.

• Advisor: Dr. David Renter
• dvhardee@vet.k-state.edu

Deana completed undergraduate and veterinary degrees at the University of Georgia. She returned home to a mixed animal clinic with a focus on beef cattle production in southeast Georgia. Deana relocated to central Nebraska and split her time between the cow-calf and feeding sectors. In the spring of 2020, she started a position as a ruminant technical services veterinarian in the Texas Panhandle. Her primary research focus is in antimicrobial use, stewardship, and resistance.

• Advisor: Dr. Natalie Cernicchiaro
• maxsilvo@ksu.edu

Max earned his Bachelor of Science in Animal Sciences and Industry from Kansas State University in May 2026, along with a certificate in Beef Cattle Feedlot Management. As an undergraduate, he worked on commercial feedlots in roles ranging from pen riding to predictive modeling. His primary research focus is biosecurity in beef cattle production systems.

• Advisor: Dr. Michael Sanderson
• marykasmith@vet.k-state.edu

MaRyka is a concurrent DVM/PhD student working on modeling FMD control options including the use and value of traceability. She received her Bachelor of Science - Veterinary Medicine in Agriculture in May 2020 from Kansas State University.

• Advisor: Dr. Natalia Cernicchiaro
• tryoung4@ksu.edu

Raquel received her undergraduate degree in Animal Science from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in 2024. After graduating and completing the K-State Research and Extension (KSRE) Research Fellowship, she moved to Columbia, Missouri, to pursue a Master of Public Health with an emphasis in Veterinary Public Health and certificates in Epidemiology and Public Health. Excited to be back at K-State, Raquel's graduate research investigates the role of wild birds in Japanese encephalitis virus ecology and transmission. She is passionate about the One Health approach and applying geospatial technologies and GIS methods to better understand zoonotic disease distribution, identify risk factors and inform global surveillance and outbreak response efforts.