Director, Center for Food Security and Public Health
Director, Institute for International Cooperation in Animal Biologics

2156 College of Veterinary Medicine
515.294.8459
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Dr. James Roth is the Clarence Hartley Covault Distinguished Professor in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University. He is also an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Epidemiology in the College of Public Health at the University of Iowa.  He is the Director of the Center for Food Security and Public Health and the Institute for International Cooperation in Animal Biologics. Dr. Roth’s primary area of research expertise is immunity to infectious diseases of food producing animals, emphasizing evaluation of T cell mediated immunity.  He has led the development of a course on Emerging and Exotic Diseases of Animals which is used by students at all of the US Colleges of Veterinary Medicine and has been translated into Spanish for use in Latin America. He has authored or co-authored over 150 publications in refereed journals. Dr. Roth has contributed 33 chapters to monographs, and has edited 12 monographs and one textbook. He has served as the major or co-major professor for 49 MS and PhD students. Dr. Roth received the Distinguished Veterinary Immunologist Award from the American Association of Veterinary Immunologists and the Distinguished Veterinary Microbiologist Award from the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists. He has testified before Congress on biosecurity preparedness and efforts to address bioterrorism and agroterrorism. Dr. Roth currently serves on the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity.  Dr. Roth received his PhD (1981) and MS (1979) degrees in veterinary microbiology from Iowa State University, and his DVM (1975) also from Iowa State University. He is a Diplomate in the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists (ACVM).

Associate Director
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Dr. Bickett-Weddle is a South Dakota native where she practiced after graduating with her veterinary degree. She is passionate about biosecurity, public health, and the livestock industry and combines these topics in her work educating livestock producers, veterinarians, veterinary students, and the public about animal diseases and how to protect themselves and their livelihood. She managed and wrote guidance documents for the Secure Food Supply Plans for Continuity of Business for the Sheep and Wool industry as well as the beef and dairy industries. She is privileged to have presented at the state, national, and international levels on biosecurity and the Secure Food Supply Plans. Dr. Bickett-Weddle earned degrees from Iowa State (DVM and PhD) and the University of Iowa (MPH). She represented the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association (IVMA) as a Delegate to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) from 2008-2016. The IVMA recognized Dr. Bickett-Weddle as the 2012 Veterinarian of the Year. She is a Diplomate in the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine (ACVPM) and served as President from 2019-2020. She is also actively involved in the American Association of Extension Veterinarians, serving as President from 2019-2021.

Lead Public Health Veterinarian
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Dr. Renée Dewell earned her BS degree in Animal Science from Texas A&M University and her DVM degree from Colorado State University. She completed an internship (beef cattle) at Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center (GPVEC, USDA MARC, Clay Center, NE) and a MS (Clinical Sciences, epidemiology emphasis) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Dr. Dewell also obtained a certificate in Beef Cattle Production Medicine through GPVEC. Prior to coming to Iowa State University, Reneé gained experience in private clinical practice as well as in veterinary student instruction in both clinical and didactic settings. She has conducted and participated in multiple applied research projects primarily focused on beef cattle production, performance, welfare and pre-and post-harvest food safety. Dewell has also been employed as a post-doctoral researcher at Colorado State University and as a staff veterinarian at a Colorado custom feeding and research feedyard. Reneé joined the Center for Food Security and Public health as a Veterinary Specialist on a part-time basis in 2009 and then full-time in 2014 working on Secure Food Supply Plans, biological preparedness for livestock producers, and sheep and goat medicine resources for an international audience. Reneé serves in various capacities in the AVC, AABP, IVMA, and AVMA and is a member of the National Veterinary Response Team and the Veterinary Medical Assistance Team.

Lead Public Health Veterinarian
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It started with a love of animals. What followed is a career that has allowed Dr. Katie Steneroden to explore the depths and diversity of veterinary medicine. Katie has practiced conventional and alternative medicine in urban and rural practices, animal shelters, wildlife rehabilitation clinics, and Native American reservations. Switching gears to focus on disease prevention led Katie to participate in infectious and zoonotic disease outbreaks in the UK, Haiti, Egypt, and Azerbaijan. Supporting research on the impact of climate change on livestock resulted in Katie mentoring emerging scientists in Nepal and Sub-Saharan Africa. Training and capacity-building experience and intense curiosity have led to new work with the growing organic and alternative livestock movement in the US. Through it all, Katie has had the opportunity and privilege to work with farmers, welfare inspectors, knackers, scientists, dog breeders, government, and industry.

Ensuring animal, human, and community health is Katie’s true passion. Empowering others is her calling. Cooking, eating, friends and dogs provide balance and enormous gratification. At CSFPH, Katie has the unique privilege to indulge in all of the above.