Dean's Leadership Council

The Dean's Leadership Council is a unique forum for dialog and advice about the school, the veterinary profession, and all animal species. The council is a volunteer group of professionals who advise the dean on initiatives designed to fulfill our teaching, research, and service mission. Members demonstrate concern for animals and a commitment to progress in veterinary medicine. These informed advocates also serve as liaisons with other outside individuals and groups.

Gayle Brock
Gayle Brock is the founder and CEO of Aerovault LLC and the president and COO of Brock Racing Enterprises, LLC. Brock grew up on a farm in rural Nebraska, becoming familiar with the forces of nature and the various roles of animals whether it be for commerce, food, protection or pets. She trained as a computer programmer and after 33 years of performing most roles in the computer industry, receiving numerous awards and traveling the world, Gayle retired from Microsoft to join her husband, Peter Brock, full-time in his automotive exploits.

It began with being photojournalists for numerous magazines worldwide, focusing on endurance racing such as Le Mans and Baja races. Just a few years in, Gayle’s computer skills came into play as she helped photographers and magazines alike make the transition from film to digital photography and publishing.

To promote their services and history, Gayle created a website resurrecting Peter’s previous design/race company, Brock Racing Enterprises (BRE), selling memorabilia and archive photo reprints, and developed a speaker series for Peter with an impressive appearance schedule. Soon after, Gayle went into self-publishing, editing, and creating books based on Peter’s stories of his famous automotive designs and racing experiences, winning prestigious industry awards.

Peter then designed and built an aerodynamic car trailer to transport his sports car. Soon others were asking if one of these groundbreaking trailers could be built for them. Gayle saw an opportunity and founded Aerovault trailers, setting up a factory in Henderson, NV with custom-built equipment and defining the production process using LEAN techniques. Today Gayle manages both BRE and Aerovault and travels extensively with Peter for appearances and speaking engagements, fitting in an Aerovault trailer display whenever possible!
Thomas W. Campi, DVM, MPVM
Tom Campi received his DVM and MPVM degrees from UC Davis in 1989. He is also board certified by the American College of Poultry Veterinarians. Dr. Campi works for Elanco Animal Health and has held various positions for the past 25 years.

His career path includes roles in poultry technical consulting, regulatory affairs in the US and Western Europe, and technology acquisitions. In the acquisitions role, he was responsible for leading a team of scientists who evaluate medical breakthroughs for their use in preventing and treating important animal diseases.

Tom’s newest role is Director of External Innovation where he is responsible for creating new business models for bridging technology with funding in order to satisfy the growing need for novel medicines for both food and companion animals. Dr. Campi resides in Indiana with his wife of 27 years, his 3 children and a dog, a cat, and a ferret (and yes, they are legal pets in Indiana!).
David Cheresh, Ph.D.
David Cheresh is a distinguished professor and vice chair of research in the Department of Pathology in the School of Medicine at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). He is also Director for Translational Research at the Moores UCSD Cancer Center. Previously, David was a professor in the Departments of Immunology and Vascular Biology at The Scripps Research Institute. Dr. Cheresh earned his Ph.D. in Immunology from the University of Miami, FL, and trained as a postdoctoral scientist at the Scripps Research Institute where he remained on the faculty before joining UCSD in 2005. He is the recipient of various awards including the 15th Hans Linder Memorial Lecture from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, the XXIII Annual Myron Karon Memorial Lectureship from the University of Southern California, the Robert Flynn Professorship Award from Tufts University School of Medicine, the Judah Folkman lectureship, the Paget-Ewing award from the Metastasis Research Society/AACR and was a recipient of The American Cancer Society Faculty Research Award and a Merit Award from the National Cancer Institute. Cheresh also is a recipient of an NIH MERIT award - an Outstanding Investigator Award from the National Cancer Institute.  Cheresh has trained over 100 postdoctoral and graduate students many of which have continued their careers and academia.  He has published 260 papers, many in top-level journals and fourteen of these have been cited in excess of 1000 times.

A major goal of his current and past research is to understand the molecular mechanisms promoting angiogenesis, tumor progression, and metastasis in order to develop novel therapeutics for cancer. His efforts have led to the understanding of how growth factors, growth factor receptors, and cell surface receptors (including integrins) drive signaling pathways leading to tumor cell invasion, migration, proliferation, and survival.  His findings have helped to delineate how these processes are regulated at the molecular level and have identified downstream signaling events that play a critical role.

These studies have led to the development of integrin antagonists as novel therapeutics for cancer treatment that function to suppress the growth of angiogenic blood vessels.  Two drugs that have developed from his work include Vitaxin (Abegrin), a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets αvβ3, and Cilengitide, a cyclic peptide antagonist of integrins αvβ3 and αvβ5.  Both of these drugs showed clinical activity in cancer patients in Phase II trials. Cheresh was the scientific founder of TargeGen Inc., which developed a selective JAK2 inhibitor recently approved by the FDA in August of 2019 for patients with myelofibrosis.

Early in his career, Cheresh developed antibodies to tumor antigens and used these as both research tools and potential therapeutics.  Among the antibodies he developed was one specific for the oligosaccharide portion of the GD2 ganglioside, expressed on tumors of neuroectoderm origin.  This antibody was later humanized (named Dinatuximab, Unituxin) and tested clinically for its activity in patients with advanced neuroblastoma.  Unituxin produced a significant survival benefit in a phase III registration trial and in March of 2015 was approved by the FDA as a front-line therapy for patients with advanced neuroblastoma.

Cheresh’s recent work has focused on the intersection between cellular stress and the progression of breast, lung, and pancreatic cancers.  He is particularly interested in evaluating how tumor cells become reprogrammed as an adaption to stress or therapeutic intervention, giving rise to stress tolerance and drug resistance.  Most recently, he has developed a new humanized antibody that is able to target drug-resistant cancer stem cells.  This antibody will enter phase I clinical trials by the end of 2022. 
Gregg Cutler, DVM, MPVM
Gregg Cutler, DVM, MPVM was born in Los Angeles, California. His family has been involved in egg production for three generations. He attended North Hollywood High School and graduated from Thousand Oaks High School in 1965. Dr. Cutler received his DVM degree from the University of California, Davis in 1974. After two years of general practice, he was the first to complete the two-year residency program in Avian Medicine at UC Davis. He also completed a Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine degree at UC Davis. Dr. Cutler is board certified in Poultry by the American College of Poultry Veterinarians.

Dr. Cutler founded Cutler Associates International in 1988. The practice has now grown to four veterinarians, all specializing in poultry. Cutler Associates International, where Dr. Cutler is President, has offices in North America and in Europe.

Dr. Cutler has been President of the American Association of Avian Pathologists as well as the Western Poultry Disease Conference. He currently serves as a representative of the American Association of Avian Pathologists on the House of Delegates of the American Veterinary Medical Association. He has represented AAAP as a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association Legislative Advisory Committee and the Animal Welfare Committee. Dr. Cutler has been a member of the General Conference committee of the National Poultry Improvement Plan.

Gregg and his wife Jody live on their ranch in Moorpark, California. They have a son, Justin who is a computer engineer in the Washington, DC area. Gregg and Jody drive Welsh Ponies and collect antique horse-drawn carriages. Gregg enjoys flying airplanes.
Ron Foster
Ron Foster retired as CEO of Foster Farms in 2016. For more than 75 years, the Foster family has been providing premium Dairy and Poultry products to local consumers. Foster Farms remains a family-owned business managed in the tradition of sincerity and premium quality that Max and Verda Foster envisioned back in 1939.

Ron is a 1981 graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture Business. He currently serves on several agricultural, nonprofit, and business boards, and currently co-chairs the Dean's Leadership Council.
Christine C. Jenkins DVM, DACVIM-SAIM
Dr. Jenkins received her B.S. degree from Florida A&M University and her DVM from Tuskegee University. She completed an internship at the University of Florida and a residency at the University of Tennessee in small animal internal medicine. Dr. Jenkins is Board Certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in Small Animal Internal Medicine. She is currently the Chief Veterinary Medical Officer, Vice President, Veterinary Medical Services & Outcomes Research for Zoetis Inc.’ US Operations.

Prior to joining industry, Dr. Jenkins was a tenured Associate Professor of Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee. Currently, Dr. Jenkins leads the Zoetis, Medical Affairs, Academic and Professional Affairs, Scientific Information, and Outcomes Research groups. As a member of the Zoetis U.S.Leadership Team, Jenkins serves as the Chief Veterinary Medical Officer for U. S. Operations and is responsible for strategic partnerships with the colleges of veterinary medicine and professional associations of relevance across U. S. Operations. She is responsible for the Zoetis Commitment to Veterinarians™ social media platform and philanthropic efforts which includes support of the veterinary profession through scholarships, veterinary wellness initiatives, disaster relief, and diversity. In 2021, Dr. Jenkins completed a year-long Fellowship for the CEO Action for Racial Equity and is the Co-Chair of AVMA and AAVMC’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission. Dr. Jenkins is also on the Board for the Diversify Veterinary Medicine Coalition (DVMC). Dr. Jenkins sits on advisory boards for 3 colleges of veterinary medicine in the U.S.
Dave Jessup, DVM, MPVM Diplomate ACZM
Dave Jessup is an accomplished Wildlife Veterinarian and researcher. He received his bachelor’s in zoology from the University of Washington, DVM from Washington State University, and his Master of Preventive Veterinary Medicine at UC Davis, where he also received his board certification in zoological medicine. He is a recipient of the 2010 Emil Dolensk Award given by the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians. He was granted this award because of his exceptional contributions to the conservation, care, and understanding of zoo and free-ranging wildlife. He was the first veterinarian hired by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, where he served a productive career in various capacities for more than 33 years, the last 15 in Santa Cruz, California, as Senior Wildlife Veterinarian and Supervisor of the Marine Wildlife Veterinary Care and Research Center. Consequently, Jessup served as Executive Manager of the Wildlife Disease Association (WDA), an international non-profit scientific organization. He has mentored many who followed in his footsteps, including UC Davis students and alumni, and created an endowment to establish the Free-Ranging Wildlife Health Residency at the Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center.
Barbara J. Kerr
Barbara Kerr has spent her career building and developing Human Resources functions. Her experience spans four industries including retail, telecommunications, financial services and life sciences. For the last 20 years she was involved in biotechnology and life sciences, most recently as Senior Vice President of Human Resources for Applera Corporation, a company supplying technology and information for life sciences and related businesses. Her areas of expertise include executive and board compensation, organizational design and re-structuring and acquisition integration.

Barbara is a lifelong animal lover. She supports a number of organizations committed to animal health, well being and preservation.
John Klacking, Ph.D.
John Klacking is the Chief Business Officer of Gallant Therapeutics. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California - Davis, and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Nevada, where he was an Allie M. Lee Fellow.

A former Senior Vice President of Salomon Smith Barney, John founded Angiocrine Bioscience, a stem cell therapeutic company, with Dr. Shahin Rafii at Cornell Weill Medical Center in New York City. Prior to Angiocrine he founded Angelica Therapeutics, a San Francisco Bay Area cancer-focused biotech company. He is the author of over 350 business, financial and scientific articles, and serves on the Northern Nevada Public Health Board. John was named one of Nevada's ten top financial consultants by Nevada Business Magazine.

Tragically, John lost his wife and son to cancer. Through his loss he has dedicated himself to raising millions of dollars to help academia and non-profit institutions. In addition to serving on the Dean’s Leadership Council, he played the key role in the founding of the school’s SeaDoc Society, which is dedicated to protecting the health of marine life of the Salish Sea.

Previously, John was a member of the Foundation Board Executive Committee of the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) and Chairman of the UNR Foundation Board Development Committee, as well as a Board Member of Sierra Nevada College. He is a past member of the American Cancer Society National Foundation Board.
Jon Klingborg, DVM
Jon Klingborg, DVM has published more than 250 newspaper articles, has coauthored a chapter in Vet Clinics of North America, has appeared on radio and television discussing veterinary issues and in print media around the world, and was the youngest president in the history of the California Veterinary Medical Association, has served on committees to the American Veterinary Medical Association and the California Veterinary Medical Board, and has spoken nationally and internationally on animal welfare issues. Dr. Klingborg is the author of Exam Room Communication for Veterinarians: The Science and Art of Conversing with Clients. (AHAA Press, 2011.)

Over the past 20 years, Klingborg has been a veterinary associate and an owner, practiced in rural and urban environments, worked in small two-doctor and multi-location group practices, and has been both a mixed-animal and small-animal–exclusive practitioner. In each setting, he has used the power of communication to quickly build a loyal client base and provide high-quality medicine.

Dr. Klingborg earned undergraduate degrees in rhetoric and zoology (1987) and his doctorate in veterinary medicine (1992) from the University of California at Davis. For more than a decade, he also served as guest faculty at his alma mater and shared with veterinary students how communication makes practice more rewarding for both the client and the veterinarian.
Julia Lewis, DVM, MPH
Julia Lewis received her bachelor’s from Cornell University and her DVM and Master’s in Public Health from UC Davis. She also completed her residency in lab animal medicine at UC Davis and a Don Low/CVMA Practitioner Fellowship in Anesthesia

She is the Public Health Veterinarian for San Mateo County. An advocate for integrating One Health approaches, she started a program to provide free veterinary preventative and wellness care for pets of the homeless living in the county, and is actively working with the Department of Health for greater One Health integrations.

Previsouly, Lewis worked as a veterinarian at Cornell University, UCSF, Roche, and as director of medical care for shelter medicine. She has been a member of the Board of Governors of the CVMA since 2017.
Carol McConnell, DVM, MBA
Carol McConnell, DVM, MBA is Vice President and Chief Veterinary Officer at Nationwide. In this role, she oversees the company’s veterinary research and relations.

Her prior roles have included positions at ALZA Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, and Priority Veterinary Management Consultants, where she provided consulting services to veterinarians around the country.

Dr. McConnell was a practicing veterinarian at Wilmington Animal Hospital in Delaware. She holds a BS from Cornell University, an MBA from Purdue University and a DVM degree from University of California, Davis.
Marcia Messmer
A native of Kansas City, Marcia Messmer attended the Barstow School and received her B.A. from Scripps College in Claremont, California. She has a background as a corporate legal assistant and has a long history of volunteerism in the arts and sciences, including the San Francisco Opera Guild, Achievement Rewards for College Scientists and the Junior League.

Marcia owns and operates the Guinea Pig Calendar Company, a small business through which she creates and sells guinea pig-themed calendars and greeting cards. As a lifelong animal lover and former equestrian, Marcia has been a client and supporter of the CAPE Service for over 15 years. She raises guinea pigs and resides in Woodside, California with her husband, Max.
Jan Miller Rich
Jan Miller Rich is the founder and CEO of Dupree/Miller & Associates, a premier literary agency representing blockbuster authors, innovators, and brands across all genres. She has been called “a supernova in a galaxy of literary agents.” As founder and CEO of one of the top literary agencies in the country, Dupree/Miller & Associates, she has used her unwavering instincts to yield thousands of international bestsellers across all genres. Her success has made Dupree/Miller a driving force in the publishing industry—an agency that represents blockbuster authors, innovators, and brands across all genres.

She is an activist for education and human rights which she considers her greatest life work. She and her husband, Jeff Rich, have sponsored dozens of educational scholarships and financed a library in South Africa for The Wilson Foundation. For more than a decade, they have raised millions of dollars for Best Buddies International which is dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement creating opportunities for one-to-one friendships for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Jan currently serves on the board of SMU Tate Lecture Series, The World Affairs Council, The Dr. Phil Foundation, and The Shriver Report.
Charles J. Newman
Charles J. Newman, originally from Minneapolis, MN, earned his Business-Education B.A. in 1969 from the University of Minnesota and has been involved in the investment banking business since 1980. He joined Lincoln Loan and Finance Corporation, the business started by his parents (Max and Gertrude Newman), where he serves as CEO and Director. He also serves as CEO and Director of National Acceptance Corporation.

Charles’ business acumen has also included venture capital, management consulting and real estate. In addition to his business interests, Charles is very involved in supporting philanthropic causes through the Max & Gertrude Newman- Charles & Phyllis Newman Foundation, and as a foundation Director of Adath Jeshurun Foundation. Oncology is another key focus supported through Prometheus Life where he serves as President. Prometheus Life’s priorities are to further treatments, collaboration, and education in treatments for oncology and related diseases.

Charles’ wife Phyllis is also from Minneapolis. She earned her BA from Arizona State University and taught in the Mesa AZ Independent Public Schools. Avid feline lovers, the Newman’s reside in Scottsdale, AZ with their kitty Macgyver.
Alison P. Pillsbury, DVM
Alison Pillsbury graduated from the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, in 1988. Since graduating she has practiced within the private sector, recently selling her small animal practice, Foothill Veterinary Clinic, which she owned and operated for 13 years. She is currently practicing at Jackson Creek Veterinary Clinic.

During her veterinary career, Dr. Pillsbury has been an animal welfare advocate, pursuing community-based programs. She volunteers as an adjunct veterinarian for Tri County Wildlife Care and the Amador County Animal Control; is a board member of the Amador County Rabies Task Force, and is currently a director of the Amador County Chamber of Commerce. In 2004, Dr. Pillsbury was awarded the prestigious Golden Nugget Award, given yearly to local unsung heroes for their involvement in government and public service. She volunteered in Mississippi after Katrina and she speaks regularly in local schools at all levels to educate children in the animal welfare arena.

Dr. Pillsbury has established scholarships in her mother's name, such as the Frances Park Pillsbury Memorial Scholarship for the School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis.
Valerie Reynoso Piotrowski
Valerie Reynoso Piotrowski is the director of key advertising accounts for Comstock’s magazine, where she directs print advertising, develops special sections, courts new corporate and business clients, and writes for the magazine. She also serves as a ghostwriter for high net worth clients and consults with senior managers on developing successful plans for promotions, salary increases, and new benefits.  Prior to commencing her second decade at Comstock’s, Valerie served in the nonprofit industry for 12 years and most recently as a senior consultant for business development for the Greater Sacramento Economic Council.  She was Executive Director of The Dominguez Dream, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering children in underserved communities with literacy and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) funding.  During her tenure, the nonprofit secured new corporate revenue streams, expanded its funding to schools in other states across the country, and held the most successful fundraiser in its -15-year history.

Valerie’s career began as a writer for the late California Governor George Deukmejian.  She served the Governor in both of his terms of office and was appointed Deputy Director of Communications of the State Employment Development Department, the youngest deputy director in California history, and served in the administration of California Governor Pete Wilson for two years. Her leadership in government public relations was lauded in the Los Angeles Times and received myriad awards.  Valerie was an “Outstanding Young Woman of America” for three consecutive years and was noted in McCall’s magazine as an outstanding woman leader.

Valerie was also vice-president of a local PR firm where she directed media for candidates for office, professional athletes, nonprofits, and ballot measures.  She was advertising manager and social editor for Comstock’s magazine for 10 years. She served as director of corporate relations and foundations for the Salvation Army, and her fundraising expertise led to new corporate sponsors, new grants, and new key events.

An award-winning writer, publicist, and fundraiser, Valerie is an alumna of the University of Southern California, where she majored in journalism and political science.  She has been active in many causes, including serving as board president for the Sacramento SPCA, board member of Catholic Charities, the Salvation Army Sac Metro Advisory Board, and the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Her community service includes the Neighborhood Wellness Center in Del Paso Heights, Mercy Foundation Community Council, Mercy Women's Heart Health Council, Lincoln Club of Sacramento, National Latina Business Women Association Sacramento, and Rotary of Sacramento.

Valerie and her husband John make their home in El Dorado Hills with their three beloved rescue dogs, and support causes benefitting children in dramatically-underserved communities and animal rescue organizations.
Jerry Rosenthal
Jerry Rosenthal is Executive Director of the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation in New York. He currently serves on the State Council for HSUS and the board of El Faro de los Animales (Puerto Rico) and is a past member of the board of the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Veterinary Medicine. Prior to becoming involved in the non-profit side of animal health and welfare, Jerry spent 25 years in the financial services industry holding a number of senior marketing, lending and administrative roles.

Jerry graduated from Haverford College with a B.A. in History and holds an MBA from Columbia University. A native of the Bay Area, he currently resides with his family in Little Silver, New Jersey.
Lin Zucconi, M.S., Ph.D.
Lin Zucconi is a retired software and systems engineer. Her most recent position was Program Leader for Software and Systems Engineering research at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization in Canberra Australia. Prior to this, she was Director of the Software Technology Center at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. She has been an adjunct, visiting, and regular faculty at universities in the USA, China, and Australia. Lin was also a Distinguished Lecturer for the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) in both the North American and the Asia-Pacific regions. Lin has also served as a member of and chaired various technical committees and working groups for the IEEE, the US Dept. of Energy, and the Australian Computer Society (ACS). While in Australia she founded the Australian Software Process Improvement Network and chaired the 1997 Australian Software Engineering Conference.

Since retiring Lin has volunteered with the North Lake Tahoe Boys and Girls Club where she lead a STEM program for elementary school-age children. She has also volunteered with the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe and with the Society of Women Engineers student chapter at the University of Nevada in Reno. She currently volunteers with the Emergency Warming Shelter in Truckee which serves the homeless population and stranded motorists in Truckee/North Tahoe during extreme weather conditions. She is an advocate for feline health and medicine which she supports at UC Davis Veterinary Medicine and through various cat rescue organizations in California and nationally.

Lin holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering/Computer Science from Rice University, an M.S. in Applied Science/Engineering from UC Davis, and a Bachelor's degree with Honors in Mathematics from UC Berkeley.