The new chief operations officer for North Carolina State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) brings a background in veterinary medical research and experience in building relationships with stakeholders to the leadership role.
Megan Jacob, a professor of veterinary microbiology and director of college support and external relations at NC State’s College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), has been named CALS’ senior associate dean of administration. Her appointment begins June 1.
“I am excited to welcome Dr. Megan Jacob to the CALS family,” says CALS Dean Garey Fox. “Dr. Jacob brings a wealth of institutional knowledge and expertise, as well as new ideas and fresh perspectives for how to build partnerships, streamline operations and maximize the impact and reach of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.”
Jacob has been active with the Food Animal Initiative (FAI), a partnership of CALS and CVM, since its inception before the pandemic. She and CALS’ Ben Chapman, head of the Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences, received an FAI Fellowship to support a joint graduate student appointment. In the past year, Jacob has met weekly with faculty leaders in both colleges to generate new ideas and momentum for the initiative.
In her new role, Jacob will lead critical processes in CALS, including budget planning, faculty promotion and tenure, and strategic plan execution. She will serve as managing supervisor of CALS directors of information technology, international programs and administrative communications.
“I am excited for the opportunity to support the achievements of the CALS community as we collectively meet the land grant mission,” Jacob says. “I can’t wait to meet the many people driving agriculture and the life sciences forward throughout the state on behalf of CALS. My goal is to positively contribute to CALS success by aligning resources and processes that support the college’s diverse and strategic goals.”
In addition to veterinary research, teaching and mentoring in CVM, Jacob has administrative responsibilities with information technology, facilities, faculty recognition and external stakeholder relations. She has worked to improve the laboratory diagnostic process for veterinary clinicians, and collaborated on U.S. and international projects to expand diagnostic opportunities, particularly through her collaborations with the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland.
Jacob came to NC State in 2011 after completing undergraduate work in microbiology at the University of Wyoming, and M.S., Ph.D. and postdoctoral work in veterinary pathobiology at Kansas State University. Her graduate and postdoctoral research focused on the foodborne pathogens E. coli O157 and Salmonella in feedlot cattle. She has continued to work in applied microbiology, studying the transmission of pathogenic and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in food animals.
Current Senior Associate Dean of Administration Harry Daniels is returning to the faculty later this year.
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