Ciacci Zanella named next director of UNL veterinary school
Bottom line
Janice Reis Ciacci Zanella has been named the next director of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, with the appointment taking effect August 1, 2026. The university said she will succeed Dr. Scott McVey, who has led the school since 2020 and will return to the faculty. Ciacci Zanella brings an international résumé spanning animal virology, preventive medicine, and One Health, including leadership at Brazil’s Embrapa Swine and Poultry, service on panels tied to WOAH, FAO, WHO, and UNEP, and more recent work as a visiting scientist with USDA and a postdoctoral fellow at Iowa State University. UNL leaders said her background in collaboration and research leadership helped set her apart in the search process. (nationalhogfarmer.com)
Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this is a leadership change at a school that sits at the intersection of food animal medicine, diagnostic work, research, and Nebraska’s production agriculture economy. Ciacci Zanella’s track record in emerging swine viruses, zoonotic disease, and One Health suggests continued emphasis on cross-sector partnerships and applied research that connects academia, diagnostics, and industry. That could matter for veterinarians watching how UNL shapes training, research priorities, and outreach in areas like livestock health, biosecurity, and disease surveillance. (nationalhogfarmer.com)
What to watch: Watch for how quickly UNL outlines Ciacci Zanella’s priorities after her August 1, 2026 start date, especially around research partnerships, veterinary training, and the school’s role in regional animal health initiatives. (nationalhogfarmer.com)
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln has selected Janice Reis Ciacci Zanella, DVM, as the next director of its School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, effective August 1, 2026. She will replace Dr. Scott McVey, who has served as director since 2020. In announcing the move, university leaders highlighted her interdisciplinary background, international experience, and history of building collaborations across research and animal health systems. (nationalhogfarmer.com)
The appointment comes at a notable moment for UNL’s veterinary and biomedical sciences enterprise. Nebraska’s school is not a standalone college of veterinary medicine; it operates within the university’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources and has long been tied to the state’s livestock economy, diagnostic capacity, and the Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine partnership with Iowa State University. That makes the director role especially important for coordinating research, teaching, and service across production animal health and public health priorities. (nebraska.edu)
Ciacci Zanella’s background is unusually global for a land-grant veterinary leadership role. She earned her veterinary degree from the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil, then completed both her master’s and Ph.D. training in Nebraska. According to UNL materials, her scientific work has focused on animal virology, preventive medicine, and One Health, with emphasis on emerging and zoonotic viruses including influenza, porcine circovirus, and hepatitis E. From 2014 to 2021, she served as general director of Embrapa Swine and Poultry, where she led multidisciplinary teams and worked to strengthen partnerships and funding relationships. (nationalhogfarmer.com)
UNL’s announcement also underscored her ties to international animal health governance. The university said she has participated in panels and committees connected to WOAH, FAO, WHO, and UNEP as a representative of Brazil. More recently, she has worked in the U.S. as a visiting scientist with USDA and as a postdoctoral fellow at Iowa State University. In the university’s statement, interim NU vice president and Harlan vice chancellor Tiffany Heng-Moss said Ciacci Zanella brings “impressive interdisciplinary experience and a strong history of collaboration” to the job, while Ciacci Zanella said she wants to build on the school’s foundation through education, research, and outreach. (nationalhogfarmer.com)
Public expert reaction beyond the university announcement appears limited so far, but the selection itself signals the kind of leadership profile UNL is prioritizing: someone with deep food animal disease experience, administrative experience at a major research organization, and credibility in One Health discussions. That combination could resonate in Nebraska, where veterinary education, livestock production, and diagnostic readiness are closely linked. Based on the public candidate materials and the university’s announcement, this looks like a strategic choice toward translational, partnership-driven leadership rather than a purely internal academic appointment. (ianr.unl.edu)
Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, especially those in food animal practice, diagnostics, academia, and public health, the appointment could shape how UNL aligns its programs with evolving disease threats and workforce needs. Ciacci Zanella’s research history in swine viruses and zoonotic pathogens may support stronger emphasis on surveillance, prevention, and cross-border disease preparedness. Her background at Embrapa also suggests experience working across government, academia, and industry, which is increasingly relevant as veterinary schools are asked to deliver not just teaching and research, but practical solutions for producers, regulators, and pet parents concerned about food systems and zoonotic risk. (nationalhogfarmer.com)
The leadership transition may also matter for recruitment and institutional visibility. UNL has been expanding veterinary-related programming and continues to play a key role in Nebraska’s broader animal health infrastructure. A director with international standing and Nebraska training could help the school deepen research collaborations, attract faculty and trainees, and strengthen its position in conversations about livestock health, One Health, and veterinary workforce development in the Midwest. That is an inference based on her career profile and the school’s structure, rather than a stated university objective. (nebraska.edu)
What to watch: The next key milestone is August 1, 2026, when Ciacci Zanella officially takes over. After that, veterinary professionals should watch for early signals on her agenda, including whether UNL announces new research partnerships, changes in training priorities, or fresh investments tied to food animal health, diagnostics, and One Health collaboration. (nationalhogfarmer.com)