Contact: Linda Chadderdon, Veterinary Medicine, (517) 355-5165, chadderd@cvm.msu.edu; or Tom Oswald, University Relations, (517) 355-2281, oswald@msu.edu

2/2/2005

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Beginning in early February, Lonnie King, dean of the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, will spend the next year on loan to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta serving as director of the agency’s new Office of Strategy and Innovation (OSI).

King has been consulting with the CDC’s National Center for Infectious Diseases for the past year on strategic planning and workforce planning, as well as helping them build capacity in veterinary medicine and animal health.

“There’s a lot at stake,” King said. “The CDC has a $7 billion budget and 12,000 employees, and it is charged with a vitally important mission – ensuring public health in this country. It’s important that we be sure it’s achieving what it is charged to do.”

“Dr. King’s unique skills in organization dynamics, change management and strategic planning, combined with his background as an outstanding scientist will make him an invaluable addition to CDC,” said Julie Gerberding, CDC director.

“I strongly believe in public service and the importance of spending parts of our careers contributing to the efforts of government,” King said. “I’m grateful to both MSU for allowing me to take this assignment and to CDC for giving me this opportunity.”

MSU President Lou Anna Kimsey Simon supports King’s involvement with CDC.

“Michigan State has a long-standing and deep-seated belief in sharing our expertise, a responsiveness to national needs and a commitment to public service,” she said. “Lonnie King’s internationally renowned career has embodied those values. Once again, his talent and wisdom in service to national public health challenges have been sought. It is an honor for both Dr. King and MSU.”

King’s position will be in the CDC director’s office. The OSI will have five functional teams focusing on goals management, health equity, strategy and policy, innovation and evaluation.

King also will be working on a legislative agenda for CDC that will help educate members of Congress about CDC programs and issues and develop support, financial and legislative, that enables CDC to increase its health impact.

King expects to be back on campus every few weeks and will continue to be connected to major college issues, such as development, accreditation and important student events like commencement.

Janver Krehbiel will serve as acting dean during King’s absence. He has been the college’s senior associate dean for the past five years and has served in other administrative positions in the past, including that of acting dean.

King has been dean of the college since 1996. Before coming to MSU he held a number of positions with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, including administrator. He was recently elected to the Institute of Medicine, becoming one of the few veterinarians named to the organization.