Nikki Neeser

Nikki Neeser grew up on a small farm in Windom, Minn. As a child, science and medicine piqued her interest. So after graduating from high school, she studied at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa with her eye on a career in physical therapy. But during her undergraduate studies, Nikki began to miss the farm life she left behind in Minnesota.

In her second year of college, Neeser decided to go into veterinary medicine. She volunteered at several veterinary clinics in Iowa and Minnesota. "The experience helped shape my outlook. Running a clinic is a lot more than just dealing with the animals," said Nesser.

Nikki Neeser earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Minnesota in 1999. Afterward, she practiced at a clinic in Zumbrota, Minn. for three years. While working there, the U of M School of Veterinary Medicine offered her a position as a clinical instructor. She took it, and began teaching public health and dairy rotations in 2002.

As she embarked on her new job, Neeser began taking classes through the School of Public Health executive program. In 2004 she completed an M.P.H.

Neeser is now the Dairy, Meat and Poultry Inspection Program manager at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Her office is located on the edge of the St. Paul Capitol complex, which includes parts of the Minnesota Department of Health. "Since the departments are housed together, I’ve come to appreciate other aspects of public health. I work more with the environmental health sections and with local public health agencies," she said.

Neeser, one of just two veterinarians at the Department of Agriculture, says she loves her job. "Everything that has to do with animal health and food safety is under my purview; that includes dairy plants, dairy farms, state meat inspections, small plants and product testing. Everyday we work on something new.

The Department of Agriculture is an enforcement agency, but Neeser still uses her skills as an educator. "We do training programs for meat inspectors and dairy inspectors. We teach them about labeling requirements, slaughter pathology, how to do inspections and how to test for drug residues in meat. We also work to prevent drug residues on dairy farms. " said Neeser.

Neeser loves her job, "It offers diversity everyday, not only in the type of work I do, but the people I work with in the community," said Neeser. That diversity requires she be an excellent communicator. "To be effective in this work you need to be able to talk with and understand the people with whom you work--and that’s a broad range of folks."

Neeser’s job does pose challenges. "Getting accurate information to the public, especially in a time of crisis, can be difficult," said Nesser. She also needs to ensure her opinions don’t influence her decisions. "I work for a regulatory agency. We need to be able to be impartial. Whether or not we agree entirely with some of the laws, we need to enforce them."

Nesser feels her life experience and academic background prepared her for her current position. "Growing up on the farm, I know the language and understand the challenges farmers face," she said.

For anyone considering a similar career path, Nesser has some advice. "You need a real passion for disease prevention, public health and education."