For his commitment to expanding veterinary services training and capacity building around the globe, the University of Minnesota (UMN) has honored Dr. Andres Perez with the Award for Global Engagement.

The award is given to UMN faculty and staff members in recognition of outstanding contributions to global education and international programs at the University or in their field or discipline.

It honors individual faculty and staff who have distinguished themselves in their work and serve as a resource and inspiration to other faculty and staff.

Perez is a professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine, endowed chair of Global Animal Health and Food Safety, and director of the Center for Animal Health and Food Safety (CAHFS). The training and capacity building facilitated through CAHFS programs has led to substantial improvements in animal and human health throughout Latin America, Asia, and Africa. 

Under Perez’s leadership, CAHFS has been recognized as a preeminent institution in food safety-related research and training, being named a World Organization for Animal Health collaborating center for capacity building of veterinary services and a Food and Agriculture Organization of the United States reference center for veterinary public health.

Perez has contributed to the professional development of high-quality graduate and postdoctoral students, who today hold key positions in animal health throughout the world, especially in developing countries. Many epidemiologists trained by Perez now lead the epidemiology divisions, animal health programs, or veterinary services of countries and states in Latin America, Asia, and Africa.

As part of his commitment to capacity building, Dr. Perez serves as academic co-director of ProgRESSVet, which has created and implemented a training program, delivered primarily online, to enhance the human resources of veterinary services. ProgRESSVet is currently being implemented in 26 countries in Africa, 19 countries in Latin America, and two countries in Southeast Asia. More than 150 participants have been trained through the program. 

Dr. Perez has also played a significant role in response and preparedness activities related to African Swine Fever (ASF). He provided advice to governments in a number of ASF-infected countries, including Vietnam, the Philippines, and the Dominican Republic, and supported the evaluation of the first-ever commercially licensed ASF vaccine.