09/01/2026
Michael Neafsey ’08 is proof that your career does not always follow a straight line. After earning his Marine Science degree from CCU, the Stevensville, Maryland, native went on to pursue veterinary medicine and public health and now helps lead national efforts to protect animal health.
As a Marine Science student, Neafsey became involved with the Coastal Underwater Diving Association, eventually serving as president, and worked with Professor Rich Viso on projects involving remotely operated vehicles. He also completed two summer internships at the Cooperative Oxford Laboratory in Maryland, where he worked with marine mammal and sea turtle programs. These experiences introduced him to wildlife health and pathology and helped spark his interest in veterinary medicine.
After graduating from Coastal, Neafsey earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and a Master of Public Health. He later became board certified by the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine. Today, he serves as acting executive director of Veterinary Services, Diagnostics and Biologics with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, where he leads programs focused on protecting U.S. animal health and preparing for, detecting and responding to animal diseases.
Much of Neafsey’s work focuses on One Health, an approach that brings together animal, human, and environmental health. He is particularly proud of helping develop and publish the National One Health Framework to Address Zoonotic Diseases and Advance Public Health Preparedness in the United States, which provides a coordinated approach to preparing for and responding to emerging zoonotic diseases.
His advice to students is to remain curious and open to opportunities that may take them somewhere unexpected. “Don’t assume that your undergraduate degree determines the limits of your career,” he said. “Be curious, volunteer for things that stretch you, and don’t underestimate the value of relationships with professors, classmates and colleagues.”
Neafsey’s journey shows that unexpected paths can lead to meaningful opportunities.
