2022-23 SUNY Chancellor Awards for Excellence honor Gerlinde Van de Walle, Alfred H. Caspary Professor at Baker Institute for Animal Health

Nineteen faculty and professional staff members in Cornell’s four state contract colleges have been selected for the 2022-23 State University of New York (SUNY) Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence.

Honorees for scholarship and creative activities included Gerlinde Van de Walle, D.V.M., Ph.D., the Alfred H.  Caspary Professor and interim director of the Baker Institute for Animal Health. Van de Walle’s current research focuses on studying the pathogenesis of equine viral diseases, studying the potential of bioactive factors secreted by stem cells to regenerate injured tissues and fight infections, and comparative studies to identify molecular mechanisms underlying low mammary cancer incidence. Van de Walle was named interim director of the Institute in November of 2022.

“I am very honored to be a recipient of a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence for my scholarship and creative activities. My goal has always been to work to advance veterinary medicine and I get to work towards that goal every day in a collaborative research environment here at Baker, and amongst my other colleagues across the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) and the department of Microbiology and Immunology. In addition, I get to mentor tomorrow’s next generation of veterinary research experts,” states Van de Walle who serves as the co-director of the Cornell Leadership Program for Veterinary Students.

The SUNY Chancellor Awards for Excellence recognize faculty and staff at SUNY colleges who demonstrate a commitment to intellectual vibrancy, advancing the boundaries of knowledge, providing the highest quality of instruction, and serving the public good. Van de Walle was nominated by Deborah Fowell, DPhil, professor of immunology and chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at CVM. Fowell states, “I am delighted that Dr. Van de Walle’s contributions to excellence in research have been honored with this award. Her research stands out for tackling tough research questions with imaginative and innovative approaches and a clear vision for translating the findings into new ways to treat disease.  We are proud to have Dr. Van de Walle as a member of our academic community.”

Visit here to read the full article of honorees from across the University.