Welcoming our new faculty members

Dr. Katie Shira specializes in beef cattle physiology, with her research focusing on bone and skeletal muscle growth and maturation, complemented by cross-training in livestock genetics to better understand genome-to-phenome relationships and the genetic regulation of key production traits. Though her work is highly molecular, she maintains strong ties to applied cattle production, shaped by her upbringing on a commercial cow–calf operation where she managed her own cattle and continues to be actively involved in her family’s business. Her extensive experience spans the feedlot sector and formal training across all major areas of cattle production, grounding her teaching in real-world producer perspectives. Passionate about supporting the beef industry through research and education, Dr. Shira is excited to contribute to the Washington State beef community by teaching ANIM_SCI 274: Beef Feedlot Systems and ANIM_SCI 474: Beef Cattle Production this spring, while continuing her work in cattle growth and development.

Dr. Zachary Seekford joins the WSU Animal Sciences Department as an Assistant Professor of Livestock Reproduction, bringing expertise in cellular and molecular approaches to understanding fertility in dairy cattle. Raised on his family’s dairy farm in Virginia, Dr. Seekford built a strong foundation in livestock production before earning his B.S. and M.S. from Virginia Tech and completing his Ph.D. at the University of Florida, where he studied how uterine diseases such as metritis and endometritis impact reproductive success. His research explores the relationship between the reproductive and immune systems within the female reproductive tract, aiming to identify immune cell functions during pregnancy, improve understanding of embryo development, and develop strategies to mitigate disease‑related subfertility. After postdoctoral work at Texas A&M examining maternal immune adaptations during pregnancy, he now looks forward to advancing reproductive efficiency and supporting dairy producers through applied research and instruction. This spring, Dr. Seekford will be teaching ANIM_SCI 101: Introductory Animal Sciences and ANIM_SCI 172: Dairy Cattle Management Laboratory, and he is enthusiastic about engaging with students, colleagues, and producers across the Pacific Northwest.