CVM welcomes Narayanan as Pathobiology department head
Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine welcomed Dr. Sanjeev Narayanan as its new head of the Department of Pathobiology in October.
Narayanan joins the college from Purdue University, where he had served as professor and head of the Department of Comparative Pathobiology since 2017. He also held the position of interim associate dean for research and graduate studies in the College of Veterinary Medicine from 2024-2025. Narayanan led college-level initiatives in artificial intelligence in education and served as an academic lead for Purdue Online.
“We are excited for the future of the department under Dr. Narayanan’s leadership, building on the strong foundation and program advances established by Dr. [Paul] Walz,” said CVM Dean Calvin Johnson.
An award-winning educator and accomplished researcher, Narayanan earned his bachelor’s degree from Madras Veterinary College in India and his Ph.D. in Veterinary Pathobiology from Kansas State University. He holds diplomate status from both the American College of Veterinary Pathologists and the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists. His research interests include the development of strategies to reduce the use of antibiotics in animals and humans and to counteract the threat of antimicrobial resistance among pathogenic bacteria. He is the author or co-author of 59 peer-reviewed research publications and has secured two patents.
Drawing on his academic experience, he said he views the role of department head as a supportive leader — one who champions and enables the success of faculty, staff, and students. Building on Auburn’s rich tradition of fostering a vibrant community of teachers, scholars, and learners, his goal is to cultivate interdisciplinary collaboration that advances research excellence and transformative education.
In his new role, Narayanan will lead a department that contributes to CVM’s “One Health” identity through research and diagnostic services in comparative medicine and research in such areas as infectious diseases, cancer biology, biodetection, vaccinology and molecular therapy. The department is home to the college’s Biomedical Sciences graduate program, as well as residency training programs in anatomic and clinical pathology.
During a reception on November 6, Johnson honored Walz for his transformative leadership and for helping the department navigate the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Walz will continue to serve on the CVM faculty.
“There was so much change over that 5-year period and Paul was instrumental in finding the people that were the best fit and most talented and gave them what they needed to be successful,” Johnson said.