Dr. Monique Pairis-Garcia (’11)
Monique Pairis-Garcia, a leader in farm animal welfare science, is the 2026 recipient of the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Animal Welfare Award presented annually to a veterinarian in recognition of their achievement in advancing the welfare of animals via leadership, public service, education, research/product development and/or advocacy. She is the first researcher dedicated primarily to swine welfare to receive this award. “I would like to express my appreciation to the swine veterinarians, producers, caretakers and those in the allied industry that have consistently supported, encouraged and pushed me to continue my path in advancing swine welfare on-farm,” she said. Pairis-Garcia is a professor of global production animal welfare at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine.