The six-member Minnesota Board of Animal Health has named Marion Garcia as its new executive director and state veterinarian.

The Board selected Garcia to succeed Beth Thompson, who left in May and had served the agency since 2016. Linda Glaser served in the interim while the board went through the hiring process.

Garcia will officially start at the end of September.

Garcia has been a livestock veterinarian in the poultry industry for more than 20 years. She worked for a commercial poultry operation in veterinary school and continued in the industry until accepting her new position with the board. Prior to veterinary school, she served as a member of the U.S. Army and U.S. Army Reserve until retiring from service in 2020.

Garcia also holds a master’s degree in veterinary public health and epidemiology, and is board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine. She is active in the National Poultry Improvement Plan and was recently elected to represent the Midwest at the national meeting.

“I’m excited to be joining the team at the Board of Animal Health. I have practiced in Minnesota for several years, and have a high respect for the state’s producers and industry,” Garcia said in a news release. “I look forward to working with the talented staff at the board, our partner agencies at the state of Minnesota, and serving the people of this great state.”

Garcia is the 10th executive director to hold the position in the board’s 119-year history. Executive directors are appointed annually by the board members unless a vacancy occurs, and the position needs to be filled mid-term. For details about other news and events at the Board of Animal Health, visit bah.state.mn.us.

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