Portrait of instructor wearing a blue shirt and glasses with short brown hair, against a nature backdrop.

Dr. Lee Kesting

Assistant Professor in Human-Animal Interactions Get Contact Info

TEACHES IN THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM(S)

Animal Behavior

Biography

Dr. Lee Kesting grew up in the Chicago suburb of Palatine. They earned their Bachelor's degree in Biology from Knox College, their Master's degree in Animal Science from University of Kentucky, and their Doctorate in Animal Science from the University of Tennessee. Dr. Lee Kesting joined Carroll's faculty in 2020 and teaches Human-Animal Bond; Introduction to and Advanced Skills to Canine Care, Behavior, and Training; Animal Welfare; and The Science of Animal Behavior. They are a member of the International Society of Applied Ethology, the American Dairy Science Association, and the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists.

Education

University of Tennessee, PhD
University of Kentucky, MS
Knox College, BA

Areas of Specialization

Animal welfare, human-animal interaction, applied animal behavior

Scholarly and Professional Achievements

Graves, M. T., A. Lear, S. Cox, M. Caldwell, A. Lee Kesting, P. D. Krawczel. 2020. Evaluation of the

pharmacokinetics and efficacy of transdermal flunixin for pain mitigation following

castration in goat. Trans Anim Sci 4 (4). DOI: 10.1093/tas/txaa198

Daniel, J. A., R. Groux, P. D. Krawczel, A. R. Lee Kesting, and B. K. Whitlock. 2020. Short

Communication: Reapplication of shoes results in more steps per day and more

time spent lying per day. J of Equine Vet Sci. (88: May 2020. DOI:

10.1016/j.jevs.2020.102947).

Lee Kesting, A., S. Schexnayder, L. Schneider, S. Oliver, G. Pighetti, C. Petersson-Wolfe, J. Bewley, S.

Ward, and P. Krawczel. 2020. Research Communication: Dairy producers in the

Southeast United States are concerned with cow care and welfare. J Dairy Res.1-4. DOI: 10.1017/S002202991900943.

Krawczel P. K., and A. R. Lee Kesting. 2019. Lying time and its importance to the dairy cow – impact of

stocking density and time budget stresses. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Prac. 35 (47-

60). DOI: 10.1016/j.cvfa.2018.11.002.

Mel Melchior, E., J. Smith, L. Schneider, T. Mulliniks, G. Bates, M. Flythe, J. Klotz, H. Ji, J. Good, A. Lee Kesting., M. Caldwell, P. Myer. 2018. Effects of endophyte-infected tall fescue seed and red clover

isoflavones on rumen microbial populations and physiological parameters of beef cattle. Trans Anim Sci 35 (1). DOI: 10.1093/tas/txy147.

Mullen, K. A., A. R. Lee Kesting, R. L. Lyman, S. E. Mason, S. P. Washburn, and K. L. Anderson. 2014. Short communication: an in vitro assessment of the antibacterial activity of plant-derived oils.

J Dairy Sci 97(9):5587-5591. DOI: 10.3168/jds.2013-7806.

What is your teaching style?

My number one goal in the classroom is to get you engaged in your own education so that you learn the information in a way that is best for you. I want students to feel comfortable and respected sharing their opinions, exploring new topics, and debating challenging questions. I love to integrate videos, podcasts, online polls, word clouds, flipped classrooms, and pop culture references to connect topics familiar and unfamiliar topics. I have even been known to imitate an animal or two to make a point.

Why do you do what you do?

I love spreading knowledge and making difficult topics easier to discuss in safe environment. I like that Animal Welfare deals in the grey areas between “right” and “wrong” and helping students to form educated, well-researched opinions about controversial topics.

How do you make learning engaging?

By the end of each class that I teach, I want you to be able to design your own learning opportunity, whether that’s a debate of two welfare scenarios; a new way to explore human-animal bond; or a survey that asks people about their perception of zoos. I try to ensure students walk away from my courses with real-world, applied knowledge that can be told to their friends, family, and the world

What should students know about you?

Students should know that they are my first priority. I always wanted to work at a small liberal arts University, because I want to make individual connections with each student. I am not always the best with names, but I hope each student knows how important they are. I always keep my door open and want students to be able to approach me with questions, concerns, or ideas. I always want to talk about Animal Welfare and Human-Animal Bond!