Cheryl Morris

Cheryl Morris is an Associate Professor at Iowa State University, specializing in animal nutrition and wildlife management. She holds an M.S. in Animal Science from Iowa State University and a Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Her research focuses on dietary interventions in captive and wild animals, including nutritional strategies for exotic species, zoo animal husbandry, and the effects of vitamins/minerals on animal health and behavior.

Key research areas include optimizing diets for zoo-managed carnivores, amphibians, and rodents; evaluating the impact of dietary components on oxidative stress, learning performance, and reproductive health; and advancing nutritional protocols for companion animals. Notable contributions include studies on pork by-products as enrichment for large cats, vitamin E supplementation in rodents, and husbandry practices for maned wolves.

• Recognized with the 2015 Corbin Award for work on companion and zoo animal behavior/training.
• Explores interdisciplinary topics like soft skill development in science curricula and grassland arthropod nutritional profiles.
• Collaborates internationally on wildlife nutrition projects involving zoos in Europe, North America, and Australia.

Her work bridges laboratory studies with applied field applications in zoological settings, emphasizing evidence-based approaches to animal care and conservation.