Janice Swanson

Janice Swanson is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Animal Science at Michigan State University (MSU), affiliated with the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources. She also holds an affiliation with the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences in the College of Veterinary Medicine. Swanson earned her BS and MS from the University of Connecticut and her PhD from the University of Maryland.

Her research focuses on animal welfare, farm animal behavior, and the intersection of food systems with societal responsibilities. Key areas include developing science-based guidelines for animal care, translating research into practical recommendations for industry stakeholders, and addressing regulatory frameworks like Michigan’s Right to Farm Act. She chairs the taskforce revising agricultural management practices for farm animals.

Swanson teaches ANS 401: Ethical Issues in Animal Agriculture and collaborates across disciplines to secure funding and advance multi-state initiatives. Her outreach emphasizes educational programming for commodity organizations and policymakers, alongside auditing tools for livestock care in urban settings.

Recent work includes symposia on beef cattle welfare, exploring topics from euthanasia practices to land management strategies. Her publications span poultry welfare, dairy cattle perception studies, and sustainable egg production systems, reflecting a commitment to bridging scientific research with practical agricultural applications.