Katelyn Kaufman

Degrees, Licensures, and Certificates: Ph.D. – Virginia Tech University (2018); M.S. Ohio State University (2015); B.S. Ohio State University (2013)

Research Interests: Equine nutrition, including pasture-based research, to improve the health and wellness of horses.

Dr. Katie Kaufman is from the Hocking Hills in Logan, Ohio and has been actively involved in agriculture from a young age. She participated in 4-H and FFA throughout middle school and high school, showing cattle and pigs, and riding horses. She attended Ohio State University main campus where she studied Animal Science and minored in Equine Science and Disability Studies. While attending undergrad, she was a student employee at the OSU horse barn and worked in the equine research lab. She was also active in the OSU equine breeding program and assisted with all facets including breeding, foaling, handling weanlings and yearlings, and starting 2-year-olds under saddle.

Following graduation, she stayed at Ohio State to complete her master's degree in Animal Science with a focus in equine nutrition and gastrointestinal health. Her master's work investigated the effect of probiotic supplementation on the gastrointestinal microbiome of horses. After graduation, she attended Virginia Tech University for her Ph.D. in the School of Animal Sciences as an Equine Nutritionist. She was stationed at the Middleburg Agricultural Research and Extension Center (MARE Center) in Northern, VA to conduct pasture-based equine nutrition research. She investigated the effects of seasonal fluctuations in pasture nutrients on the morphometric, metabolic, and digestive responses of grazing horses throughout an entire year.

Dr. Kaufman has been teaching at MSU since the fall of 2018 and has been working to revitalize the equine program, including starting a Quarter Horse Breeding program in 2019. She is also active with the students in the Ag Department, serving as an advisor to the Equestrian Team and Sigma Alpha Sorority. Additionally, she serves her Department on the Equine Trust, Farm, and Curriculum committees. She is also a member of several University committees including the Service and Radiation Safety committees and serves on the Faculty Welfare and Concerns subcommittee as a Faculty Senator for the Ag Department. She is involved in several state and national equine-affiliated organizations including the Kentucky Equine Program Consortium, Equine Science Society, and National Association of Equine Affiliated Academics. Dr. Kaufman also sits on the Board of Directors for the Appalachian Horse Project in Eastern, KY.

Dr. Kaufman enjoys spending her free time with her husband and their animals (3 dogs, 3 cats, and 4 horses), traveling, and watching college football.