Wilkes brings more than two decades of experience in veterinary microbiology, virology and molecular diagnostics—guiding one of the nation’s premier veterinary diagnostic centers in continuing to serve the Commonwealth’s vital agricultural and equine industries. 

Originally from Tennessee, Wilkes earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in 2001. She went on to complete a Ph.D. in Comparative and Experimental Medicine from the same institution in 2007, specializing in virology and molecular biology. She is board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists in both virology and bacteriology/mycology.  

After serving as a research assistant professor at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, she joined the University of Georgia in 2015 as an assistant professor and head of the molecular and virology/serology laboratory sections at the Tifton Veterinary Diagnostic and Investigational Laboratory.  

In 2018 Wilkes joined Purdue as an assistant professor. She then became section head for the molecular laboratory at the Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory and an associate professor in 2021 in Purdue’s Department of Comparative Pathobiology. 

Wilkes’ recent work has focused on designing targeted next-generation sequencing panels for detecting infectious diseases in animals, a key advancement for syndromic testing. In assuming leadership of the UKVDL, she looks forward to collaborating with the lab’s accomplished diagnostic team and harnessing cutting-edge technologies to better serve Kentucky’s animal industries.