Research and Cultural Experiences

TEACHING EXPRIENCE

MY TEACHING PHYLOSOPHY

My primary objective in teaching is to encourage students to develop their interests into applicable skills through active learning, critical thinking, and proactive discussions. It is through the development of these skills that students gain the ability to take basic knowledge and produce optimal outcomes in real-world situations. Throughout my academic and professional career, I have always valued the importance of knowledge. As such, I have sought opportunities to gain knowledge whenever possible, through attending professional development/continuing education courses, attending conferences, conducting research, and continuous self-education. This drive has led me to gain various professional certifications in the fields of natural resource conservation, veterinary medicine, and public health and education. It is my opinion that those who demonstrate a high affinity towards learning also have the potential to stimulate the minds of others.

As consistent as learning has been a foundational aspect of my professional trajectory, so too has teaching. Whether formally or informally, I have stepped into the roles of mentor, trainer, and teacher. Working in clinical settings, I have worked to develop standard operating procedures, staff training protocols, and educational fellowship plans. My research interests include the anthropogenic effects on wildlife populations and vice versa. Zoonoses and emerging infectious diseases are of particular interest to me, and understanding the larger impacts of environment, climate, and the urban-domestic-wildlife interface on the individual are essential to understanding the diseases affecting our wildlife populations. Based on my educational background and experiences in clinical practice and research, I am equally qualified and excited to teach undergraduate courses in biology, ecology, and One Health.

Teaching Statement

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE, OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY:
LECTURER, VMED 7661

Lectured to 2nd and 3rd year veterinary students enrolled in the class VMED 7661: Infectious and Parasitic Diseases of Wild Animals Elective; topics included wildlife rehabilitation, zoonotic parasites, and captive medical management.

INTERNATIONAL WILDLIFE REHABILITATORS COUNCIL:
COURSE INSTRUCTOR, FOUNDATIONS OF WILDLIFE REHABILITATION

15-hour RACE approved lab and lecture. Multiple classes (both virtual and in-person) on various topics in wildlife rehabilitation, including a general introduction to wildlife rehabilitation, fluid therapy, animal welfare, thermoregulatory medical problems, admissions and identification, nutrition, capture and restraint, starvation and emaciation, zoonoses, wound management, stress and shock, head and spinal trauma, physical exam, release criteria, and euthanasia.

OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY:
STUDENT INSTRUCTOR, HORSE SCIENCE ACADEMY

November 2020 – The Equine Athlete. 8-hour lab and lecture. Taught 20 high school-aged students equine athleticism, including the cardiovascular system, the pulmonary system, and a gross dissection of a heart

November 2019 – Parasites, Their Management and Anthelmintic Resistance. 8-hour lab and lecture. Taught 20 high school-aged students equine parasite cycles and parasite management techniques.
November 2018 – Equine Anatomy. 8-hour lab and lecture. Taught 20 high school-aged students equine leg anatomy, including live palpations of muscles, tendons, and circulatory system and a gross dissection of a front leg.
November 2017 – Operant Conditioning and First Aid. 8-hour lab and lecture. Taught 20 high school-aged students equine first aid, equine behavior and handling skills, and how to create blood smears.

Teaching Responsibilities

Teaching Evaluations

SELECT PRESENTATIONS

Invited Presentations

Funk, W. “Management of Infectious Disease in Raccoons: Maximizing Capacity while Treating the Individual”. New York State Wildlife Rehabilitation Council Virtual Webinar (Apr 29, 2026). Online Webinar.
Funk, W., Eller, F. “Wildlife Rehabilitation: The Silent Partnership of Conservation and Veterinary Medicine”. Southwestern Oklahoma State University J.D. Maness Seminar Series (Mar 25, 2026). Weatherford, OK, US. PowerPoint.
Funk, W. “Keynote Address”. Scouting America Montana Council Eagle Scout Report to the State (Mar 21, 2026). Helena, MT, US. Keynote Address.
Funk, W. “The Role of Wildlife Rehabilitation in Conservation”. University of Central Oklahoma Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society (Sep 10, 2025). Edmond, OK, US. PowerPoint
Funk, W. “Research and Rehabilitation: Bridging the Gap Between Citizen Science and Academia”. IWRC Tea and Coffee (Mar 25, 2024). Online Webinar.

Workshops

Funk, W. “Avian Necropsies: A Tool to Evaluate the Health of Patients and Populations”. National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association Annual Symposium (Feb 16, 2027). Chicago, IL, US.
Funk, W., Eller, F. “Raptors and Rehabilitation: Medical Management and Post-Mortem Investigations”. Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine Zoo, Exotics, and Wildlife Club. (Aug 29, 2026). Stillwater, OK, US. Wet Lab
Funk, W. “Disease in Raccoons: Outbreaks, Vaccine Efficacy, and Post-Mortem Investigations”.Oklahoma State University Student Chapter of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (Oct 20, 2024; Oct 8, 2026). Stillwater, OK, US. Wet Lab

Oral Presentations

Funk, W., Taylor, J., Lamon, C., Duncan, K. “Gastrointestinal Helminths of Northern Raccoon (Procyon lotor) Admitted to Rehabilitation in Oklahoma with a Focus on Baylisascaris procyonis Surveillance”. American Association of Veterinary Parasitologist Annual Meeting (Jun 7, 2026). Rio Grande, PR. PowerPoint.
Funk, W. “Masked Bandits are Gross: How to Minimize Disease while Optimizing Care. National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association Annual Symposium (Feb 26, 2026). Baton Rouge, LA, US. PowerPoint.
Funk, W. “Wildlife Rehabilitation: The Unseen Partner in Wildlife Health”. WDA2025 Global Voice (Jul 28, 2025). Online. PowerPoint.
Funk, W. “Disease Trends, Outbreaks, and Vaccine Efficacy in Rehabbed Raccoons”. National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association Annual Symposium (Feb 24, 2025). Seattle, WA, US. PowerPoint.
Funk, W., Shadbolt, T., Blake, D., and Fox, M. “Morphologic and Molecular Characterization of Nematodes in Red Kites (Milvus milvus) in England and Wales”. Royal Veterinary College Postgraduate Research Symposium (Sep 9, 2022). ZSL, London, Eng, UK. PowerPoint.

Poster Presentations

Funk, W., Taylor, J., Duncan, K. “Baylisascaris procyonis Surveillance in Raccoons (Procyon lotor) Admitted to Rehabilitation in Oklahoma”. National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association Annual Symposium (Feb 26, 2026). Baton Rouge, LA, US.
Funk, W., Thomas, M., Yates, M., Ford, A., More, S., Taylor, J., Abbott, K. “Disease Outbreaks & Vaccine Efficacy in Raccoons in Rehabilitation: A Pilot Study”. 73rd Annual International Conference of the Wildlife Disease Association (Jul 31, 2025). Victoria, BC, CA.
Funk, W. “Opportunistic Disease Surveillance in Free-ranging Raptors in Oklahoma” National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association Annual Symposium (Feb 24, 2025). Seattle, WA, US.
Campbell, J., Abbott, K., McKown, M., Funk, W., O’Connell, T., Loss, S., Brandao, J. “Intake Causes of Wild Raptors to a Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Oklahoma (2020-2022). American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges’ Veterinary Scholars Symposium (Aug 9, 2024). St. Paul, MN, US.
Funk, W., Abbott, K., and Bryant, D. “Comparative Enclosure Design for Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) in a Rehabilitation Setting: A Case Study”. Royal Veterinary College Postgraduate Case Study Symposium (May 31, 2022). RVC, London, Eng, UK.
Funk, W., Fraser, S., Fuhlendorf, S. “Coyote Diets in Relation to Controlled Burns”. Henry Bellman Department of Undergraduate Research Symposium (Apr 15, 2016) and Karen L. Smith Undergraduate Research Symposium (Apr 21, 2016). OSU, Stillwater, OK, US.