Faculty Feature Series on Promoted Faculty Shines Spotlight on Dr. Kenitra Hendrix

November 1, 2019

Dr. Hendrix stands beside a framed illustration of her in the Continuum Cafe — Caption: Dr. Kenitra Hendrix was recognized for her promotion to clinical associate professor in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology at a spring reception where she received a hand-drawn illustration by Professor of Veterinary History David Williams in honor of her achievement.

The Vet Gazette this week begins a series celebrating the talented faculty members who received promotions effective with the 2019-2020 academic year. This issue focuses on Dr. Kenitra Hendrix, who was promoted to clinical associate professor of veterinary diagnostic microbiology in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology. She also was appointed as the new director of Indiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL) effective June 1.

Born and raised in Montgomery, Ala., Dr. Hendrix’s interest in veterinary medicine stemmed from her 7^th grade career project on veterinarians. She was required to read about the career, interview a veterinarian, and log several hours of work in the profession. From then on, her path led her straight to veterinary school.

A person in a lab coat and gloves is using a microscope, surrounded by petri dishes in a laboratory setting.

Dr. Hendrix’s responsibilities involve leading the microbiology rotation for DVM students and giving guest lectures in bacteriology courses for both veterinary nursing and DVM students, as well as serving as the ADDL director and section head of the ADDL’s Bacteriology, Mycology, and Parasitology Laboratories.

When asked what she enjoys about being part of Purdue Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Hendrix expressed that her favorite part is the collegiality. “I love that we are all on the same team. In addition, since the ADDL is necessary for diagnostics and data for all departments, there is a lot of opportunity for collaboration among faculty,” she said. Dr. Hendrix said her biggest career achievement to date was being selected to be a plenary speaker at the annual American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) conference and speaking about antimicrobial resistance.

In her free time, Dr. Hendrix tap-dances and spends time with her two elementary school children. She participates in their activities by being a Girl Scout leader for her daughter’s troop and has even coached her son’s football team in the past! Dr. Hendrix is one of three PVM faculty members who received promotions for the current academic year.

Writer(s): Maya Sanaba, PVM Communications Intern | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Recent Stories

Retreat brings together Veterinary Technology team members

Members of the Purdue Veterinary Technology Distance Learning (VTDL) Program team recently traveled to Purdue’s West Lafayette campus for an in-person retreat where they could work together and explore new opportunities for teaching, learning, and student success. The two day retreat focused on strengthening collaboration between the program's remote and on-campus teams, and represented a significant milestone for the program.

Annual Purdue Veterinary Conference draws veterinary professionals from across the country for learning and fun

The 2026 edition of the annual Purdue Veterinary Conference attracted attendees from around the U.S. for three days of educational sessions covering an array of topics. With the overall theme of “One Health: Modern Veterinary Medicine,” the conference September 23-26 on the Purdue University campus drew more than 450 veterinarians and veterinary technicians, plus faculty, staff and students. Sessions taught by a total of 65 speakers, including many Purdue Veterinary Medicine clinicians and veterinary technicians/technologists, enabled conference-goers to earn up to 23 continuing education credit hours.

Significant Gift from Jordan Smelski Foundation will fuel Purdue Veterinary Medicine research on deadly brain eating amoeba

A researcher in the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Comparative Pathobiology has received a generous gift of more than $100,000 from the Jordan Smelski Foundation for Amoeba Awareness and Mr. Steve Smelski to support research of the deadly amoeba Naegleria fowleri. Christopher Rice, PhD, assistant professor of parasitology and principal investigator of the Rice Research Group, leads a research team seeking to discover and repurpose drugs against primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare but typically fatal infection caused by Naegleria fowleri.

Purdue veterinary student receives Sir John D. Spurling Scholarship awarded by AKC Humane Fund

The AKC® Humane Fund, Inc.℠ has announced the 2026 recipients of the Sir John D. Spurling Scholarship, celebrating the human-canine bond, and one of the recipients is Purdue veterinary student Tiffany Chang of the Class of 2027. Chang is one of only five students chosen for the scholarships.

Purdue Veterinary Medicine Unites with Purdue United Way Campaign

With the goal of raising $700,000 by November 4 to support local nonprofit organizations that help individuals and families in Greater Lafayette, the Purdue United Way campaign took off September 23 with an official campaign launch on the front lawn of the Purdue Memorial Union. Purdue Veterinary Medicine, along with the university’s other colleges and units, will participate with the help of PVM faculty and staff ambassadors working to make it easy for people in the college to respond, whether by giving, or by indicating that they do not wish to give. As part of the PVM drive to support the campaign, Dean Bret Marsh and his wife, Polly, are contributing a match for campaign contributions from college faculty and staff. Additionally, a drawing will be held to select winners from those who contribute.