Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty and staff had the opportunity to welcome Dr. Ellen Lowery as the new Veterinary Teaching Hospital director and clinical professor during a reception in her honor February 5 in Lynn Hall. “We are just thrilled that you are here and we think that the timing is just perfect,” Dean Willie Reed said as he introduced Dr. Lowery at the event. “Given where we want to take the Veterinary Teaching Hospital in the future, and with new facilities coming on, this opportunity matches very well with your leadership skills and the career that you had before you came here.”
Most recently, Dr. Lowery served as professor of practice in the School of Applied and Interdisciplinary Studies at Kansas State University’s Olathe campus and as ancillary faculty in the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology and the Masters of Public Health program. Before joining the Kansas State University faculty, Dr. Lowery had a distinguished 23-year career at Hill’s Pet Nutrition and held a number of increasingly important leadership positions, including director of U.S. Professional and Veterinary Affairs. She earned her DVM and PhD degrees at Kansas State University and her MBA degree at the University of Kansas. She also has experience in private veterinary practice and during her graduate program served as the university veterinarian for Kansas State University.
“Dr. Lowery brings wonderful business experience, a lot of leadership experience, strategic planning experience, and she capped that off with academic experience,” Dean Reed said. “And we’re just thrilled to have her be part of the Purdue Veterinary Medicine family and a member of the College’s leadership team.”
Dr. Lowery thanked everyone, including the dean, members of the search committee and everybody she had the opportunity to speak with during the interview process. “I am truly so excited to be here,” Dr. Lowery said. “I was eager to get here as soon as I possibly could to join the team. Everybody I talked to outside of Purdue commented on the strength of the University which solidified my decision.”
Describing herself as an open and transparent person, Dr. Lowery said she knows she has a steep learning curve ahead. “Everybody has been so gracious and I appreciate that you’re all willing to help me up that learning curve,” Dr. Lowery said. “I’ll ask a lot of questions. I want your feedback and I want you to ask me a lot of questions as well. I look forward to taking us to the next level.” Dr. Lowery’s appointment was effective February 1. Veterinary Teaching Hospital clinicians, veterinary nurses, and faculty and staff from across the College attended the reception, which was held in the Veterinary Medical Library.