Purdue Launches Search for Successor to Pioneering Veterinary Medicine Dean Willie Reed Who will Step Down

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An advisory committee has been named to assist in the search for a successor to Dr. Willie Reed, who will step down June 30, after 17 years of leadership as dean of the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine and 25 total years of service to the university.  A celebration of Dean Reed’s legacy will take place later this semester.

“We simply cannot thank Dean Reed enough for his pioneering leadership at Purdue,” Purdue Provost Patrick Wolfe said. “Having received two lifetime achievement awards from Indiana and U.S. professional societies this past year alone, I know Willie is looking forward to a much-deserved scientific sabbatical. His story is amazing, as is the arc of his career and professional accomplishments, and it is one that I know students, faculty and staff at Purdue will cherish for many years to come.”

Since becoming dean in 2007, Dean Reed has consistently championed One Health at Purdue — bringing together animal health, human health and plant health — and the university continues to strengthen and accelerate his groundbreaking approach to excellence and education in these areas. He has also guided Purdue Veterinary Medicine in developing and executing a series of three visionary strategic plans to enhance the future through innovative educational initiatives, groundbreaking research, and creative and effective engagement programs.

“It has been a humbling and incredible honor to live out my childhood dream of becoming a doctor of veterinary medicine to the fullest at Purdue,” Dean Reed said. “The college has worked tirelessly to achieve excellence, and I believe the outstanding Boilermakers in veterinary medicine have each played a key role in its success. Although we’ve made great progress, I am eager and excited to see the many accomplishments that are sure to come in the future. My sincerest thank-you to all I’ve worked with along the way.”

Lucy Flesch, Purdue’s Frederick L. Hovde Dean of the College of Science and professor of earth, atmospheric, and planetary sciences, will chair an advisory committee to assist in the search for Dean Reed’s successor. The committee members are:

• Veterinary student Devon Anderson, of the DVM Class of 2025, and the president of Purdue SAVMA (Student American Veterinary Medical Association)
• Dr. Candace Croney, professor of animal behavior and well-being and director of the Center for Animal Welfare Science
• Matt Folk, Purdue alumnus and president & CEO of the Purdue for Life Foundation
• Dr. Lindsey Hedges (PU DVM 2011), senior director of veterinary mentorship for Mission Veterinary Partners and president of Indiana Veterinary Medical Association (IVMA)
• Dr. Kenitra Hendrix, clinical associate professor of veterinary diagnostic microbiology and director of the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory
• Dr. Debbie Knapp, distinguished professor of comparative oncology, Dolores L. McCall Professor of Comparative Oncology, and director of the Evan and Sue Ann Werling Comparative Oncology Research Center
• Dr. Dianne Little, associate professor of Basic Medical Sciences, who also holds a courtesy appointment in the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering
• Dr. Ellen Lowery, clinical professor, chief veterinary officer and associate dean for hospital operations
• Dr. Catharine Scott-Moncrieff, professor of small animal internal medicine and head of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
• Jay Wasson, Purdue alumnus and vice president for physical facilities

Candidate nominations (including self-nominations) are strongly encouraged and may be submitted here.

Click here to view a complete story that includes a summary of the college’s accomplishments achieved under Dean Reed’s leadership.

Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu