PVM Alumna Claire Hankenson Named as New Associate Vice Provost for Research at Penn

July 16, 2021

Dr. F. Claire Hankenson (PU DVM ‘97) has been appointed as the new associate vice provost for research and executive director of University Laboratory Animal Resources (ULAR) at the University of Pennsylvania, effective November 1, 2021. The announcement was made in June by Penn’s Senior Vice Provost for Research Dawn Bonnell.

According to an article in the Penn Almanac, the official weekly journal of record, opinion and news for the University of Pennsylvania community, Dr. Hankenson also will serve as Penn’s attending veterinarian. In her new roles, she will oversee ULAR and lead the division of laboratory animal medicine as a professor of clinical pathobiology in Penn’s School of Veterinary Medicine.

A 1997 DVM graduate of Purdue University, Dr. Hankenson is a past president of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine and the Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of Public Responsibility in Medicine & Research. She also recently served as the sole laboratory animal veterinarian on the National Institutes of Health Advisory Committee to the Director (ACD)’s Working Group on Enhancing Reproducibility and Rigor in Animal Research. In addition to her Purdue University degree, Dr. Hankenson holds an MS from the University of Washington, and a BA from Indiana University.

Currently, Dr. Hankenson serves as a professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University (MSU), where she also is the attending veterinarian and director of Campus Animal Resources. She has been responsible for MSU’s animal programs during a period of growth in biomedical research and recently oversaw the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, maintaining research animal populations and ensuring the continuation of critical animal research projects during this unprecedented time. Before her position at MSU, Dr. Hankenson served for eight years at Penn as senior associate director of ULAR. “Dr. Hankenson is a proven leader with a strong record of accomplishments who will skillfully lead the next trajectory of excellence at ULAR and the academic laboratory animal medicine programs and I am delighted that she is returning to Penn,” said Senior Vice Provost Bonnell.

Click here to view the article in the Penn Almanac.

Writer(s): University of Pennsylvania | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Recent Stories

Purdue Equine Hospital Team Comes to Aid of Horse Injured in Severe Storm in Michigan

For a horse named Sassy, Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s Brunner Equine Hospital proved to be the right place at the right time to recover from a scary accident that happened during a severe storm in Michigan two weeks ago. According to Dr. Danielle Cucuzella, Purdue visiting assistant professor of large animal surgery, the Quarter Horse named Sassy was seriously hurt during near 100 mile-per-hour winds where she lived in Saint Louis, Michigan.

“Paws Up!” for 4th-year DVM students Colton and Kendall – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

This week, we celebrate the caring and competence of two members of the new senior class of DVM students for their noteworthy service in the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital.

College of Veterinary Medicine Graduates Honored at Two Ceremonies During Purdue’s 2026 Commencement Weekend

A change in Purdue University’s traditional commencement weekend schedule resulted in two ceremonies recognizing graduates of the College of Veterinary Medicine in May. This year, veterinary technology graduates were honored at a ceremony that was separate from the commencement program for the DVM graduates. That’s because the university recognized all doctoral degree candidates in a single ceremony on Saturday, May 16. As a result, the veterinary technology degree recipients were honored Thursday, May 14, at one of several ceremonies for undergraduate degree candidates. Following that ceremony, the college hosted its traditional oath ceremony for the 2026 graduates of the Purdue Veterinary Technology program in the Purdue Memorial Union North Ballroom.

White Coat Ceremony Celebrates Third-year Veterinary Students’ Transition to Clinical Year

The Purdue Memorial Union ballrooms provided a classic setting for an annual event that has become a cherished tradition of the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine. Members of the DVM Class of 2027 gathered with family, friends, faculty and staff on the evening of April 18 for the annual White Coat Ceremony that signals the transition of the third year veterinary students from the classroom to the clinics.

Popular Purdue Veterinary Medicine Bone Marrow Workshop Goes on the Road to Mexico

An annual program hosted by two bone marrow experts with Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine ties, once again attracted strong attendance but in a new international location. This year, Drs. Joanne B. Messick and Rose E. Raskin were invited to Mexico City to present the Annual Bone Marrow Workshop at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM).

“Paws Up” for Dr. Madeleine Swindell – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

Today we share appreciation for Dr. Madeleine Swindell, who is a Purdue Veterinary Hospital Small Animal Rotating Intern.

Awards Ceremony Honors Outstanding Purdue Veterinary Medicine Staff

Applause and periodic shouts of “Bravo” punctuated the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine’s annual spring Outstanding Staff and Bravo Awards Ceremony. The program held in Lynn Hall on May 13 honored some two dozen staff members for meritorious accomplishments.