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College of Veterinary Medicine

PVM Professor John Christian Inducted into Purdue’s Book of Great Teachers

January 11, 2019

A professional portrait of a man smiling, wearing a light blue shirt and a patterned tie against a soft, blurred background.Dr. John Christian, associate professor of veterinary clinical pathology in the Department of Comparative Pathobiology, is one of 45 Purdue professors honored by being inducted into the University’s Book of Great Teachers in 2018.  The induction ceremony was held December 11 in the Purdue Memorial Union’s South Ballroom.  The Book of Great Teachers honors outstanding teaching faculty who have demonstrated sustained excellence in the classroom.

The induction ceremony, which is held every five years, featured comments by President Mitch Daniels and Provost Jay Akridge.  “The Book of Great Teachers honors the very best of our Purdue educators and underscores our commitment to teaching excellence,” Dr. Akridge said. “We are grateful to the faculty members inducted this year – and in years past – for their devotion to our students, and we thank them on behalf of the countless lives they have influenced through their wisdom and guidance.”

Professors with 10 years of service to the University who previously have been honored with the Charles B. Murphy Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award are automatically included in the Book of Great Teachers. The other inductees have at least 15 years of service to the University and were nominated by students, alumni, and colleagues.

Dr. Christian earned his DVM degree at Auburn University and then worked in a mixed animal veterinary practice in Tennessee before coming to the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, where he earned his PhD in 1992.  He joined the Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty as assistant professor of veterinary clinical pathology the following year and was promoted to associate professor in 1999.  Since 2001, he also has served as the Clinical Pathology Laboratory director and section chief in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

Everyone inducted into the Book of Great Teachers is listed on a bronze and walnut wall display in the west foyer of the Purdue Memorial Union. The display was first unveiled in 1999.  With the most recently inducted professors included, the book now has 429 names.  Congratulations Dr. Christian on being the newest Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty member to be so honored!

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

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