Building Naming Recognizes Dr. Willie Reed’s Pioneering Deanship

Wednesday, July 31, 2024

Dr. Willie Reed served as dean from 2007 to 2024, and was recognized by the Purdue Board of Trustees in June when they approved renaming the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory building in his honor.

As Dr. Willie Reed prepared to step down June 30 after serving 17-and-a-half years as dean of the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, among 25 total years of service to Purdue, he received many congratulations from well-wishers, and a very special kind of recognition from the Purdue University Board of Trustees. To honor Dr. Reed’s loyalty and service to Purdue, the veterinary medicine profession and the state of Indiana, the trustees approved renaming the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory building as the Willie M. Reed Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at their meeting June 7.

As a result of the trustees’ decision, Dr. Reed became the first dean in Purdue history to have a building named in his honor. The naming also is particularly appropriate because the ADDL is where Dr. Reed did all his graduate work for his PhD degree, and where he served as a PVM faculty member for the first eight years of his Purdue career. Dr. Reed also received the designation of Dean Emeritus.

Additionally, the trustees approved the appointment of Purdue 150th Anniversary Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs S. Kathleen Salisbury, as the college’s interim dean, effective July 1. “Associate Dean Salisbury has exactly the right mix of expertise and experience to accelerate the college’s progress in this interim role as we launch our One Health initiative,” said Patrick Wolfe, Purdue provost and executive vice president for academic affairs and diversity.

“I look forward to leading our outstanding faculty, staff and students through this transition,” Dr. Salisbury said. “I will follow Dean Reed’s example of excellence and dedication in serving the college.”
Dean Reed was praised for consistently championing One Health at Purdue — bringing together animal health, human health and environmental health. The university is continuing to strengthen and accelerate his groundbreaking approach to excellence and education in these areas.

Dr. Reed also was recognized for guiding the College of 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. His strategic planning initiatives culminated in the opening of the David and Bonnie Brunner Purdue Veterinary Medical Hospital Complex in 2022 — expanding the college’s Small Animal Hospital and creating new Equine and Farm Animal hospitals to replace the Large Animal Hospital.

The new David and Bonnie Brunner Equine Hospital actually is the second equine hospital established under Dean Reed’s leadership. The first is the Caesar’s Entertainment Equine Specialty Hospital, which opened as a satellite facility in 2017 in Shelbyville, Indiana. Offering outstanding equine health expertise, state-of-the-art equipment, and a location in proximity to Indiana’s two racetracks, the specialty hospital is particularly suited to treat cases involving performance horses.

Dean Reed’s leadership of the college also led to the improvement of Purdue DVM and veterinary nursing education through implementation of new approaches to clinical-skills training and the use of innovative technology. In addition, he fostered growth in research programs, achieving record-level research funding through expanded external support for scientific discovery that advances medicine for both animals and humans. He also spearheaded efforts that enhanced the teaching, clinical and research facilities in Lynn Hall; increased the DVM class size by 20%; fostered successful recruitment of faculty members from around the globe in many disciplines; and significantly expanded the college’s global engagement programs.

In 2023, Dean Reed’s many achievements were recognized when he was selected by the American Veterinary Medical Association as its inaugural recipient of the AVMA Frederick Douglass Patterson Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring his innovative leadership and contributions in supporting and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in the veterinary profession.
Purdue’s Frederick L. Hovde Dean of the College of Science and professor of earth, atmospheric, and planetary sciences, Lucy Flesch, is chairing an advisory committee to assist in the search for Dr. Reed’s permanent successor. Finalists are expected to visit campus at the start of the fall semester.

Featured on “This is Purdue” Podcast

Dean Reed’s own story about making dreams come true was featured in June on the official podcast for Purdue University, “This is Purdue,” with host Kate Young. The podcast conveys Dean Reed’s incredible story of persistence — from being taught first grade by his grandmother in southern Alabama to becoming dean of one of the top veterinary colleges in the country.

Dean Willie Reed with “This is Purdue” podcast host Kate Young at a recording session in the Joy M. Matson Multi-Purpose Room at the David and Bonnie Brunner Purdue Veterinary Medical Hospital Complex.

Kate, herself a Purdue University alumna and graduate of the Brian Lamb School of Communication, talked with Dean Reed about what led him to pursue a career as a veterinarian and how his efforts have helped meet the increasing demand for veterinary professionals by expanding and adapting the College of Veterinary Medicine’s world-class facilities. He also shared about his love for animals and discussed Purdue research on the human-animal bond and how animals have a positive effect on human mental and physical health. “Whether it’s a dog or a cat or some other animal, they bring us so much joy…Our whole well-being is increased,” Dean Reed said.

Bueller, one of the college’s friendly Canine Educators, joined Dean Reed for a promotional photo shoot for the podcast.

Other topics addressed in the podcast include current pathology research at Purdue and Dean Reed’s plans for future endeavors, including mentoring students in underrepresented communities to teach them the path to becoming a veterinarian. “I had a dream and I tell my students, ‘You have to believe in the beauty of your dream. Don’t let anybody deter you from that. You have to be persistent.’”

Dr. Reed earned his Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees at Tuskegee University before coming to Purdue University to pursue a graduate degree in veterinary pathology. After earning his PhD in 1982, he joined the Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty, serving as associate professor of avian pathology and as chief of Avian Disease Diagnostic Services in the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. In 1990, he accepted an offer at Michigan State University to become a full professor and director of the Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory (now called the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory). He remained at Michigan State until his appointment as dean.

There’s something about the Purdue spirit that is unique,” Dean Reed says. “When you come here, this is a place where dreams can come true.”

Click here to listen to “This is Purdue” Podcast Ep. 110, “Dean, Mentor, Boilermaker: Celebrating Willie Reed and His Lasting Legacy on the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine.” Click here to view the full video interview. You can also listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Click here to view the podcast promotional video and check out additional videos of Dean Reed on the podcast’s YouTube page.

Honored at College of Veterinary Medicine Reception

Guests who attended Dean Willie Reed’s reception in Lynn Hall June 27 included former dean of Purdue Agriculture and Purdue Provost Emeritus Jay Akridge, who congratulated Dean Reed as a friend and colleague.

As the month of June came to a close, College of Veterinary Medicine faculty, staff, students, alumni and Purdue dignitaries had the opportunity to congratulate Dean Reed at a reception held in his honor in the Veterinary Medical Library in Lynn Hall. Co-hosted by Dr. Kathy Salisbury, associate dean for academic affairs and the newly named interim dean of the college, and Lee Ann Happ, a long-time staff member who has served under multiple deans and currently holds the position of PVM principal operations administrator, the event on June 27 attracted a throng of well-wishers.

“It is a very bittersweet day as we send off our Dean to enjoy the next phase of his career,” Dr. Salisbury said as she began the reception program. She and Lee Ann then shared highlights of the long list of accomplishments during the dean’s 17-and-a-half years of service.

“Willie’s goal was to leave the College in better condition than it was in when he arrived,” Lee Ann said. “It is clear he has done that and so much more. Willie Reed has left a lasting legacy on this College that will not be forgotten. Thank you, Willie, for 17-and-a-half years of absolute excellence!”

Dr. Salisbury then invited reception guests who wanted to share their thoughts and stories about the dean to do so and many attendees took advantage of the opportunity, including professors emeriti, faculty, staff, alumni and Provost Emeritus and former Purdue Agriculture Dean Jay Akridge, who served in both capacities during Dr. Reed’s service as College of Veterinary Medicine dean. Dr. Akridge recalled how as provost, he recognized that Dean Reed faithfully attended every event, whether it was celebrating faculty, staff or students, “…because he cared about our students and our faculty and staff, and I think that was another important characteristic. He is just a consummate professional.”

Also on hand were Drs. Sue and Craig Wardrip, who both are members of the DVM Class of 1978. “And I want to say that Willie and Dorothy have provided the face of veterinary medicine for this college very effectively for a very long time and we’re proud to have had him here as our leader.”

The reception also featured the unveiling of an oil on linen painted portrait of Willie, to be installed in the library later in the summer. The portrait was painted by artist Patrick Earl Hammie, Professor of Studio Art at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. PVM Professor Emeritus David Williams had seen some of Patrick’s paintings exhibited on the Purdue campus some years ago and admired his work, so he reached out to Patrick to see if he would consider painting the portrait of Willie. Patrick replied that he would be honored to do so.

Dean Reed acknowledges the beautiful artistry of Patrick Hammie, who painted the dean’s portrait, and helped unveil it at the reception. — Dean Reed acknowledges the beautiful artistry of Patrick Earl Hammie, who painted the dean’s portrait, and helped unveil it at the reception.

Patrick attended the reception with his wife, Jess, and together with Dean Reed, lifted the veil from the portrait. “This has been such a joy and a pleasure and an honor to hear some of the stories that you all shared and the tears and the feelings that have come out,” Patrick shared. He then asked, “How do you capture an essence in an image? How do you wrap some of these stories, these histories…in a moment that we can celebrate and continue to live with long after?” Patrick went on to explain, “Those are some of the questions I had, that it’s so good to hear echoed and reaffirmed today, because when I met Dean Reed for the first time, now two years ago, and we had a great sit down with him and Dorothy and David Williams, that warmth came through. Without knowing all of this history, I could feel it in his presence, in his thoughtfulness, in his earnestness as he shared some of his stories with me.” Patrick concluded by saying, “I kept that with me as I moved beyond our time together into painting this portrait that I hope will continue to carry some of those stories forward for you all and the community to come.”

Faculty, staff, students and Purdue colleagues from across campus gathered in the Veterinary Medical Library to applaud Dean Willie Reed at the June 27 reception held in his honor.

Dean Reed also was presented with a commemorative recognition gift featuring the image of the Continuum Sculpture engraved on glass, before he was given the opportunity to make closing remarks. “I don’t know where to start. What a wonderful day,” Dean Reed said. “I will always carry this memory, always. Thank all of you for coming today. It means so much to me that you would be here, and I thank all of you who made wonderful comments. I’m a little embarrassed standing here now after listening to all that, but you’ve given me something that I will hold forever. So thank you so very much.”

Congratulations, Dr. Willie Reed!