Retirement Reception Honors Long-time PVM Staff Member Rose Killian-Alenduff

March 30, 2018

Long-time PVM staff member Rose Killian-Alenduff displays a commemorative clock she received in honor of her retirement at a reception March 27 in Lynn Hall.

Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty and staff members gathered Tuesday (March 27) to celebrate the career of Rose Marie Killian-Alenduff and congratulate her on her retirement. Rose was a familiar face and well-loved staff member in Lynn Hall for many years. She joined the staff of the College of Veterinary Medicine in 1986, after working at the University for a number of years as a secretary in Biological Sciences and Mechanical Engineering.

When Rose started in Lynn Hall, she worked initially as a secretary to the head of the Department of Veterinary Anatomy, and continued in that role when the department was merged with Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology to become the current Department of Basic Medical Sciences. In 2002, she became the department’s grants coordinator and graduate secretary. Dr. Harm HogenEsch, PVM associate dean for research, who spoke for the College at the reception, observed that when Rose accepted her new role, that set-up a career for her in grants management and grant proposals. “And since that time, you’ve really become for many of us, if not all of us, the go-to person for grants and grant proposals,” Dr. HogenEsch said.

Dr. Harm HogenEsch, PVM associate dean for research, spoke for the College in congratulating Rose on her retirement.

Rose Killian-Alenduff is congratulated by long-time BMS faculty member Ron Hullinger.

Rose, who served many years as secretary to the head of the Department of Basic Medical Sciences (BMS), is congratulated by long-time BMS faculty member Ron Hullinger.

In 2010, Rose accepted a new position with Purdue’s Sponsored Program Services as a pre-award specialist, but she didn’t leave Lynn Hall, since the Ag/Vet pre-award office at the time was located on the building’s ground floor. That arrangement continued several years until the office moved. It is now located in Young Hall.

At the reception held in Lynn 1192, Dr. HogenEsch praised Rose as a great person to work with, noting how she worked with great dedication to finish grant proposals. “You have been a really valuable source of information for all of us and we will greatly, greatly miss you,” Dr. HogenEsch said. “We hope you really enjoy your retirement and wish you many, many healthy and happy years. Of course be sure to come back and visit us.” He then presented Rose with a commemorative clock in recognition of her retirement.

Rose responded by sharing how she called the veterinary college her home. “People here are family,” Rose said. “I will miss all of you, but I am in town and will definitely be popping in.” Congratulations, and thank you Rose!

Rose with her colleagues from the Sponsored Program Services Pre-Award Center, who attended her retirement reception (left-right): Manager Bryan Scott, Renda Bryant, Jessica Huffield, and Heather Underwood. Rose said Jessica and Heather will be taking on a large portion of the individuals she had worked with previously.

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

Recent Stories

“Paws Up” – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

This week our gratitude goes to Andrea Kellogg, who is the director of Lifelong Learning.

Purdue Veterinary Students Get Up Close View of Veterinary Care at Professional Bull Riding Event

During a weekend dedicated to championship-level competition, students from the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine gained a first-hand perspective on a unique aspect of the livestock industry with a behind-the-scenes pass to the Professional Bull Riding event held recently in Indianapolis. Ram Trucks PBR Indianapolis presented by Cooper Tires was held at Gainbridge Fieldhouse March 21-22, even as first- and second-round NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament games were held across the country the same weekend.

In Memory – Professor Emeritus of Veterinary Physiology Gerald Bottoms

The Purdue Veterinary Medicine community is deeply saddened to learn that Dr. Gerald D. Bottoms, a longtime faculty member and Professor Emeritus of Veterinary Physiology, passed away on February 24, 2026. He was 95.

PVM Scholars Recognized at Purdue One Health and Well-Being Research Event

Purdue University’s recent One Health and Well-Being Research Event: A Celebration of Interdisciplinary Health Research, put the spotlight on several scholars in the College of Veterinary Medicine. The one-day event was organized by the College of Health and Human Sciences in partnership with several other colleges including Purdue Veterinary Medicine. It is estimated that more than 300 people attended the event at the Purdue Memorial Union North and South Ballrooms March 10.

In Memory – Dr. Jeffrey Hanssen (PU DVM ’71)

The College of Veterinary Medicine mourns the passing of an alumnus and longtime practitioner from Greenfield, Indiana. Dr. Jeffrey Hanssen died March 12, 2026, at Brandywine - Brickyard Healthcare Center in Greenfield. He was 71.

Beautiful Spring Lilies Pose Serious Danger to Cats

Spring weather heralds the arrival of the beautiful blooms of true lilies (Lilium sp.) and daylilies (Hemerocallis sp.). Unfortunately, many cats have been poisoned by these lovely plants. The poisoning is so severe and the possible consequences so dire (even death) that in 2021, the FDA issued this warning: “Lilies in the “true lily” and “daylily” families are very dangerous for cats. The entire lily plant is toxic: the stem, leaves, flowers, pollen, and even the water in a vase. Eating just a small amount of a leaf or flower petal, licking a few pollen grains off its fur while grooming, or drinking the water from the vase can cause your cat to develop fatal kidney failure in less than 3 days. The toxin, which only affects cats, has not been identified. Dogs that eat lilies may have minor stomach upset but they don’t develop kidney failure.”

Through study abroad opportunities, Purdue’s Veterinary Technology Distance Learning program is helping students think globally

Promoting animal health is a value that transcends cultures and unites the world. That’s why there are veterinary professionals practicing in nearly every country around the globe. But access to high-quality, affordable veterinary care is far from universal — in many nations, particularly developing nations, access to veterinarians is inconsistent, and affordability is a concern all over the world. To confidently address these issues, veterinary professionals must be able to think globally. That’s why Purdue Veterinary Medicine encourages students to study abroad, including those in the Veterinary Technology Distance Learning Program (VTDL). “Study abroad enriches our online curriculum by bringing classroom concepts to life in a global, real-world context,” said Addison Sheldon, the college’s director of global engagement. The VTDL program offers students the option to study abroad in Guatemala, Japan and Zimbabwe by partnering with local universities and organizations.

Public Invited to Learn about Veterinary Medicine at 2026 PVM Open House April 18

The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine will welcome the public for its annual Spring Open House at Lynn Hall on Saturday, April 18, 2026. Scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the event will feature a hands-on look at the world of veterinary medicine.

Annual Purdue Veterinary Technician Symposium Remains Popular in 12th Year

The enduring popularity of the annual Purdue Veterinary Technician Symposium was evident again this spring as more than 125 participants turned out for the day-long continuing education program in Lynn Hall. The 12th annual symposium on Sunday, March 8, attracted attendees from Indiana and seven other states, including Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Alabama and Ohio.

Ruby’s Road to Recovery

When Ruby first came to the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital, she was just nine months old, and her injuries were more complex than when they first appeared. Ruby is a toy poodle and over a month earlier, while playing, she jumped off a couch and fractured both of her front legs. Despite several weeks of treatment with splints and casts, her legs were not healing properly. She had surgery performed on both her front legs and received a bone graft to help speed up the healing process. With meticulous surgical aftercare and a planned series of rechecks, Ruby began her journey to recovery.