Taco ‘bout Appreciation! Tex Mex Food Truck Headlines PVM Faculty Staff Appreciation Event

August 19, 2022

Dean Willie Reed is joined by Faculty and Staff Appreciation event attendees — Dean Willie Reed (center) is joined by Faculty and Staff Appreciation event attendees (left-right) Mekyna Hall, laboratory research technician with the Center for Paralysis Research; Dr. Kenitra Hendrix, ADDL director; Dr. Sarah Steinbach, clinical associate professor of small animal internal medicine; Margie Veverke, ADDL accessioning clerk; and Dr. Craig Bowen, ADDL assistant director.

With summer winding down and fall classes set to begin, the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine hosted a Faculty and Staff appreciation event that featured tasty Tex Mex menus options served-up at the Mitchell’s Tex Mex Food Truck on Wednesday, August 10. Attendees were treated to their choice of tacos, wet burritos or taco salads. The meals were provided by the college to show PVM faculty and staff how much their dedication and hard work is appreciated.

A person is interacting with a vendor at a food truck, receiving food from the window.

Held from 11:30 – 1:30, the event not only featured great food but also opportunities for fellowship among colleagues as employees gathered near the entrance to the old Large Animal Hospital, which proved to be a perfect venue where the Mitchell’s Tex Mex food truck could park and open up for lunch-time food service. More than 250 faculty and staff attended the event to get in on the great food and the chance to visit with colleagues on a beautiful sunny afternoon.

As people mixed and mingled while their food was prepared, Dean Reed took the opportunity to express to everyone his deep appreciation for their consistent effort and commitment to excellence throughout the year. The festive lunchtime event served as a fitting wrap up to a busy summer marked by the return of several in-person annual programs, such as Boiler Vet Camp, which had been temporarily suspended due to the pandemic, as well as the opening of the new David and Bonnie Brunner Purdue Veterinary Medical Hospital Complex. With the new hospital facilities up and running, the old Large Animal Hospital has been vacated, making the entrance to the old facility a convenient site for the Faculty Staff Appreciation event.

Faculty and staff line up to get food from a food truck — Faculty and staff mix and mingle as they line-up to get their lunch Wednesday, August 10, at the entrance to the now vacated old Large Animal Hospital, where Mitchell’s Tex Mex food truck was serving meals as part of the college’s annual Faculty and Staff Appreciation event.

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

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