The senior program officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will address 125 graduates

[May 10, 2012; Philadelphia, PA] – On Monday, May 14, the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) will welcome Gregg W. BeVier, DVM, MBA, senior program officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, as its commencement speaker for the Class of 2012.

“I am thrilled that Dr. BeVier will be joining us,” said Joan C. Hendricks, VMD, PhD, the Gilbert S. Kahn Dean of Veterinary Medicine, Penn Vet. “As a leader in veterinary medicine, Dr. BeVier will no doubt impart inspiration and wisdom to our graduating class while illustrating how important the veterinary profession is in helping to feed the world.”

The graduation ceremony is slated to take place at 2:30 PM at Zellerbach Theatre on Penn’s campus, where 125 members of the Class of 2012 will receive their Veterinariae Medicinae Doctoris (VMD) degree.

About Dr. BeVier

Gregg W. BeVier, DVM, MBA joined the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2009 and serves as a senior program officer as part of the agricultural development and research and development teams, responsible for livestock grants. With 28 years of business executive experience, Dr. BeVier has managed PIC, an international genetics business; Premium Standard Farm, an integrated livestock operation; and oversaw a division of global animal health business for Merial. In addition, Dr. BeVier helped St. Matthew’s University School of Veterinary Medicine establish a clinical program for fourth-year students. He has been involved with assisting entrepreneurs in crop bio-pesticides, livestock vaccines, genetically modified rice and livestock imaging technology. Dr. BeVier earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture science; a master’s degree in animal science; a doctorate in veterinary medicine and a master’s of business, all from the University of Illinois.