[May 4, 2015; Philadelphia, PA] – The University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) announces the appointment of Mary A. Bryant, VMD, to the newly created position of Executive Director of the Office of Students.
In this role, Dr. Bryant will oversee the recently consolidated Office of Admissions and the Office of Student and Curricular Affairs. She will be responsible for recruiting promising new students to Penn Vet and overseeing the welfare and needs of the students during their years on campus.
“It is very important to me to continue enrolling the most qualified and diverse students,” said Bryant. “As an alumna and adjunct professor, I have a long history of engagement with Penn Vet. I am really looking forward to working closely with the students to ensure they have the best possible experience here and can look back on their years at Penn Vet as I do: as the best educational experience I ever had. I loved my student years at Penn.”
“I am delighted that Mary has accepted this position at Penn Vet,” said Joan C. Hendricks, VMD, PhD, the Gilbert S. Kahn Dean of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. “She perfectly exemplifies the collaborative spirit we were looking for. Her influence and experience in many aspects of veterinary medicine will undoubtedly strengthen our already strong commitment to recruiting and retaining the very best candidates for the VMD degree.”
Penn Vet is a world leader in educating future veterinarians and researchers. Since 1887, Penn Vet has graduated more than 6,000 veterinarians who have gone on to diverse careers in veterinary medicine, research, and public health, in both the private and non-profit sectors in fields such as pharmaceutics, biotech research, and public policy. The vast majority of Pennsylvania's practicing veterinarians are Penn Vet grads, and their most vital tasks include ensuring food safety and providing critical research and care to our animal agriculture industry.
Before joining Penn Vet, Bryant worked for Merial, a sanofi company, in Field Veterinary Services, first as a Technical Services Veterinarian, and then as Northeast Regional Director following a promotion in 2010. While at Merial, Bryant interacted with sales, marketing, national accounts, training, and research and development.
Bryant has been an adjunct professor at Penn Vet for 14 years, teaching a professional development elective to third-year students.
She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of the Sciences and her VMD from Penn Vet. She gained valuable experience, both as a student extern and following college graduation, working in Glaxo SmithKline’s division of Research & Development. After graduation from Penn Vet in 1995, Bryant practiced veterinary medicine at Wilmington Animal Hospital before joining Merial in 2004.
Bryant’s leadership started at Penn Vet when she served as national president of the Student American Veterinary Medical Association. She has since represented both DE and PA as a delegate to the American Veterinary Medical Association House of Delegates and served as president of the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA) in 2007. PVMA honored Bryant with the Distinguished Veterinary Service Award in 2014. She has served on Penn Vet’s Dean’s Alumni Council since 2011.
About Penn Vet
Penn Vet is a global leader in veterinary medicine education, research, and clinical care. Founded in 1884, Penn Vet is the only veterinary school developed in association with a medical school. The school is a proud member of the One Health Initiative, linking human, animal, and environmental health.
Penn Vet serves a diverse population of animals at its two campuses, which include extensive diagnostic and research laboratories. Ryan Hospital in Philadelphia provides care for dogs, cats, and other domestic/companion animals, handling more than 31,000 patient visits a year. New Bolton Center, Penn Vet’s large-animal hospital on nearly 700 acres in rural Kennett Square, PA, cares for horses and livestock/farm animals. The hospital handles more than 4,000 patient visits a year, while the Field Service treats nearly 36,000 patients at local farms. In addition, New Bolton Center’s campus includes a swine center, working dairy, and poultry unit that provide valuable research for the agriculture industry.