A Weekend We Won't Soon Forget
On May 14, members of the Penn Vet community were invited to the first in-person Alumni + Reunion Weekend since 2019. New Bolton Center was buzzing with Penn Vet alumni who came out in record-breaking numbers to enjoy an evening under the tent outside Allam House, including fifth reunion parties, and jubilee dinners for V’72, V’67, V’62, and V’57!
In addition to Alumni Weekend, Penn Vet hosted Commencement for the Class of 2022 on May 17. Dr. Heather Fowler, V’10, director of producer and public health at the National Pork Board, delivered the Commencement Address. Dr. Nathan “Nate” Anthony Fanzone, V’22, delivered the Class President’s Address.
View photos from Alumni Weekend here...
View photos from Commencement here...
Penn's New President M. Elizabeth "Liz" Magill
Liz Magill assumed her duties as the University of Pennsylvania’s ninth president on July 1, 2022. “It’s an enormous privilege, and a huge responsibility,” Magill told Penn Today. “I firmly believe that Penn has, does, and will continue to change the world for the better.”
Magill comes to Penn after serving as executive vice president and provost at the University of Virginia and, prior to that, as the Richard E. Lang Professor and Dean of Stanford Law School. A scholar of administrative and constitutional law, Magill is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of the American Law Institute. Her articles have been published in leading law reviews, and she has won several awards for her scholarly contributions.
Magill received her bachelor’s degree in 1988 from Yale University, and her law degree in 1995 from the University of Virginia’s School of Law. She served as a senior legislative assistant for energy and natural resources for U.S. Senator Kent Conrad, and later clerked for Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III of the U.S Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and then for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
To learn more about President Magill, visit https://president.upenn.edu/meet-president.
Penn Vet's Opportunity Scholarship Program
Celebrating 24 Years of Success and Still Going Strong
More than 100 students, faculty, alumni, and supporters gathered on April 23 at the Greathouse at Loch Nairn in Avondale, Pennsylvania, to reconnect with the Opportunity Scholarship (OS) community. It was a perfect evening of mingling and networking with students, mentors, sponsors, and alumni who are a key component of this unique scholarship program.
Established in 1998 by Dr. Charles Raker, V’42, the OS program is built upon the values of caring, compassion, commitment, and communication. In addition to financial support, the OS program offers a structured platform for mentorship opportunities between Penn Vet alumni and students.
View photos from the Opportunity Scholarship Reception here...
Penn Vet Community Celebrates Life of Dr. Robert R. Marshak
At the Allam House at New Bolton Center, family and friends celebrated the life and impact of Dr. Robert Marshak at a memorial event held on June 25.
A pioneering veterinarian and academic, Marshak served the School for more than 30 years before retiring in 1987. He was beloved by generations of students, alumni, and faculty for his enduring devotion to the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Vet communities.
Marshak died on October 19, 2020. The celebration of life event was delayed almost two years due to the coronavirus pandemic. It was held in early summer as in-person school events returned, allowing more than 130 family members, friends, faculty, and former students to celebrate Marshak’s incredible impact together.
In his welcome, Dean Andrew Hoffman set the stage for remembrances, reminding attendees of Marshak’s “transformative influence on veterinary medicine.”
Former colleagues, family, and friends offered remembrances of Marshak, including Dr. Alan Kelly, Vernon Hill, Dr. Ralph Brinster, Dr. Aaryn Gottesfeld, Dr. Don Abt, Dick Newpher, Dr. Laurie Landeau, Dr. Mike Kotlikoff, and Marshak’s son, Dr. Richard Marshak.
Among many touching moments, the celebration of the dean's life concluded with the musical interlude Va, Pensiero by Giuseppe Verdi and a toast by Dr. Richard Marshak.
View photos from the Dr. Robert Marshak Memorial here...
Penn Vet Welcomes Claire Bruno, Assistant Dean of Admissions and Student Life
Claire Bruno, a higher education professional with more than 18 years of recruitment experience, joined Penn Vet as its new assistant dean of admissions and student life in July.
Read the full announcement here...
Penn Vet Honors Graduates at 2022 Ceremony for Animal Welfare and Behavior Program
Twelve Master of Science (MS) degree recipients, and eleven graduate certificate recipients were honored on July 29 at Hill Pavilion during the Animal Welfare and Behavior Program’s graduation weekend.
The ceremony and weekend festivities marked the first time that the graduates gathered as an in-person cohort on campus. This impressive group persevered and prioritized their education during a particularly challenging and uncertain time.
Organizations with MS graduates taking part in the ceremony included Tyson Foods, Penn Law, and the University of California, as well as several private practices. Certificate recipients represented the University of Pittsburgh, the ASPCA, Sea World, Saul High School, private practices, farm operations, and non-profits. Professor Emeritus of Ethics and Animal Welfare Dr. James Serpell gave the keynote address, and Kathryn Deans-Schaub delivered the student address.
Launched in 2020, the online Animal Welfare and Behavior Graduate Certificate and MS programs allow students to tailor their studies to fit their education needs, offering unique opportunities to explore issues affecting animal welfare within the veterinary sector.
Penn Vet Working Dog Center Celebrates 10th Anniversary
Penn Vet’s Working Dog Center celebrated 10 years of building canine scent detection teams. To date, more than 150 dogs have gone through the center, deployed to complement safety and public health services in communities across the country.
On September 11, more than 500 partners and leaders, staff, canine handlers, fosters, and volunteers attended the special three-hour event at the Pennovation Center. Programming included canine demonstrations, opportunities to engage with handlers and fosters, and research poster presentations.
Founder and Director Dr. Cynthia Otto gave the keynote address, reflecting not only on the center’s accomplishments, but also on the vision and direction for the future. Otto was part of the Pennsylvania FEMA Task Force that responded to the September 11, 2001, attack on lower Manhattan. She spent 10 days at Ground Zero providing veterinary care to the search and rescue dogs who worked the rubble piles.
“Dogs in general make us whole,” said Otto, who calls the Working Dog Center a legacy of 9/11. “But working dogs make us safe and whole.”
View photos from the 10th Anniversary Celebration here...
