Dr. Daniel C. Richardson
CEO and dean, Kansas State University Olathe
A nationally known expert in biosciences and animal health, Dan Richardson is head of Kansas State University's Olathe campus.
Richardson joined K-State after serving as vice president, Pet Nutrition Center, for Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc. in Topeka.
As CEO of the Olathe campus, Richardson leads efforts in animal health, plant science/food safety and security, biofuels and work force development.
A native of Manhattan, Kan., Richardson received an associate degree from Colby (Kan.) Community College, and his bachelor's and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees from K-State. He completed a surgery/medicine internship at Auburn University and a surgical residency at the University of Tennessee. He became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1983.
Richardson has received numerous awards for clinical and teaching excellence at three different institutions, including the Norden Distinguished Teacher Award at both Purdue University and North Carolina State University.
He served as assistant professor of surgery at Purdue and was both an assistant and associate professor of surgery at North Carolina State.
Richardson joined Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc., Research and Development, in 1991. He held positions of increasing responsibilities from director of advanced research; director of research; vice president, research; and as vice president of the Pet Nutrition Center, Hill's global facility for research and development.
His research interests include developmental and acquired orthopedic disorders – osteochondrosis, hip dysplasia and fracture healing – as well as clinical nutrition. He has published extensively with more than 75 scholarly articles as well as numerous textbook chapters. He is an internationally recognized speaker with expertise in nutrition and veterinary orthopedics.
Richardson was the 2004 alumni fellow for the K-State College of Veterinary Medicine. He is on the board of directors and past chair of the board for KansasBio, an organization representing the biosciences in Kansas. He has been a member of the Biosciences Subcommittee for U.S. Sen. Pat Robert's Advisory Committee on Science, Technology and the Future, and on the board of trustees for the KU Center for Research. He is on several community boards including, the USBank board of advisers, and the Olathe Chamber of Commerce board of directors, Economic Development advisory board, and co-chairs its Bioscience Development Board.
His personal memberships include many national professional and academic organizations where he has participated in key activities and held various leadership offices: the American Veterinary Medical Association, where he served on the Committee on Impaired Veterinarians, representing the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges; Kansas Veterinary Medical Association; American College of Veterinary Surgeons, where he has served on the Board of Regents, Credentials Committee and Committee on Education, in addition to serving as chair of several continuing education committees; Alpha Psi Professional Fraternity; Phi Zeta Honorary Society; Veterinary Cancer Society; the Veterinary Orthopedic Society; and the Orthopedic Research Society.
Richardson can be contacted at 913-541-1220 or dcrichar@kstate.edu.