Bonnie Rush appointed to role at Texas A&M University

Beth Davis to serve as interim dean, effective July 20

Monday, June 16, 2025

Bonnie Rush, Hodes family dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, has been named dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University, effective Aug. 1.

“Dr. Rush’s leadership and significant contributions to her college and the university at large have built a remarkable legacy of growth, service and excellence,” said Jesse Perez Mendez, provost and executive vice president. “Without a doubt, her years of service and leadership at this university have forever cemented her place in the K-State story — and we know she will continue to be a national leader in veterinary medical education as she opens this new chapter in her career.”

Rush began her career as a faculty member at Kansas State University in 1993. A professor of internal equine medicine, Rush’s area of clinical expertise is equine respiratory disease with an emphasis on respiratory physiology, immunology and aerosol drug therapy.

Her service to the university expanded when she served as the head of the clinical sciences department from 2006 to mid-2017. At that time, Rush then assumed the role of interim dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. Following a competitive national search, Rush was officially appointed to her current role as dean in 2019.

During her tenure, Rush has led academic innovation and curriculum reform within the College of Veterinary Medicine, expanded the college’s engagement and outreach portfolio, and championed faculty and staff development. A renowned scholar with a sharp focus on student success, Rush has authored or co-authored more than 20 manuscripts in the Journal of Veterinary Education on effective instructional practices, communication training and student well-being.

Rush’s leadership has also been critical in securing significant philanthropic and legislative investment in the college. During her time as dean, the college secured more than $132.4 million in philanthropic giving, more than doubling the value of the college endowment. This past spring, the Kansas Legislature announced a $128 million investment toward building a new Kansas Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, a crucial resource for our state's $12.9 billion livestock industry, located at and managed by K-State. As the state’s largest and only public veterinary diagnostics lab, the Kansas Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory serves as the clearinghouse that veterinarians, farmers, ranchers, and pet owners around the state and country rely on for essential testing and services.

Furthermore, the Kansas Legislature also committed $2 million in recurring funding for the College of Veterinary Medicine — funding that will enhance faculty recruitment and operations, as well as provide scholarships for students committed to practicing in rural Kansas.

As a nationally recognized voice in veterinary medical education, Rush currently serves as the president of the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges. The recipient of the President’s Award for Outstanding Department Head in 2014, Rush also earned the 1996 and 2003 Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teacher Award, the 2002 Pfizer Award for Research Excellence, the 2004 Outstanding Woman Veterinarian of the Year and the 2009 Distinguished Alumni Award from Ohio State University.

Rush earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Ohio State University in 1989, completed internship training at North Carolina State University in 1990 and equine internal medicine residency training at Ohio State University in 1993.

Rush will continue to serve as K-State’s dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine through July 19.

Beth Davis appointed as interim dean, effective July 20

Beth Davis, current executive associate dean and Veterinary Health Center director, will take over as interim dean, effective July 20.

"As current health center director and a valued college administrator, Dr. Davis possesses the knowledge, experience and passion to strongly and definitively lead the college forward through this transition," Mendez said. "I thank her in advance for her service during this season of burgeoning growth and opportunity within the college — her leadership will undoubtedly sustain the college's outstanding trajectory."

Recently promoted to executive associate dean, Davis served as the associate dean of clinical programs from 2022-2025. She became the interim director of the Veterinary Health Center in 2019 and was named to the permanent role in 2021. Prior to that, she served in numerous academic roles within the college after launching her K-State career as an intern. She completed her residency at K-State in 2000 and held progressive academic roles as a clinical instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, and professor and section head of the Equine Internal Medicine and Surgery Section. Davis also served as professor and clinical sciences department head from 2016-2025 — first as interim department head, then named to the permanent role in 2017 — prior to assuming her current roles within the college.

"I am honored to step into the role of interim dean for the College of Veterinary Medicine," Davis said. "Our college truly exemplifies the power of an interconnected mission of teaching, research, service and outreach — and, true to that mission, our faculty, staff and clinicians work tirelessly to advance the health and welfare of animals, people, the environment and the veterinary profession as a whole. I am proud of what we have already accomplished, and I know we will continue to do great things for all those we serve."

Davis holds a DVM from the University of Florida, a Ph.D. from Kansas State University and a Bachelor of Science from Delaware Valley College of Science and Agriculture. She is board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

A national search for the permanent posting is planned to launch in fall 2025.