Dr. Beverly Purswell honored with emerita status
Dr. Beverly Purswell, professor of large animal clinical sciences in the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, has been conferred the “professor emerita” title by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.
The title of emeritus may be conferred on retired professors and associate professors, administrative officers, librarians, and exceptional staff members who are specially recommended to the board of visitors by Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board of visitors receive an emeritus certificate from the university.
A member of the Virginia Tech community for 27 years, Purswell brought international visibility to the university through her work on the effects of hypothyroidism on the reproductive health of dogs. She directed residency programs in theriogenology and was principal or co-principal investigator on grants researching matters pertaining to reproduction in domestic species in the commonwealth, nation, and the world.
Purswell served as chief examiner in the American College of Theriogenology and held leadership positions in professional organizations, including president of the Society for Theriogenology and the Virginia Veterinary Medical Association. During her tenure, she received a number of professional honors and awards, including an Alumni Award for Excellence in International Research, and was elected as a fellow in three scientific societies.
Purswell received her master's degree, Ph.D., and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Georgia. She is a Diplomate in the American College of Theriogenologists.
Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech takes a hands-on, engaging approach to education, preparing scholars to be leaders in their fields and communities. As the commonwealth’s most comprehensive university and its leading research institution, Virginia Tech offers 240 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 31,000 students and manages a research portfolio of $513 million. The university fulfills its land-grant mission of transforming knowledge to practice through technological leadership and by fueling economic growth and job creation locally, regionally, and across Virginia.
