2026 Award Recipients

A trailblazer in equine internal medicine, Dr. Carol K. Clark has spent more than three decades transforming the care of horses through her pioneering work in emergency and critical care, her scholarly contributions, and her mentorship of generations of veterinarians.

At Texas A&M University, Clark earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science with magna cum laude honors in 1989 and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree with cum laude honors in 1991. 

She worked briefly as a relief veterinarian in Houston before joining Peterson & Smith Equine Hospital in Ocala, Florida, as an intern in 1991. In 1995, she completed a residency in large animal medicine at the University of Florida and received her board certification in large animal internal medicine by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

The next year, she returned to Peterson & Smith Equine Hospital as an associate veterinarian and became a partner in the practice in 2003. 

“As a pioneer for high-quality equine internal medicine and intensive care in private practice, Dr. Clark’s vision, drive, and diligence have established Peterson & Smith as a practice that achieves standards matching the highest international levels,” one nominator said. “Carol was one of the first people to engage in equine emergency and critical care in private practice and to my knowledge, she was the first large animal internist in private practice who also did abdominal surgery in horses with colic.” 

As a leader, role model, and internationally recognized expert, Clark has also influenced the broader horse industry through service, including multiple terms on the Grayson–Jockey Club Research Foundation’s Research Advisory Committee, where she has helped guide funding priorities and advance research that improves equine health and welfare.

“She has remained actively engaged in clinical scholarship while being engaged in private equine practice,” a nominator said. “Carol’s groundbreaking activities as an equine internist have inspired generations of other equine internists to expand their knowledge and skills  in emergency and critical care of horses.”  

Clark has authored more than 25 peer-reviewed publications, including important case series such as the first description of ulcerative dermatitis, thrombocytopenia, and neutropenia syndrome in neonatal foals, as well as studies exploring the association of sequential lactate in hospitalized neonatal foals. 

In 2008, her diagnostic diligence led her to identify an outbreak of equine piroplasmosis in Florida, helping alert regulatory officials to a disease ordinarily foreign to the United States; in fact, the U.S. had been declared equine piroplasmosis free in 1988.

Clark has also helped disseminate advances in equine medicine through presentations for the Kester News Hour at the annual convention of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, which draws more than 1,200 veterinarians annually.

“Carol gives selflessly to support the development of her profession,” another nominator said. “I frequently call on her for reviews of clinical papers, and I continue to be impressed by her willingness and commitment to supporting publication of clinical research.”

Clark has held leadership roles in the American Association of Equine Practitioners, including service on the Board of Directors and as chairperson for the Retention Task Force. 

“Her most impactful effort, in my opinion, was her integral involvement in the formation of the Retention Task Force in 2020,” another nominator said. “In response to declining numbers of  equine practitioners, the AAEP sought to find out why. Dr. Clark chaired the task force and personally participated  in extensive interviews of approximately 60 different practitioners, veterinary students, and other stakeholders.”

Among her greatest accomplishments, however, has been  mentoring hundreds of interns and early career veterinarians at Peterson & Smith Equine Hospital; through decades of service, she has shaped the culture of equine veterinary medicine and continues to advance the profession globally through her practice, mentorship, and leadership. Her influence is reflected not only in her accomplishments but also in the generations of veterinarians who credit her guidance as foundational to their own success.

“I have had the opportunity to meet many of her former interns, and they have all commented on how helpful Dr. Clark was in their transition from inexperienced new graduate to competent veterinarian in the span of a year,” another nominator said. “Consistently, her former trainees described not only Carol’s knowledge and skill but her compassion, dedication, patience, perseverance, and unwavering commitment to excellence.”

Although Clark has spent her career in Florida, she is a loyal Aggie who embraces and lives the core values. 

“Carol is one of those unique individuals who delivers confidence to clients through her expertise and quiet communication skills,” another nominator said. “She is a volunteer to a fault, hardly ever saying no to new challenges, whether professionally or personally.”

Clark lives on a 20-acre farm in Ocala with her two horses, Ted and Copper, and her two cats, Dorito and Pickles. In her free time, she enjoys running, riding, and traveling. 

As a leader and mentor, Dr. Jeffrey L. Edwards has shaped the future of veterinary pathology through his pioneering work in digital pathology, his early adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in veterinary diagnostics, and his advocacy and clinical development of the next wave of technological advancement in the field of slide-free pathology.

Edwards earned a bachelor’s degree in veterinary science in 1977 and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1979. He spent two years working at Travis County Veterinary Hospital in Austin before moving to the Marianas Islands, in the far Western Pacific, as a private practice veterinarian and, separately, to run the United States Navy’s veterinary hospital in Guam. 

After returning home to Texas, Edwards’ passion for learning the science and art of pathology led to a decision that dramatically altered his entire career trajectory — in 1986, he moved to Baltimore, Maryland, to pursue a three-year post-doctoral fellowship in comparative pathology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where he simultaneously earned a Master of Public Health degree, specializing in zoonoses and infectious diseases. He became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists in 1989. 

After completing his fellowships, Edwards spent the next seven years serving as a veterinary pathologist at the National Institutes of Health Primate Research Center in Oregon and at the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory in College Station. 

In 1996, Edwards moved to Southern California as an anatomic pathologist at Antech Diagnostic Laboratory, one of the two major international veterinary reference laboratories of Mars Veterinary Health, where he spent the next 25 years of his career and ascended to the title of chief of anatomic pathology of North America. 

In that position, he assembled a group of over 40 board certified veterinary diagnostic pathologists serving the needs of over 20,000 veterinary hospitals. 

“As a pathologist, Dr. Edwards’ expertise in diagnostics — including specialty fields of dermatopathology and oncologic pathology — made him a highly sought after pathologist, and many veterinarians continue to request Dr. Edwards individually because of his commitment to helping veterinary colleagues and animals,” one nominator said. “The dedication of these clinicians and the trust they have in Dr. Edwards reflects the quality of his work and of his person.”

During Edwards’ time at Antech, he implemented two major technological breakthroughs in diagnostic veterinary pathology. 

This included the first successful and largest conversion, in either human or veterinary medicine, to digital pathology — forever changing how anatomic pathologists work and enhancing pathology consultation services for veterinarians. This led to the second breakthrough — the application of AI to pathology, which has fundamentally changed prognosticating cancer in animals.  

Both innovations directly and immediately led to advancements in animal health and have led many of his colleagues to name him “The Father of Veterinary Digital Pathology.”

“Through his pioneering leadership, Dr. Edwards has not only shaped the current state of veterinary diagnostics but also the global trajectory of diagnostic innovation,” another nominator said.

Throughout his career, Edwards took time to give back to the next generation of veterinarians as an instructor at Western University of Health Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine in Pomona, California, and as a mentor to the next generation of veterinary anatomic pathologists. 

“Dr. Edwards has always elevated others’ contributions and helped them realize their potential,” another nominator said. “His impact extends far beyond his deep Texan roots, as many pathologists who benefited from Dr. Edwards’ guidance now shape veterinary pathology and veterinary medicine throughout the United States and the world.”

Outside of his work as a pathologist, Edwards has been a 4-H veterinary science leader; former advisor to the Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets, where he was awarded Academic Advisor of the Year for his work with Company D-2; former member of the College Station Noon Lions Club and Aggie Quarterback Club; and former secretary of the Brazos Valley A&M Club. 

He has also served as a speaker for the Brazos Valley Council on Alcohol and Substance Abuse on drug prevention following the death of his only son, Tyler, who passed in 2015. For years, he also had a race car team at the famous Texas World Speedway just south of College Station.

“Dr. Edwards has always enjoyed his role as a mentor and educator, and he has been readily available for discussions, whether it be about a particular case that was challenging or questions from students who were interested in learning more about training opportunities,” a nominator said. “He has been a wonderful role model and has truly made a meaningful difference in the professional lives of a great many colleagues.”

Since retiring from Antech in 2021, Edwards has served as an international consultant for numerous companies and diagnostic laboratories and as the chief veterinary medical officer at Smart Health DX in Southern California, where he’s developing the final piece of his legacy — a slide-free, in-hospital point of care medical device for same-day biopsy results, which will completely revolutionize the profession. 

“Dr. Edwards is a gifted, internationally recognized private-enterprise and academic veterinary pathologist and diagnostician and an innovative entrepreneur who has brought new technology to the practice of veterinary medicine,” one nominator said. “His hugely successful career has brought great honor and recognition to our college and profession at the highest levels of national and international domestic animal and comparative pathology.”

In his leisure time, Edwards enjoys fishing his ponds and maintaining his wildlife exemption for ducks and deer on his 10-acre homestead in College Station with his former U.S. Army officer wife, Theresa.  He has a passion for shotgun sports, especially sporting clays and waterfowl and upland game bird hunting. He also has a deep love and respect for the biodiversity of nature and is a strong advocate for animal conservation through ethical and sustainable hunting. 

Dr. Gregory G. Knape ’77 has built a career defined by consistency, service, and leadership in large animal veterinary medicine, distinguishing himself over more than four decades not only as a highly respected clinician but also as a trusted educator, mentor, and advocate for integrity within agriculture and youth livestock programs.

Knape learned the discipline and responsibility required to care for animals and sustain agricultural operations on his family’s dairy farm in Alvin, Texas. 

“Even at an early age, we all knew Gregg wanted to be a veterinarian,” one nominator said. “From the time we were freshmen in high school, Gregg took the responsibility of milking the cows every afternoon. He was wholly committed and willing to do this task.”

Those early responsibilities translated naturally into leadership roles as Alvin FFA president and, later, area FFA president. He enrolled at Texas A&M University in 1972, joining the Corps of Cadets and rising through the ranks to serve as First Sergeant and Commander of Company M-1 while completing his education.

After earning his bachelor’s degree in 1976 and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1977, he began practicing mixed animal medicine in Nacogdoches, Texas, before returning home in 1983 to establish Gulf Coast Large Animal Clinic on his family’s farm in Alvin.

The clinic quickly became a reflection of Knape’s service-oriented approach to veterinary medicine.

“Half the building was operating as a veterinary clinic while the other half was his parents’ feed store,” one nominator said. “During Hurricane Harvey, his clinic became a staging area for disaster relief; supplies were delivered from across the country — some shipments coming from as far as Iowa.

“He and his team handed out supplies for weeks, ensuring that families and animals alike were cared for. He waded through floodwaters for days to rescue horses, exemplifying his selflessness and courage.”

In 1988, he and four fellow large animal veterinarians were approached by the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo to develop a drug testing program for show animals — a task that would become one of his most significant contributions to the livestock industry.

“The purpose was to guarantee a safe food product for the consuming public and create a fair playing field in the show ring for every exhibitor,” another nominator said. “After five years of trial and error, the group had created what is the gold standard of compliance for all major and local shows across the United States, which is a tremendous achievement in a highly competitive environment.”

Knape went on to serve in leadership roles within the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s veterinary program, including chairman of the Drug Compliance Committee from 1999 to 2001. Since 2003, he has served as Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s official veterinarian.

“Over the past 30 years, Gregg has missed only two performances — once for the birth of his grandson and once to attend his father’s funeral,” another nominator said. “As the event grew, his responsibilities expanded, and 25 years ago he became the veterinarian for all rodeo-related events.”

In this role, Knape has declined all financial compensation for his services, instead directing those funds toward student support at Texas A&M.

“Students in large animal medicine and Corps of Cadets students studying to become teachers have been impacted by the scholarships,” another nominator said. “The scholarships now total five and are endowed for over $250,000.”

Education and mentorship also have been central themes throughout Knape’s career. For more than three decades, he has opened his clinic to Texas A&M Galveston students, veterinary technician students, and youth involved in 4-H and FFA programs.

“Dr. Knape has always contributed to our youth and tirelessly helped develop our future leaders,” one nominator said. “He has inspired countless young people to pursue careers in veterinary medicine and agriculture.”

In recognition of his professional excellence and service, Knape was named Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Veterinarian of the Year in 2024. His humility and devotion to service remain defining qualities throughout his career.

“Gregg has always been loyal to God, to family, to Texas A&M University, the Corps of Cadets, the veterinary school, his chosen profession, and to his friends,” a nominator said. 

He has demonstrated this deep commitment by hosting Muster for 30 years and by holding a position on the Texas A&M Veterinary Medicine Foundation Board, further supporting the institution that shaped his life and career.

Knape and his wife, Cheryl, will celebrate 50 years of marriage in 2026. Together, they raised two sons, who have carried forward the family legacy through leadership roles in the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band, exemplifying the values of loyalty and service passed down to them.

Among his favorite pastimes are chasing after his six grandchildren, ages 9 to 17; checking cattle daily; trail riding in the Texas Hill Country once a year with his Tejas Vaquero brothers; waterskiing every chance he gets; and watching sunsets with Cheryl as every day winds down. 

Dr. Guy A. Sheppard’s career has exemplified the core values of Texas A&M University and the veterinary profession — leadership guided by service, integrity, and a lifelong dedication to supporting others. For nearly five decades, his contributions across clinical practice, military service, diagnostics, and mentorship have left a lasting mark on communities and colleagues throughout Texas and beyond.

“There is a persona that exists among Aggies that represents the highest ideals of our university and our profession,” one nominator said. “This persona reflects greatness, defined not only by achievement but also by service, character, and the ability to inspire others. Dr. Guy Sheppard is one of the few who achieved this.”

Raised on a small farm in Abilene, Texas, Sheppard developed perseverance, hard work, and dedication from a young age. He entered Texas A&M in 1972 and joined the Corps of Cadets, rising to First Sergeant and later Commander of Company C-1.

“He consistently earned the respect of his peers and superiors alike,” one nominator said. “These achievements culminated in his appointment to the elite Ross Volunteer Ceremonial and Drill Unit, one of the highest honors bestowed within the Corps of Cadets.”

After earning his bachelor’s degree in veterinary science with summa cum laude honors in 1977 and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree with magna cum laude honors in 1978, he served as a U.S. Army veterinary officer at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, supervising veterinary services, food inspection, and public health activities. His performance earned him the Army Officer Basic Course Outstanding Graduate Award and the Army Commendation Medal. He received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army Reserves in 1986.

In 1980, Sheppard moved to San Angelo, Texas, where, as a mixed animal practitioner, he expanded veterinary care in the region by helping establish a small animal emergency clinic and partnering to create a state-of-the-art small animal hospital.

“Dr. Sheppard’s service to San Angelo extended far beyond his patients, clients, and producers. He was deeply engaged in civic life, investing his time and energy in numerous organizations,” another nominator said. “Over nearly three decades, Dr. Sheppard’s professional and civic contributions left a lasting and meaningful impact on the San Angelo community.”

Those contributions spanned San Angelo’s Animal Services Advisory Board, A&M Club, PTA and school booster programs, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts councils, and Stock Show & Rodeo Association.

Sheppard’s leadership in organized veterinary medicine also has been widely recognized. He held every office within the Concho Valley Veterinary Medical Association; served extensively with the Texas Veterinary Medical Association, including as district director, two-term chairman of the board, and president in 2006; and was active on the Bovine Committee, Brucellosis Committee, Rural Practice Workforce Task Force, and Long-Range Planning Committee.

From 2008 to 2015, Sheppard served as director of Development and Alumni Relations for the Texas A&M Foundation within the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, where he built enduring relationships with students and donors.

“His door was always open, whether to assist students with their needs or to guide donors in realizing their passions through meaningful support,” another nominator said. “His professional conduct and treating all members of the veterinary profession — from technicians to veterinarians — with respect sheds a positive light on this profession.”

In 2016, Sheppard became a veterinary diagnostician with the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, bringing decades of mixed animal practice and food animal expertise to veterinarians across Texas.

“His professionalism was exhibited daily in the way he related to coworkers and clients and his commitment to the cases with which he was involved,” one nominator said. “His willingness to go the extra step to assist veterinarians with test selection, test interpretation and to talk with livestock owners about diseases their herd may be dealing with, as well as the importance of having a relationship with a private veterinarian, was always one of his highest professional missions.”

His diagnostic work earned him the TVMDL Director’s Excellence Award and the Texas A&M AgriLife Vice Chancellor’s Award in Excellence in 2022. He served in this role until retiring in 2023.

“Throughout his career, Dr. Sheppard has exemplified the highest ideals of service and leadership. He has repeatedly turned challenges into opportunities and has left the profession stronger than he found it,” another nominator said. “Guy is more than a successful practitioner, more than a leader in his profession, and more than a dedicated Aggie — he is a leader of leaders.” 

Sheppard and his wife, Valerie Hendrix Sheppard ’76, raised two children, Audrey and Clayton, who continue the family’s Aggie legacy. The couple lives in College Station, where they enjoy time with their grandchildren, friends, and old classmates; attending Aggie sports; and spending plenty of time at their country place.

An expert in zoonotic diseases, Dr. Thomas Sidwa spent his public health career with the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) making the state a safer place for people and animals.

Sidwa earned his bachelor’s degree in veterinary science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, in 1972 and 1973, respectively. After graduation, he spent 20 years in private veterinary practice before joining DSHS — then known as the Texas Department of Health — in 1993 as the zoonosis control veterinarian for South Texas.

“When he started in this position, it was during the heart of an erupting rabies epizootic in South Texas involving domestic dogs and coyotes that was of monumental concern for both public and animal health,” one nominator said. “He played an active role in rabies control and prevention at a notably dramatic time in rabies history.”

In 1994, Sidwa became the assistant director of the DSHS’ Meat Safety Assurance Section, regulating and enforcing public health laws and policies to prevent foodborne illnesses. He became director of the state’s new Oral Rabies Vaccination Program (ORVP) in 2002, leading efforts to distribute oral rabies vaccines for coyotes and grey foxes using multiple modes of delivery, primarily aircraft. ORVP is a major public health success story.

“Dr. Sidwa played a vital role in monitoring and mitigating zoonotic disease threats throughout our state,” another nominator said. “His work helped protect our food supply and also significantly reduced rabies incidence, protecting both human and animal populations. I witnessed firsthand his expertise, mentorship, and integrity as he oversaw critical efforts to monitor, control, and prevent zoonotic diseases.”

In 2005, Sidwa took on the role he would hold for 15 years — manager of the DSHS’ Zoonosis Control Branch, which also involved serving as the State Public Health Veterinarian. 

In this position, he monitored statewide zoonotic disease cases, liaised between the DSHS and other governmental agencies, and responded to numerous infectious disease outbreaks across Texas, including West Nile virus in 2012, Ebola in 2014, and anthrax in 2019. 

“Even in these life-threatening outbreaks, he always responded to his colleagues in a calm, professional, and courteous manner,” another nominator said. “Dr. Sidwa is a team player, trustworthy and highly respected by his colleagues and community stakeholders. His knowledge, experience, and professionalism have saved countless lives across Texas and beyond.”

Sidwa also served as a member of the National Association of State Public Health veterinarians, for which he helped update the national rabies control recommendations and provided input to the Texas Legislature on public health and disease control topics.

“He always had an effective way of providing a grounded, rational perspective to every discussion, which made it possible to reach constructive resolutions,” another nominator said. “His efficient decision-making skills impacted the entire state in positive, productive ways, with many having constructive national ramifications.”

Always pursuing new educational opportunities, Sidwa earned a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Texas School of Public Health in 2010. He drew on his career experiences for his thesis project, which examined how commercial food irradiation could potentially reduce foodborne illnesses around the world. 

“Public health experts throughout the state of Texas relied on Dr. Sidwa’s thoughtful expertise for over 26 years and his opinion was readily sought after for daily issues in veterinary public health,” another nominator said. “Throughout his career, Dr. Sidwa watched out for his co-workers, provided thoughtful public health guidance to colleagues, and was an all-around absolute joy to work with.”

As part of the state’s vector control team, Sidwa was instrumental in the DSHS creating a state entomologist position for handling issues related to vector-borne diseases. He also embraced the Aggie core value of selfless service by serving as the director of operations for Texas’ Multi-Agency Coordination Center, which responds to public health emergencies, such as hurricanes and flooding, across the state. 

“He worked several of the largest natural disasters in Texas history,” a nominator said. “Those were long days — seven days a week — for an extended period of time. Because of the magnitude of the damage and efforts to respond, impromptu decisions of major consequence were required. His calm demeanor and his creative and thoughtful recommendations were recognized and sought.”

For several years during his tenure with DSHS, Sidwa also served as a part-time veterinarian with Banfield Pet Hospital, demonstrating his commitment to maintaining his clinical skills.

Now retired and living in Lakeway, Texas, Sidwa serves on the board of directors for the Lakeway Friends of the Parks, a volunteer group that works to improve, maintain, and beautify local parks and greenbelts. He also is enrolled in the Lakeway Police Department’s “Citizen’s Police Academy,” which gives the public a working knowledge of law enforcement and the department’s operational practices.

He met his wife, Marcia, at a horse stable in Houston when they were 16 years old and heavily involved in horse shows. They have been married for 53 years and have a son, Alec, and a daughter, Courtney, both of whom live in the Austin area, as well as four grandchildren: Nathan, Claire, Miriam, and Madeline. 

A portion of each day is dedicated to entertaining Toby and Penny, 7 years old sibling Vizslas. To manage their considerable energy, daily walks in the parks and greenbelts Sidwa helps keep beautiful are not optional. 

Only 15 years after earning her undergraduate degree from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Dr. Meghan E. Hermance has established herself as a trailblazer in the study of tick-borne diseases, with her research on tick-transmitted viruses such as Powassan virus — the cause of a rare but serious disease — providing hope for new control strategies, vaccines, and treatments.

Hermance earned her bachelor’s degree in 2011, graduating with honors and a double major in biomedical sciences and entomology. She then pursued a doctoral degree in basic biomedical sciences from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) College of Medicine, where she first began her studies on the Powassan virus.

“The Powassan virus has gained notoriety in recent years, with news articles in mainstream media highlighting its severity and deadliness,” one nominator said. “With Dr. Hermance’s research on tick-borne virus transmission and pathogenesis, there is hope for the opportunity to advance control strategies for life-threatening viruses for which there are currently no vaccines or treatments.”

After graduating with her Ph.D. in 2016, Hermance completed a three-year postdoctoral fellowship at UTMB and then moved to New York to begin working as a research scientist for SUNY Upstate Medical University.

She joined the University of South Alabama’s Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine in 2020 as an assistant professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. In 2025, she was promoted to a tenured associate professor.

“Her work addresses fundamental and pressing challenges in understanding tick physiology, ecology, and the mechanisms underlying viral spread — research of clear importance to global public health,” a nominator said. “She is a researcher of creativity, perseverance, and integrity who models how curiosity and rigorous training can lead to transformative discoveries. Her achievements reflect both her own remarkable abilities and the values cultivated during her formative years at Texas A&M.”

At the University of South Alabama, Hermance is also an adjunct assistant professor for the College of Arts and Sciences’ Biology Department and the director of the Laboratory of Infectious Diseases.

Her research on arboviruses — viruses spread to people by arthropods like mosquitoes, ticks, and sandflies — has led to numerous publications, grants, and accolades. Hermance has received more than $3 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including $2.59 million from the NIH to study the transmission and spread of emerging tick-borne viruses via a tick species that is invasive to the United States.

“She has a passion and pride in the work that she does, and her commitment to furthering research and education is clear as she speaks about her projects,” one nominator said. “I sincerely believe that Dr. Hermance will be at the core of significant advancements in arthropod-borne illnesses, and she will help support other young scientists who will also change the world for the better.”

Beyond her research expertise, Hermance is known for the outstanding teaching and mentorship she provides for undergraduate, graduate, and medical students. 

“Dr. Hermance’s strong mentorship and her ability to assist trainee transition to the next level is evidence that she is truly dedicated to supporting the next generation of biomedical scientists,” another nominator said. 

In addition, she serves as vice chair for the University of South Alabama’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and chair of her college’s Distinguished Scientist Seminar Committee. Hermance also is both an executive council member and the treasurer for the American Committee on Arthropod-Borne Viruses and Zoonotic Diseases.

“Dr. Hermance has also been selected as a grant reviewer for the NIH. This role is both indicative of the respect she maintains within the scientific research community and a testament to the integrity she brings to every aspect of her work,” another nominator said.

Hermance has made multiple media appearances to educate the public on the dangers of ticks, and her impact has been recognized through her inclusion on Mobile Bay Magazine’s 40 Under 40 list, which recognizes young individuals who demonstrate leadership, professional excellence, and a commitment to the Bay-area community.

“Dr. Hermance’s ability to interact with the public through local and national media presentations exemplifies her appreciation for service,” a nominator said. “In the 15 years since graduating from Texas A&M, she has emerged as a trailblazer in her field as well as a notable representative for the region and Texas A&M.”

Hermance lives in Mobile, Alabama, where she enjoys activities with her significant other, Daniel Terry, and her Basset Hound, Connie, which frequently center around the outdoors. They often enjoy time boating or kayaking on the beautiful coastal waters as well as traveling and hosting visiting family and friends.