Veterinary Medicine Leader Appointed Dean Of Texas A&M College Of Veterinary Medicine And Biomedical Sciences
Story by Texas A&M University Office of the Provost
Texas A&M University has appointed nationally recognized veterinary medical leader Dr. Bonnie R. Rush as the next dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS). She will begin her new role Aug. 1, 2025.
Rush currently serves as the Hodes Family Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University. Over more than 30 years at Kansas State, she has earned a national reputation for advancing veterinary education, student wellness, faculty development and community outreach, while championing research excellence and clinical service.
“Dr. Rush brings to Texas A&M an extraordinary record of academic leadership, clinical insight and institutional vision,” said Dr. Alan Sams, executive vice president and provost. “Her commitment to innovation, wellness and student success aligns perfectly with the mission of the university and the VMBS. I’m confident she will elevate the impact of our veterinary programs across Texas and beyond.”
Rush joined Kansas State’s faculty in 1993 as an associate professor of equine internal medicine and rose through the ranks to department head, then hospital director and, in 2017, to dean. She is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Large Animal) and an internationally respected voice in veterinary internal medicine, medical education and student well-being.
During her tenure as dean, she led the creation of multiple Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) certificate programs and expanded clinical outreach through high-impact shelter medicine and community rotations. She also launched a donor-funded student wellness program — now a national model for veterinary schools — and oversaw major faculty and staff development initiatives, as well as the renovation of teaching and hospital facilities.
Her leadership helped secure federal funding from the National Institutes of Health to support a new biomedical research facility on the Kansas State campus.
Rush currently serves as president of the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges, a role that gives her a national platform to address the future of veterinary education and workforce development.
“I’m deeply honored to join Texas A&M and lead a college with such a distinguished legacy in veterinary medicine, biomedical sciences and One Health research,” Rush said. “The faculty, staff and students at VMBS are at the forefront of the profession, and I’m excited to partner with them to advance education, research and service in ways that truly matter to animals, people and communities.”
Rush earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, summa cum laude, and a Master of Science in Veterinary Clinical Sciences from The Ohio State University. Her scholarship has focused on respiratory disease in horses, as well as evidence-based approaches to clinical teaching.
She succeeds Dr. John August, who has served as dean since 2020 and will remain in the role through July to ensure a smooth transition.
August, who has led VMBS since 2020, will continue supporting the college through the leadership transition. He is widely credited with strengthening clinical partnerships, expanding research programs and leading the college through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic with integrity and compassion.
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For more information about the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, please visit our website at vetmed.tamu.edu or join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Contact Information: Jennifer Gauntt, Director of VMBS Communications, Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, jgauntt@cvm.tamu.edu, 979-862-4216
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