VMBS Recognizes 2026 Outstanding Alumni, Rising Star

The Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) recognized six former students at the 2026 Outstanding Alumni & Rising Star Awards Ceremony on June 5.

The Outstanding Alumni Award is the highest honor bestowed by the college and recognizes those who have reached a level of success in their professional careers that brings credit to both the individual and their alma mater. Honorees may be graduates of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine professional program, graduate academic programs, or biomedical sciences undergraduate program.

Established in 2013, the Rising Star Award recognizes graduates who have completed their education within the last 10 years. These outstanding former students have made significant professional accomplishments early in their careers including public service and volunteer activities that serve to positively reflect upon their alma mater.

Videos about each of the award recipients are available on YouTube and more photos from the ceremony are available on Photoshelter.

Dr. Carol K. Clark, Outstanding Alumna 

A trailblazer in equine internal medicine, Dr. Carol K. Clark has spent over three decades transforming patient care through her pioneering work in emergency and critical care, her scholarly contributions, and her mentorship of young veterinarians.

Clark earned a bachelor’s and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees from Texas A&M in 1989 and 1991, respectively. She worked briefly as a relief veterinarian 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.

“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; and in the American Association of Equine Practitioners, including service on the Board of Directors and as chairperson for the Retention Task Force.

“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,” a nominator said.

Her more than 25 peer-reviewed publications include important case studies such as the first description of ulcerative dermatitis, thrombocytopenia, and neutropenia syndrome in neonatal foals and 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 U.S.

Among her greatest accomplishments, however, has been mentoring hundreds of interns and early career veterinarians at Peterson & Smith Equine Hospital. 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.

To read a full version of Clark’s bio, click here.

Dr. Jeffery L. Edwards, Outstanding Alumnus

Dr. Jeffrey L. Edwards has shaped the future of veterinary medicine through his pioneering work in digital pathology, his early adoption of artificial intelligence in veterinary diagnostics, and his development of the next wave of technological advancement via “slide-free pathology.”

Edwards earned his bachelor’s and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees from Texas A&M in 1977 and 1979, respectively. He then spent two years at Austin’s Travis County Veterinary Hospital before moving to the Marianas Islands to serve in private practice and run the U.S. Navy’s veterinary hospital at Guam.

He later completed a three-year post-doctoral fellowship in comparative pathology at Johns Hopkins University, where he earned a Master of Public Health degree and became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists in 1989.

After seven years at the National Institutes of Health Primate Research Center and Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, in 1996, Edwards began a 25- year career as an anatomic pathologist at Antech Diagnostic Laboratory. There, he assembled more than 40 board-certified diagnostic pathologists to serve over 20,000 veterinary hospitals and ascended to chief of anatomic pathology of North America.

He also implemented two major breakthroughs in diagnostic veterinary pathology: the first successful conversion to digital pathology and the application of AI to pathology. Both innovations led to advancements in animal health and resulted in his colleagues naming 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,” one nominator said.

Since retiring in 2021, Edwards has served as an international consultant and as the chief veterinary medical officer at Smart Health DX, where he’s developing a slide- free, in-hospital point-of-care medical device for same-day biopsy results, which will revolutionize the profession.

Outside of work, Edwards has mentored the next generation of veterinary anatomic pathologists; volunteered with 4-H, the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets, and other organizations; and spoke at the Brazos Valley Council on Alcohol and Substance Abuse following the death of his only son, Tyler, in 2015.

“Dr. Edwards has always elevated others’ contributions and helped them realize their potential,” a nominator said. “Many pathologists who benefited from his guidance now shape veterinary pathology and veterinary medicine throughout the world.”

In his free time, Edwards and his wife, Theresa, enjoy fishing and maintaining the wildlife exemption on their 10-acre College Station homestead. He’s passionate about shotgun sports and advocates for ethical and sustainable hunting.

To read a full version of Edwards’ bio, click here.

Dr. Gregory G. Knape, Outstanding Alumnus

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 as a highly respected clinician and a trusted educator, mentor, and advocate for integrity within agriculture and youth livestock programs.

Knape learned the discipline required to care for animals and sustain agricultural operations on his family’s dairy farm in Alvin, where he took on the responsibility of milking the cows every afternoon. He enrolled at Texas A&M 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 and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees in 1976 and 1977, respectively, he practiced mixed animal medicine in Nacogdoches before returning home in 1983 to establish Gulf Coast Large Animal Clinic. The clinic quickly became a reflection of Knape’s service-oriented approach to veterinary medicine.

“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,” one nominator said. “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 other 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.

“After five years of trial and error, the group 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,” a nominator said.

Knape has served in several leadership roles within the Rodeo’s veterinary program, including chairman of the Drug Compliance Committee and, since 2003, as the official rodeo veterinarian. In this role, he directed his financial compensation toward student support at Texas A&M, which now total five scholarships endowed for over $250,000.

He also opens his clinic to Texas A&M Galveston students, veterinary technician students, and youth involved in 4-H and FFA programs; has hosted Muster for 30 years; and serves on the Texas A&M Veterinary Medicine Foundation Board. In 2024, Knape was named Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Veterinarian of the Year. Knape and his wife, Cheryl, who celebrate 50 years of marriage in 2026, raised two sons, also proud Aggies. Among his favorite pastimes are chasing after his six grandchildren, ages 9 to 17; checking cattle daily; trail riding in the Texas Hill Country with his Tejas Vaquero brothers; waterskiing every chance he gets; and watching sunsets with Cheryl as every day winds down.

To read a full version of Knape’s bio, click here.

Dr. Guy A. Sheppard, Outstanding Alumnus

Dr. Guy A. Sheppard’s career exemplifies 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 have left a lasting mark on communities and colleagues across Texas and beyond.

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

After earning his bachelor’s and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees at Texas A&M in 1977 and 1978, respectively, he served as a U.S. Army veterinary officer at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, supervising veterinary services, food inspection, and public health activities. He received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army Reserves in 1986.

In 1980, Sheppard moved to San Angelo, where he expanded veterinary care in the region by helping establish a small animal emergency clinic and a state-of-the-art small animal hospital. A leader in organized veterinary medicine, he also held every office within the Concho Valley Veterinary Medical Association; served extensively with the Texas Veterinary Medical Association, including as president in 2006; and participated on numerous committees and task forces.

“Dr. Sheppard has repeatedly turned challenges into opportunities and has left the profession stronger than he found it,” one 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.”

For seven years, 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. In 2016, he became a veterinary diagnostician with the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL), sharing his decades of expertise with veterinarians across Texas. This work earned him the TVMDL Director’s Excellence Award and the Texas A&M AgriLife Vice Chancellor’s Award in Excellence in 2022. He retired in 2023.

“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,” a nominator said.

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 time at their country place.

To read a full version of Sheppard’s bio, click here.

Dr. Thomas J. Sidwa, Outstanding Alumnus

An expert in zoonotic diseases, Dr. Thomas J. Sidwa spent his public health career making the state safer for people and animals.

Sidwa earned his bachelor’s and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees from Texas A&M in 1972 and 1973, respectively, and spent 20 years in private practice before becoming the zoonosis control veterinarian for South Texas with what is now the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS); in 1994, he became assistant director of the DSHS’ Meat Safety Assurance Section, enforcing regulations to prevent foodborne illnesses.

In 2002, as director of the state’s new Oral Rabies Vaccination Program — a major public health success story — Sidwa led efforts to distribute oral rabies vaccines for coyotes and grey foxes using multiple modes of delivery, primarily aircraft.

“Dr. Sidwa played a vital role in monitoring and mitigating zoonotic disease threats throughout our state,” one nominator said. “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 — for which he monitored statewide zoonotic disease cases, liaised between governmental agencies, and responded to outbreaks of West Nile virus in 2012, Ebola in 2014, and anthrax in 2019.

He also helped update the national rabies control recommendations, advocated for public health and disease control in the Texas Legislature, played an instrumental role in creating a DSHS state entomologist position, and served as operations director for Texas’ Multi-Agency Coordination Center, which responds to statewide emergencies.

“He worked several of the largest natural disasters in Texas history,” a nominator said. “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.”

In 2010, Sidwa earned a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Texas, drawing on his experiences for his thesis, which examined how commercial food irradiation could potentially reduce global food borne illnesses.

Now retired, Sidwa serves on the board for the Lakeway Friends of the Parks and is enrolled in the Lakeway Police Department’s Citizen’s Police Academy. He dedicates time each day to walking his 7-year-old Vizslas, Toby and Penny, through the green spaces he helps keep beautiful.

He and his wife, Marcia, who met at a horse stable when they were 16, have been married for 53 years; they have a son, Alec, and a daughter, Courtney, as well as four grandchildren: Nathan, Claire, Miriam, and Madeline.

To read a full version of Sidwa’s bio, click here.

Dr. Meghan E. Hermance, Rising Star

Only 15 years after graduating from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Dr. Meghan Hermance is an established trailblazer in the study of tick-borne diseases, with her research on tick-transmitted viruses providing hope for new control strategies, vaccines, and treatments.

Hermance earned her bachelor’s degree, with honors, in biomedical sciences and entomology at Texas A&M in 2011 before completing a Ph.D. in 2016 from the University of Texas Medical Branch, where she began studying the Powassan virus.

After completing a three-year postdoctoral fellowship at UTMB, Hermance moved to New York to work 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 and was promoted to a tenured associate professor in 2025.

“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,” one nominator said. “She is a researcher of creativity, perseverance, and integrity who models how curiosity and rigorous training can lead to transformative discoveries.”

At the University of South Alabama, where she also is director of the Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Hermance has received more than $3 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to study emerging viruses transmitted via a tick species that is invasive to the U.S. Her role as an NIH grant reviewer also is indicative of the respect she maintains within the research community and the integrity she brings to her work.

In addition, Hermance is known for her outstanding teaching, mentorship, and dedication to educating the public on the dangers of ticks through media appearances. Her inclusion on Mobile Bay Magazine’s 40 Under 40 list recognizes the impact of her leadership, professional excellence, and commitment to her community.

“She has a passion and pride in her work, and her commitment to furthering research and education is clear as she speaks about her projects,” another 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.”

Hermance lives in Mobile, Alabama, where she enjoys outdoor activities with her significant other, Daniel Terry, and her Basset Hound, Connie. They are often found boating or kayaking on the beautiful coastal waters as well as traveling and hosting family and friends.

To read a full version of Hermance’s bio, click here.