Leadership

Dean Bret Marsh serves as the Dean of the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine and Chief Executive Officer of the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital. A proud Purdue alumnus, Dr. Marsh earned his bachelor’s degree in animal sciences and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Purdue. His career has been defined by a commitment to public service and One Health principles, connecting animal, human, and environmental health. Prior to returning to Purdue, Dr. Marsh served as Indiana’s State Veterinarian, where he led initiatives in biosecurity, animal disease traceability, and disaster preparedness, gaining national recognition for his expertise. His leadership roles include serving on the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture’s homeland security staff after 9/11, as well as on the board of the United States Animal Health Association and as treasurer for the American Veterinary Medical Association. With a vision to elevate Purdue’s College of Veterinary Medicine as a top-tier institution, Dr. Marsh is focused on expanding the college’s research profile and advancing Purdue’s One Health initiative. Under his leadership, the college aims to provide practice-ready veterinarians who are well-prepared to address modern health challenges. Dr. Marsh is particularly enthusiastic about developing interdisciplinary collaborations that promote health solutions across species and ecosystems, and he is excited to foster an educational environment where students gain hands-on experience in veterinary medicine.

Leslie Martin serves as the Assistant Dean of Administration at the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, where she leads the college’s administrative infrastructure, including financial operations, business services, and strategic support functions. In this role, she oversees a diverse portfolio of units, including Operations, Lifelong Learning, Public Affairs, and Web Communications. Prior to stepping into her current position in 2025, Leslie was the Director of Financial Affairs for the college, where she provided high-level oversight of fiscal planning and analysis. Her leadership helped streamline financial operations during a period of institutional growth and change. Leslie’s career at Purdue spans more than a decade, including five years as a Senior Business Manager, where she managed procurement operations for the Colleges of Science and Pharmacy, and over seven years as Business Manager for the Department of Chemistry. Her earlier roles at Purdue also include Business Manager for Earth, Atmospheric & Planetary Sciences, and Research Administration Specialist supporting major federal research grants from agencies like NASA and the Department of Energy. Before transitioning to higher education, Leslie built a strong foundation in the financial sector, serving in leadership roles at Industrial Federal Credit Union and Academy Bank. Leslie brings to her work a commitment to operational excellence, strategic fiscal stewardship, and collaborative leadership across academic and administrative domains.

Dr. Wendy Townsend is a Professor of Ophthalmology at Purdue University. She provides ocular examinations and surgeries on all species of animals in the Purdue Veterinary Hospital where she works with DVM and Veterinary Nursing students. Outside of work, Dr. Townsend enjoys living on her farm with her husband, two daughters, horses, Jersey cows, goats, cats, and a dog.

Dr. Mindy Anderson is a Veterinary Clinical Pharmacist that teaches pharmacology for our veterinary students and on campus veterinary nursing students. Dr. Anderson is also a registered veterinary technician that graduated from the Purdue University Veterinary Technology program in 2003. She worked in private practice as well as taught in the Veterinary Teaching Hospital for 11 years before going back to school to earn her Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2018, followed by a one-year residency to specialize in Veterinary Pharmacy. Dr. Anderson also works in the Purdue Veterinary Hospital consulting on medication utilization for both large and small animals. Outside of work Dr. Anderson enjoys watching her two daughters play volleyball, riding horses and spending time with friends and family.

Julia A. Wickard serves as the Executive Director of the Purdue Veterinary Medicine Alumni Association and Constituent Liaison. Previously she served as the State Executive Director of the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Indiana. Wickard also has served as the Assistant Commissioner of the Office of Program Support and the Agricultural Liaison at the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) for the State of Indiana. In addition, Wickard served as the State Executive Director for FSA in Indiana from 2008-2017. Before her federal service, Wickard served as the Executive Vice President of the Indiana Beef Cattle Association. She also has worked for Indiana Farm Bureau Inc., the Indiana Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Inc., and served as Deputy Director in the Office of the Commissioner of Agriculture for seven years. She has worked for two members of Congress in Washington D.C., and she serves on several agricultural and community boards and commissions. Wickard graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications and political science. She received the Purdue Agricultural Alumni Association Certificate of Distinction and was selected as a College of Agriculture Distinguished Alumni. She is a graduate of the two-year Indiana Agricultural Leadership Program through AgrIInstitute where she has served as Chairperson of the Board of Directors. She received the Purdue Women in Agriculture Leadership Award in 2024 and was recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency Administrator as the Supervisor of the Year, as well. Wickard was a recipient of the Purdue Agricultural Alumni Association Certificate of Distinction in 2022. She was awarded as a 2019 Distinguished Alumni from the Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication Department in the College of Agriculture at Purdue University. Wickard received the Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 2004 from Governor Joseph E. Kernan, and the Beck’s Hybrids “Beyond the Fence” in 2015. She received numerous national awards during her USDA tenure and was appointed to the Indiana State Fair Board of Directors by Governor Mike Pence in 2015. Wickard, her husband, Chris, and their two young adult children – Jordyn and Jacob, reside in Hancock County on their 100-year homesteaded family farm where they raise registered Angus cattle, Boer goats and assist in operating the farm with her family. Chris also is a graduate of Purdue, BS agribusiness management in 1993, and their kids are students at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN.