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Dan Richardson to Lead K-State Olathe Innovation Campus

October 16, 2007

A nationally known expert in biosciences and animal health is joining Kansas State University in January as head of the university's Olathe Innovation Campus.

Veterinarian Dr. Daniel C. Richardson is currently vice president, Pet Nutrition Center and chief animal welfare veterinarian for Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc., in Topeka, Kan. In his new post he will be chief executive officer of the K-State Olathe Innovation Campus Inc.

"Dan Richardson brings a lifetime of expertise to this position," said K-State President Jon Wefald. "His enthusiasm and innovative ideas will be a great fit for the Olathe campus. One of K-State's goals is work force preparation at many levels. Dan's background will ensure K-State's ability to deliver on the promise to develop world-class researchers right there in the community."

Richardson will work with area education leaders to establish and develop opportunities for students to learn about careers in animal health.

"We are fortunate to have attracted an experienced and accomplished expert in animal health to head our initiatives at the Olathe Innovation Campus," said Bob Krause, vice president for institutional advancement. "Dan possesses a combination of both strong educational and business skills, including managing the construction of several additions to the Pet Nutrition Center facilities of Hills Pet Nutrition Inc. These attributes will provide an even stronger basis for Olathe and its outstanding education system."

Ron Trewyn, vice president for research at K-State, said Richardson will take the lead for K-State's animal health proposal to the Kansas Biosciences Authority. "The bioscience niche is a broad one," Trewyn said. "With Dan's leadership and strong connections to K-State, KU and the animal health community, I'm confident we will see lots of collaboration with other institutions. There is a significant foundation of food science and animal health business in the Kansas City area already, so incorporating K-State expertise in these areas to our Olathe campus will be a win-win for all."

A native of Manhattan, Richardson received an associate's degree from Colby (Kan.) Community College, and his bachelor's and DVM degrees from K-State. He completed a surgery/medicine internship at Auburn University and a surgical residency at the University of Tennessee. He became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 1983.

Richardson has received numerous awards for clinical and teaching excellence at three different institutions, including the Norden Distinguished Teacher Award at both Purdue and North Carolina State University.

He served as assistant professor of surgery at Purdue University and was both an assistant and associate professor of surgery at North Carolina State University. He is an adjunct professor at North Carolina State University and K-State.

Richardson joined Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc., Research and Development, in 1991. He has held positions of increasing responsibilities from director of advanced research; director of research; vice president, research and his current position as vice president of the Pet Nutrition Center (Hill's global facility for research and development). Hill's parent company, Colgate Palmolive, was recently named one of the Top Companies for Leaders in a listing sponsored by global human resources services company, Hewitt Associates, in partnership with The RBL Group and Fortune magazine.

His research interests include developmental and acquired orthopedic disorders (osteochondrosis, hip dysplasia and fracture healing) as well as clinical nutrition. He has published extensively with more than 75 scholarly articles as well as numerous textbook chapters. He is an internationally recognized speaker with expertise in nutrition and veterinary orthopedics.

Richardson received the 2004 Kansas State University Alumni Fellow Award for the College of Veterinary Medicine. He is on the board of directors and past chairman of the board for KansasBIO, an organization representing the biosciences in Kansas. He is a member of the Biosciences Subcommittee for Sen. Pat Robert's Advisory Committee on Science, Technology and the Future, and is on the board of trustees for the KU Center for Research. In addition he is on the governor's National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility -- NBAF -- in Kansas Task Force.

Richardson's K-State ties run in the family. His wife, Kathryn (Yonning) Richardson, earned her master's under Division of Biology Director Brian Spooner, a university distinguished professor of biology. Richardson's brother, Ralph, is also a veterinarian and is dean of K-State' College of Veterinary Medicine. Their father, Draytford Richardson, earned a Ph.D. from Iowa State University and was a K-State professor of nutrition in the animal sciences department. Another brother, David, was a 1965 K-State Putnam Scholar, and has a Ph.D. in English literature from the University of North Carolina.

Personal membership includes many national professional and academic organizations where he has participated in key activities and held various leadership offices: the American Veterinary Medical Association, which he served on the Committee on Impaired Veterinarians (representing the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges); Kansas Veterinary Medical Association, American College of Veterinary Surgeons, where he has served on the Board of Regents, Credentials Committee, and Committee on Education, in addition to serving as chairman of several continuing education committees; Alpha Psi Professional Fraternity, Phi Zeta Honorary Society, Veterinary Cancer Society, the Veterinary Orthopedic Society and the Orthopedic Research Society.