The Purdue Animal Sciences Department hosted its 2024 Animal Sciences Distinguished Alumni Awards Ceremony on Friday, April 26. The individuals honored during this ceremony were Dr. Mark A. Diekman, Mark H. Legan, James D. Bishop, Bailey Graham, Zachary S. Tucker, and Dr. Kelli K. Werling.
The annual event honors alumni with three different awards: Early Career, Mid-Career, and Lifetime. The Early Career Award is given to alumni who received their first degree from the department between the years 2008 to 2018. The Mid-Career Award is given to alumni who received their first degree from the department between the years 1992 to 2007. The Lifetime Award is given to alumni who received their first degree from the department before 1992.
Bailey Graham was awarded the Early Career Award. She received her bachelor’s degree in animal sciences from Purdue University in 2015. She also received a minor in farm and agribusiness management and completed the certificate of entrepreneurship. Graham was heavily involved while she attended Purdue. She was in Mortar Board, Old Masters, Ag Ambassadors, Delta Gamma sorority and a Purdue Legacy Maker being the 25th person in her family to attend Purdue. Graham began her career at Elanco Animal Health and is still there today as an Advisor in Poultry Food Safety Marketing. Currently, she is involved in the Diamond Hats Organization, which supports young females in agriculture at the Oklahoma Youth Expo and the EDGE mentorship program.
James Bishop was awarded the Mid-Career Award. He graduated from Purdue in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in animal sciences. He also received his master’s degree in animal sciences from Purdue in 1997. While at Purdue, Bishop received the Outstanding Student in Animal Sciences recognition all four years of his undergraduate career. Bishop has invested over 20 years in life-science organizations. He studied what makes great leaders while developing high-efficiency teams and outstanding cultures. Bishop launched Conjunction Leadership in 2020. Conjunction Leadership provides coaching to industry executives, which helps them become adaptable and excellent leaders.
Nominations for the 2025 Animal Sciences Distinguished Alumni Awards will be accepted beginning in October 2024. For more information please click the link below.