Dr. Steve and Colleen Hodes, Andover, Kansas, have given a gift to name the deanship in Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. This is the third named deanship at K-State and the fourth deanship named of all 33 American Veterinary Medical Association accredited Colleges of Veterinary Medicine.
The Hodeses’ gift to name the Hodes Family Deanship in the College of Veterinary Medicine is transformational for the college and future veterinarians. One key initiative it will support is to provide veterinary students with business education, investing in their success as veterinary practice owners.
“Dr. Steve Hodes is a roll-up-your-sleeves, can-do veterinarian with a boundless work ethic. He attained prominent success in business and demonstrates unmatched commitment to mentoring prospective veterinarians,” said Dr. Bonnie Rush, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. “This gift advances our goals in business education/entrepreneurship and transforms our ability to produce practice-ready veterinarians. The College of Veterinary Medicine recognizes the tremendous responsibility to honor this gift in the image inspired by Dr. and Mrs. Hodes.”
Dr. Steve Hodes graduated from K-State’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 1979. Colleen Hodes earned her physical education degree from K-State in 1978. They both serve on the KSU Foundation Board of Trustees. Soon after graduating from K-State, Dr. Hodes established the Hodes Veterinary Group and Mobile Veterinary Service in Mine Hill, New Jersey, which grew into a practice with eight veterinarians serving both large and small animals. In 2005, Dr. Hodes received the Alumni Recognition Award from the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. The award recognized his time and effort devoted to advancing veterinary medicine, and for being an exemplary role model for future veterinarians. The Hodeses have been generous donors to the college, creating a professorship in small animal medicine in 2014, investing in the Equine Performance Testing Center, and providing valuable mentoring to countless veterinary students.
“Kansas State University offered me the opportunity to be a veterinarian. This career has been and continues to be extraordinary. I truly have never gone to a ‘day of work,’” said Dr. Hodes. “Dr. Rush told me that business management will be offered to veterinary students. This is so important as we want those students, as their career evolves at taking care of animals, to simultaneously be providing a great life and future for their families and coworkers. My entire family has benefited from my career and participated in it, so as a family, we are happy to make this investment in K-State’s College of Veterinary Medicine.”
The Hodeses’ passion for K-State and the veterinary profession extended to their children. Two of their three children attended K-State. Their son, Dr. Brian Hodes, and daughter-in-law, Dr. Jessica (Harrison) Hodes, both received their veterinary degrees from K-State in 2011. The Hodes’ daughter, Alexa Hodes Hewitt, earned her journalism and mass communications degree from K-State in 2010. Alexa’s husband, Matthew Hewitt, graduated from K-State in 2009 with degrees in accounting and finance. Their son, Tim Hodes, studied business at the University of Michigan, and his wife Kari Friedlander Hodes went to Indiana University.
The K-State College of Veterinary Medicine will host a dedication event to celebrate this tremendous gift on Wednesday, April 6, at the Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Auditorium located between the Veterinary Health Center in Mosier Hall and the College of Veterinary Medicine in Trotter Hall. The occasion will feature Dr. Steve and Colleen Hodes, the College of Veterinary Medicine Hodes Family Dean Dr. Bonnie Rush, and other campus leaders. The event will be open to the public. The specific time and details will be released at a later date. As Kansas State University’s strategic partner for philanthropy, the KSU Foundation inspires and guides philanthropy toward university priorities to boldly advance K-State family. Visit www.ksufoundation.org for more information.
