2006 Honorary Degree
Nancy A. Gillett
Doctor Of Science
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She has had a stellar career in experimental and toxicological pathology, serving Purdue as an adjunct associate professor for 21 years, and is now with Charles River Laboratories Inc. in Sparks, Nev., working as the corporate senior vice president and president of global pre-clinical services.
Gillett was raised in Las Vegas, Nev., and started her work at Purdue in 1984 after majoring in pre-veterinary medicine at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas from 1972-74, earning her bachelor of science degree and her doctor of veterinary medicine from Washington State University in 1978, and a doctorate in comparative pathology from the University of California, Davis in1984.
After that, she went to work as an experimental pathologist at the Inhalation Toxicology Research Institute in Albuquerque, N.M., eventually becoming a supervisor. She then worked at Genentech Inc. in South San Francisco, Calif., as a senior scientist and supervisor of the situ hybridization laboratory.
In 1994, she accepted a position as director of pathology at Sierra Biomedical Inc. in Sparks, Nev., and remained there as a vice president and president before Sierra was acquired by Charles River Laboratories in 1999, putting her on the track to her current position, which she assumed in 2004.
In addition to rising through the corporate ranks and serving as an adjunct professor during most of her career, Gillett has been involved in several national organizations, serving as president of the Society of Toxicologic Pathologists. She also has been a Science Advisory Board Member of the National Center for Toxicological Research, a member of the Education Committee of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, served on the Editorial Board of Toxicologic Pathology, and participated in other national committees.
Gillett, who has 80 peer-reviewed publications and six book chapters, is viewed as an ideal role model for current and future veterinary students, and considered as one of the finest veterinarians in private industry.