Actively engaged alumni are a wonderful resource for MSU CVM students, providing always-welcomed encouragement and much-needed guidance, having first-hand knowledge of what it takes to become a veterinarian as well as what it takes to build a successful career. Alumni are also valuable ambassadors for the College, and it is our pleasure each year to select and honor those who set a precedent for others to follow.
Alumni Fellows Program
Sponsored by the Mississippi State University Alumni Association, the Alumni Fellows Program recognizes alumni who have distinguished themselves in their respective careers. They are selected by each college or school and are invited to return to campus to meet with students, both in the classroom and informally.
For 20 years, this educational activity has served as a means for enriching students' university experiences by exposing them to outstanding alumni who are willing to talk about specific competencies, attitudes and efforts needed to succeed. It is an exciting and stimulating way to blend the interests of the accomplished professional, the student and the professor.
Alumni Fellows are chosen to return to campus as distinguished guests and as mentors, friends and counselors. They are honored in recognition of the ultimate measure of a university - the quality of its alumni.
MSU CVM selected Dr. John Rehak as the 2023 Alumni Fellow. Read his story below.
Dr. John Rehak of Mobile, Alabama, boasts over two decades in the animal health industry. Before his esteemed tenure with Merck Animal Health, he received his Bachelor of Business Administration in finance from Loyola University, Maryland, then obtained his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1995 and earned a Master of Business Administration focusing on finance from Tulane University.
Upon launching his professional journey, Dr. Rehak melded clinical practice with business acumen. He rendered his services in small animal medicine in a New Orleans-based private practice. Progressing through the industry ranks, he took on multifaceted roles, navigating marketing, brand and product management, technical services, sales training, and technical marketing.
Dr. Rehak's commitment to the veterinary realm isn't limited to corporate contributions. He actively imparts his knowledge and experience as a member of the curriculum advisory committee for the MSU CVM Veterinary Medical Technology program. Areas that capture his professional interest span dermatology, parasitology, veterinary business, and the intersections of economics and marketing.
In 2018, Dr. Rehak established the Dr. Robert Cooper Endowed Scholarship in honor of Dr. Cooper, a longtime MSU CVM administrator and faculty member.
Outside the professional sphere, Dr. Rehak and his wife Jennifer cherish a tranquil life in Mobile with their three rescue dogs and a bird. A man of diverse passions, he enjoys inshore saltwater fishing, biking, and reading. Notably, he possesses a penchant for collecting first-edition books.
Read about past Alumni Fellow honorees below:
Jefferson D. Grady and Karen G. Collins
Alumnus of the Year
The College of Veterinary Medicine Alumnus of the Year Program recognizes alumni who have made a significant contribution to human or institutional progress in which a situation, institution, or movement has been materially changed for the better because of their participation. This award recognizes the achievement of outstanding alumni whose personal lives, professional accomplishments, and community service best exemplify the mission of the College of Veterinary Medicine.
MSU CVM selected Dr. Mark Akin of Collierville, Tennessee as 2022 Alumnus of the Year.
Read about past Alumni of the Year honorees below:
Stephen K. King and Glenn S. Thomas
Recent Alumni Awards and Recognition
Recent Grad Establishes Veterinary Medical Technology Scholarship
Duncans Establish Pathology Scholarship
Winding Career Path Lands Hall in Minnesota
