Oklahoma State University President Jim Hess announced Friday the appointment of Dr. Richard Prather, DVM, as dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, effective June 30.

Prather brings four decades of veterinary practice experience and extensive relationships across Oklahoma’s veterinary, agricultural and industry communities as the college prepares to build a transformational $329 million teaching hospital. The facility will replace the current 40-year-old hospital and position OSU among the nation’s premier veterinary programs.

Prather, who earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from OSU in 1986, owned and operated Ellis County Animal Hospital in Shattuck, Oklahoma, with his wife, Dr. Angie Prather, DVM, for more than 30 years, providing mixed animal veterinary services to ranchers, producers and pet owners across northwest Oklahoma. His practice served major cow-calf operations, stocker and feedlot enterprises, equine breeding operations and small animal clients across the region.