Hans Coetzee is a University Distinguished Professor and serves as Vice President for Research at Kansas State University, overseeing a research enterprise exceeding $200 million in annual expenditures. Originally from South Africa, Dr. Coetzee earned his Bachelor of Veterinary Science (DVM equivalent) from the University of Pretoria and received a doctorate in veterinary microbiology from Iowa State University. His career spans clinical practice in Northern Ireland, pharmaceutical research and development, and academic leadership, including roles as section leader in the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and department head and associate dean for research in K-State’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Internationally recognized for his pioneering work in livestock pain management, Dr. Coetzee’s research led to the first FDA-approved analgesic for food animals in the United States, and he has published over 230 peer-reviewed papers, securing over $22 million in research funding. His contributions have earned him prestigious honors, including the 2025 National Academy of Sciences Prize in Food and Agriculture Science and the World Veterinary Association Global Animal Welfare Award. Dr. Coetzee is committed to fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, supporting faculty success, and advancing K-State’s mission as a leading land-grant research institution.