Four women stand outside during with bronze animal statues in background.

Left to right: Rebecca Camden (and June), Anna Justice, senior director of development, Mary Power and Dr. Jennifer Johns listen to a speech during the celebration ceremony for Dr. John's appointment as the inaugural Power Faculty Scholar. Dr. Kate Scollan was also named the Camden Faculty Scholar during the ceremony. 

August 27, 2025
Words and photos by Jens Odegaard 

Thanks to generous donor support, the Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine recently recognized two faculty members as endowed faculty scholars through the Oregon State University Foundation. 

Dr. Jennifer Johns was named the inaugural Erin and Mary Power Endowed Faculty Scholar. Dr. Kate Scollan was named the Camden Faculty Scholar. Both appointments recognize teaching excellence. 

Erin and Mary Power endowed the Power Faculty Scholar and Rebecca Camden the Camden Faculty Scholar. Both endowments were paired with the Provost’s Faculty Match, which leverages matching funds from the Oregon State University Office of the Provost.  “The resources generated by each endowed fund allow faculty to freely explore their best ideas, and that’s incredibly exciting,” said Ed Feser, past provost and executive vice president of the university, in establishing the matching fund.

Dr. Jennifer Johns, Power Faculty Scholar

Dr. Jennifer Johns is an associate professor of clinical pathology and heads up the clinical pathology lab at the college. “You're not just my mentor, I see you as my big aunt,” said Clinical Pathology Resident Dr. Latifat Adekunle at the celebration honoring the appointments. “I’ll give you an example. When I first came into the United States with my two young boys, Dr. Johns made the special dish that we eat in Nigeria, jollof rice. I still don't know how she found that out, and she did it so nicely that my boys and I did not have to think of what to eat for a few days. We'll always, always remember that. And to add to her kindness, Dr. Johns finds a way to manage the students, the people in the lab, the daily running of the lab in addition to the diagnostic services. She's been a very good leader. I'm learning so much from you, not just the academics, but also how to be a good leader.”

With the endowed funds, Johns plans to continue leading others forward. “Our residents and veterinary students often have ideas for small clinical or diagnostic research projects,” Johns said. “This position can support those efforts.”

She is also looking to build new opportunities. “I am considering new teaching initiatives that might require additional support for new resources,” she said. “It also opens possibilities for new relationships with local, national, and international animal shelters and rescues that could be mutually beneficial.” In addition, the funding will “strengthen current research collaborations with international vet schools and wildlife research programs.”

Dr. Kate Scollan performs a world-first heart procedure on a lamb with Dr. Charlotte Donnan, cardiology resident. The procedure was made possible by funds from the Erin and Mary Power Animal Care Fund (watch the video about the procedure). 

Dr. Kate Scollan, Camden Faculty Scholar 

Dr. Kate Scollan is an associate professor of cardiology known as a stellar educator. But early in her career teaching wasn’t something she planned on pursuing. “When I was in my cardiology training program I had not envisioned a career as an educator, but I fell in love with teaching while training in the Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine. Now, 15 years after joining the faculty, I think of myself as a teacher as much as I consider myself a cardiologist. It was very rewarding to be recognized and supported in work that is so fulfilling,” she said upon receiving the endowed scholar position.

Scollan teaches both in the classroom and on the clinic floor as veterinary students rotate through the cardiology service in the Lois Bates Acheson Veterinary Teaching Hospital. “It is beyond evident that she has put so much work into making a complex and unintuitive topic like cardiology, as approachable and digestible as possible for her students, whether she's teaching in the clinic or the classroom,” said veterinary student Merric Malley. 

Fellow student Luis Salazar Chavez agreed. “Her passion for medicine, teaching and helping others reach their professional goals is clear. I hope to one day get close to representing this profession in the same way as Dr. Scollan.” 

With the endowed position, Scollan is looking forward to improving learning opportunities for students. “This includes equipment to help students learn to listen to heart sounds and also continuing education to help all faculty continue to grow as educators,” she said. “I plan to continue to pursuing 3D printed models of various heart abnormalities.  This will enhance students’ understanding of the three-dimensional anatomy of the heart using models they can hold and add a tactile component to that learning experience.

“The importance of donor support for endeavors like this and the entire teaching mission of the college is critical,” Scollan continued. “The support from donors specifically dedicated to scholarship of the faculty to improve our skills as educators is crucial to provide the best educational experience for our future veterinarians.”