September 22, 2025
Dr. Todd Bell, professor of veterinary pathology, is the 2025 recipient of the College of Veterinary Medicine’s William O. Reece Award.
The Reece Award is presented annually to a CVM faculty member for veterinary student academic advising as voted on by the DVM student body. Honorees are recognized as a “sincere student advocate who demonstrates compassionate, understanding, and guidance through mentoring and the ability to provide networking for veterinary students.”
A faculty member at Iowa State since 2023, Bell is the director of graduate education in the Department of Veterinary Pathology.
“I think the most important part of advising is active listening and asking lots of questions of students so I can understand what their needs are,” Bell said. “It helps with understanding how I can best help them.”
After graduating from a DVM from Iowa State, Bell served in the United States Army including at the U.S. Army’s Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick, MD, where he served as director of foundational sciences and acting deputy commander.
“Helping students, even in the smallest of ways, can make a huge difference in their lives,” Bell said. “I think of the mentors I had along the way who helped me because they wanted me to be successful and were looking for nothing in return.
“I want to provide that to our students and am passionate about enabling a future generation of veterinary leaders.”