Gayle Brown
William P. Switzer Award
MS ’89, PhD ’99 & DVM ’86 (Illinois)
Ames, Iowa
Iowans are by nature a humble bunch.
Dr. Gayle Brown is the quintessential Iowan.
“I don’t know why I’m being honored,” she says. “There are plenty of people out there who are more deserving.”
Gayle Brown is definitely humble. She’s also very good at her job.
So good that over the years she has been consistently recognized for her work in and outside the classroom. Her latest award is the William P. Switzer Award which recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to society and/or to the College of Veterinary Medicine.
Gayle Brown has certainly accomplished both criteria. With a relentless commitment to her students, she has had a positive impact on thousands of students in the College of Veterinary Medicine over the past two decades.
“I like being able to help veterinary students remember to love learning and to love being in veterinary school,” Brown says. “I want to help students enjoy their time in veterinary school by promoting a positive and support culture.
“I want veterinary school to be not only challenging but also a positive experience for every student.”
If awards are any indication, Brown has succeeded on all counts. During her Iowa State career, she has received five Iowa State teaching awards, three advising awards and in 2018 she was named the national recipient of the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges’ Distinguished Teacher Award.
Brown first entered a classroom as an instructor while a graduate student with Dr. Jim Roth, recently retired Distinguished Professor of Veterinary Medicine. She gives credit to her mentor for “teaching her how to teach.”
“Jim Roth had a significant role in any success I’ve had,” Brown said. “He hired me multiple times and taught me so much, allowing me to make mistakes and learn and grow.”
Her achievements have extended outside of the traditional classroom. As a staff veterinarian in the Center for Food Security and Public Health, Brown has been a part of Transboundary and Emerging Diseases of Animals/Initial Accreditation Training (TEDA/IAT) web-based course, since its very early days. She was responsible for updating and managing the course content, interacting with instructors at each institution, and working to continuously improve the course.
From its humble beginnings, the course is now used in some way at every veterinary school in the United States. The USDA requires all students to complete 14 components of the course as part of the Initial Accreditation Training (IAT).
“TEDA/IAT’s success is because we have an exceptional team,” said the ever-humble Brown. “The team is always learning and growing and making sure we are using the best practices for web-based education, which aligns with our mantra of ‘continual improvement.’”
Gayle Brown’s lasting impact on the College of Veterinary extends beyond the classroom. For many years she has been a constant presence with the Recreation and Stress Relief (RSR) and the Iowa State chapter of SAVMA.
“Both of these are very important to me,” Brown said. “I take very seriously my role as an advisor for RSR and SAVMA, advocating for student well-being and a positive student culture.”
Everything Brown has done at Iowa State has revolved around teaching. But being an instructor isn’t how she describes herself.
“I think of myself as a veterinarian who teaches,” Brown says. “Both teaching and veterinary medicine are important to me and part of who I am.
“I love sharing what knowledge, skills and abilities I have with all the communities I am associated with.”
October 2025