Nominations Sought for Dean

 Provost Richard Herman has charged a 12-member search committee with identifying the very best candidates for the position of dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. The group first met in August, and expect to issue a call for nominations very soon.

“The committee is dedicated to building a strong pool of quality candidates,” says Dr. Robert Easter, chair of the search committee and head of the animal sciences department at the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. 

Search committee members from within the College include Drs. Paul Cooke and Gary Jackson from Veterinary Biosciences; Drs. Warwick Arden, Karen Campbell, and Ann Johnson from Veterinary Clinical Medicine; Dr. Joanne Messick from Veterinary Pathobiology; and Dr. John Andrews of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.

Also representing the College are Abigail Cowan, third-year veterinary student and president of the Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association, and Terry Rathgeber, associate dean for development and external affairs.

Dr. George Richards, co-owner of Vermillion Veterinary Ventures in Danville, Ill., serves on the committee as a representative of the Illinois State VMA and alumni. Dr. Bradford Schwartz, regional dean of the Urbana campus College of Medicine, is also a committee member.

“The next several years will offer great opportunity to the College as campus initiatives in biotechnology, online education, information management, and the South Farm re-location come to fruition,” says Dr. Easter. “A visionary leader with a balanced understanding of modern veterinary medicine who will work effectively with the faculty, staff, other campus leaders, and stakeholders will be fundamental to success.” 

Dr. Easter hopes the search will be concluded by the end of the calendar year, but notes “that is an ambitious objective.” 

Dr. Ted Valli has agreed to continue as dean until the new dean comes on board.

Anyone with nomination suggestions is encouraged to contact members of the committee. A position announcement appears on the Dean's page.