This message will appear in the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association Epitome.
At the University of Illinois, deans and other senior leaders are appointed for five-year terms. Before they can be reappointed, they undergo a thorough review covering all facets of their responsibilities.
During my tenth year as dean, this review process occurred, and at the start of the fall 2024 semester, Provost John Coleman recommended, and the Board of Trustees approved, my reappointment as dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine for another five-year term.
The review of the past five years noted many highlights at the college that I would like to share with you. Despite the challenges of the pandemic in that period, our amazing faculty, staff, and students—with the support of alumni like you—worked to achieve unprecedented growth.
What’s Up?
- Faculty: Our faculty play a key role in setting our goals and achieving them. We have the largest faculty numbers in college history, with 140 tenure-track and specialized faculty members.
- Students: Our target veterinary class size grew to 160 students in 2023. We have also attained record numbers of master’s degree and PhD students.
- Research funding: Extramural research support has risen more than 50%, from around $10 million in FY19 to $15 million in FY24.
- Facilities: Over the past five years we have expanded the footprint of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital by more than 25,000 sq ft and renovated nearly every service area in our original hospital buildings.
- Giving: We have grown our hardworking advancement team, and they have secured funding for even more growth and success in the future. The construction of a new wing for our comparative oncology program and the addition of seven endowed faculty positions stand out as the most visible of among hundreds of impactful gifts.
Challenges Met
Of course, COVID-19 negatively affected individuals and institutions around the global. I am extremely proud that our college actively responded with information and strategies that helped to protect both public and animal health.
While it appears that student learning was another global casualty of the pandemic, our college pivoted rapidly to online learning where possible and transitioned to in-person learning as soon as feasible, with precautions that successfully limited health risks. I am hopeful that student learning is rebounding to pre-pandemic levels, as measured by the latest NAVLE scores.
During this global crisis, our college became the first to undergo a virtual accreditation site visit. As dean and as a member of the AVMA Council on Education, I take very seriously the need to meet or exceed the 11 standards of accreditation.
Moving Forward
Your College of Veterinary Medicine has a bright future ahead. We continue to have one of the largest applicant pools among all veterinary programs.
Our ability to attract and graduate students from backgrounds historically under-represented in the veterinary profession has grown along with our applicant pool. Recent investments in this area include adding an outreach component based at our Medical District Veterinary Clinic in Chicago.
I’m please to report several recent additions to college leadership roles. These appointments ensure our ability to grow and meet the needs ahead within society and the veterinary profession.
- Dr. Gireesh Rajashekara joined the college as associate dean for research and advanced studies and professor in the Department of Pathobiology on August 1. He previously taught for 16 years at the Wooster campus of The Ohio State University. His areas of research expertise include the epidemiology and ecology of pathogens in food animals; antimicrobial resistance; and novel diagnostics and therapeutics for zoonotic pathogens.
- Dr. Thomas Lowery was named director of the Clinical Skills Learning Center in August. A 2008 graduate of our college who has served on the faculty since 2016, Dr. Lowery has won teaching accolades and played an active role in curricular matters. He will continue to deliver anatomy instruction each fall and will retain membership in the hospital’s FARMS service.
- Dr. Drew Sullivan, who has ably served as interim director of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital since the retirement of Dr. Julia Whittington in December 2023, has agreed to continue in that role for the next two years, assisted by three chiefs of staff. Dr. Sullivan also continues as medical director for the Medical District Veterinary Clinic.
- Dr. Devon Hague is serving as interim associate dean for academic and student affairs, a position previously held for 17 years by Dr. Jonathan Foreman, who returned to a full-time faculty role in August. Dr. Hague joined our college in 2012 to restart our neurology program. She continues to devote time to clinics, teaching, and related duties.
- Dr. Sara Connolly,whose appointment is split between serving as assistant dean of student success and the clinical pathology laboratory, has expanded her student affairs responsibilities by taking on oversight of the admissions process.
In the photo at the top of the page, Dean Peter Constable poses with Dr. Chris Dupuis, president of the college alumni association, and Dr. Sarah Wright, winner of the 2024 Outstanding Young Alumni award.
