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Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine

Employer
Louisiana State University
Location
Louisiana, United States
Salary
Competitive Salary
Date posted
Dec 16, 2020

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Louisiana State University (LSU) invites applications and nominations for the position of the Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine. The Dean reports directly to the Executive Vice President and Provost and serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM). The Dean provides leadership and ultimate administrative oversight for all aspects of academic life within the SVM, including strategic planning, major initiatives, fiscal management, personnel development, academic programs, research enterprises, and student enrollment. The Dean also has primary responsibilities for the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Clinics (VTH&C), the Veterinary Medical Library, the Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (LADDL) plus external initiatives that include community outreach and development.

General Responsibilities

  • Provides leadership for all academic matters of the School including, academic degree programs and certificates as well as recruiting, retaining, and graduating students in MS, DVM, and PhD degree programs.

  • Displays a commitment to the development and maintenance of a richly diverse teaching and learning environment, including online course format, which is reflective of societal demographics and the needs of those accessing veterinary services.

  • Fully engages the larger community in the SVM’s initiatives and programs as well as advocates on behalf of the SVM’s constituents in a manner conducive to enhanced funding from various sources.

  • Cultivates external resources and serves as the lead on alumni relations and fundraising.

  • Fosters interdisciplinary research and develops interdisciplinary programs within LSU and with other universities.

  • Commits to advancing innovative research, clinical medicine and surgery, and information technology.

  • Oversees the personnel of the School, including hiring of and caring for exceptional faculty and staff, preparing annual evaluations for direct reports, and supporting professional development opportunities.

  • Provides strategic direction and oversight in a Responsibility Center Management (RCM) model for an annual operating budget of approximately $18.7M in state funding, $20.9M in self-generated funding, and a $10.5M endowment.  

  • Imparts executive leadership of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Clinics (VTH&C).

  • Works collaboratively and collegially with faculty to advance nationally and internationally the School’s mission of excellence in research, teaching, and service to the profession.

  • Supports a shared governance environment and engages faculty in determining the goals and mission of the SVM.

Attributes of the Successful Candidate

  • Able to articulate a vision for producing and understanding the contemporary, comprehensive role that veterinary schools play in One Health and Health Disparities initiatives and a vision of how the SVM should position itself for the future in global education, research and service programs where veterinary clinical, diagnostic, community services, and biomedical research is essential.

  • Demonstrates business acumen in all aspects of the School’s endeavors, including strategic planning and developing new external and internal funding sources to enhance SVM’s research portfolios.

  • Maintains a deep commitment to diversity in its broadest terms.

  • Denotes strong interpersonal, communication, and decision-making abilities to interact effectively within a diverse faculty, staff, and student population.

  • Forms and maintains partnerships with the private sector, professional organizations, and campus entities.

  • Supports the development of online programs and certificates in line with faculty vision.

  • Exhibits the ability to advance SVM’s best interests internally and externally.

  • Demonstrates an understanding of the life cycle of faculty, including rank, promotion, tenure, and academic leave.

  • Able to communicate the impact of SVM’s funding priorities in a way that is compelling, clear, memorable, and sincere.

Overview of the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine

The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine is a dynamic community dedicated to saving lives, finding cures, and changing lives through outstanding clinical and community service, educational excellence, and groundbreaking scholarly research. The School is composed of three academic departments: Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Pathobiological Sciences, and Veterinary Clinical Sciences plus the Veterinary Medical Library, VTH&C, and the Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. It supports a diverse learning environment for professional and graduate students, residents and interns, and post-doctoral fellows and serves as the center of biomedical research for the LSU campus funded by the National Institutes of Health, United States Department of Agriculture, and other federal, state, and industrial resources.

The School’s research focus can be seen in its Center of Excellence for Infectious Diseases, Equine Health Studies Program, Division of Biotechnology & Molecular Medicine (BioMMED), Division of Laboratory Animal Medicine, and Laboratory for Equine and Comparative Orthopedic Research. On the local and state level, the SVM has established research partnerships with the LSU Health Sciences Center, Tulane National Primate Center, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, LSU Agriculture Center, and the LSU Aquaculture Research Station. Furthermore, SVM faculty are engaged in many research collaborations with national and international academic and research institutions. They conduct cutting edge Comparative Biomedical and Translational Research at the SVM. The SVM faculty have successfully garnered research funding from a number of extramural granting agencies including NIH, USDA-NIFA, NSF, and Morris Animal Foundation. The SVM was ranked eighth overall for research funding in 2020 by the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research among the 32 veterinary schools in the US. SVM also participates in national and state disease diagnostic and surveillance programs through LADDL and plays a significant role in protecting animal and human health in Louisiana.

The School was fully accredited by the AVMA-COE in 2020. It offers three degrees including the D.V.M. degree and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Biomedical & Veterinary Medical Sciences.  

Training geared toward board certification in AVMA recognized specialty colleges is offered in the Veterinary Clinical Sciences and Pathobiological Sciences departments. To learn more about the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine’s history, mission and strategic plan, visit https://www.lsu.edu/vetmed/index.php.

LSU School of Veterinary Medicine’s Commitment to Diversity

We are dedicated to creating an educational environment that celebrates and embraces differences in every individual and promotes cultural inclusion, mutual respect, and trust among members of the community of students, faculty, and staff. In fact, the School was recently awarded the 2020 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. Highlights include:

  • Improved student diversity whereby the Under Represented Minority (URM) pool of DVM program applicants has held steady at approximately 21 percent, and the Class of 2024 has 28 percent URM;

  • Development of minority affinity groups, including the LSU SVM Student Association of Black Veterinarians and a soon-to-be-established Latin X student organization;

  • Established minority scholarships for recruitment;

  • Added diversity and inclusion education in the DVM curriculum;

  • Improved diversity in the administration, including the first Asian male associate dean, the first Black female assistant dean, and the first female department head; and

  • Created implicit bias training for faculty search committees and individuals reviewing student applications.

To learn more about the SVM Diversity Office as well as view the SVM Diversity Strategic Plan, visit https://www.lsu.edu/vetmed/diversity/.

About LSU

LSU serves the people of Louisiana, the region, the nation, and the world through extensive, multipurpose programs encompassing instruction, research, and public service. The University brings in more than $150 million annually in outside research grants and contracts, a significant factor for the Louisiana economy. LSU represents the largest institution of higher education in the state of Louisiana and is the only public university in the state to be designated a Carnegie Research University with Very High Research Activity. Among a handful of distinguished universities to enjoy land, sea, and space grant status, LSU offers vital research opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students as it transforms new technology into enterprise and lends expertise in solving endemic problems. Among institutions of higher education, LSU is uniquely situated to provide a rich educational experience. The University boasts record-breaking numbers of high achieving freshman students from underrepresented minorities, indicating our commitment to diversity. The University’s success as the Flagship campus has been attained not only by harnessing the intellectual capital of its faculty and students, but also by exploiting the geographic and cultural capital found only in Louisiana. The University is guided by LSU Strategic Plan 2025, which identified six strategic opportunities for the institution over the coming years:

  • Advancing arts and culture;

  • Transforming education;

  • Developing leaders;

  • Fostering research and catalyzing economic development;

  • Bridging the coast, energy, and environment;

  • Improving health and wellbeing.

The Community

Situated on the Mississippi River, Baton Rouge represents the best of Louisiana's vibrant culture. The state capital is a diverse and thriving city that is home to both LSU and Southern University and numerous businesses and industrial facilities. Known for its great people, its unique food, and its lively music, the “Red Stick” has something for everyone. The Baton Rouge area offers an excellent selection of both public schools, including five of the top ten public school districts in the state, and private schools, including several of the top ones in the country.  Choose Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge Area Chamber of Commerce, and Visit Baton Rouge, are fantastic resources for all things Baton Rouge.

The State of Louisiana has received numerous accolades in recent years, including:

  • Ranking No. 2 in the nation for private-sector job growth in the South based on data from the US Bureau of Labor in 2015;

  • Ranking No.6 for low student loan debt following graduation in 2017 according to U.S. News;

  • Being named No. 7 in the nation for the best living environment in the 2014 ranking of Best & Worst States for Business by Chief Executive magazine;

  • Ranking No. 1 nationwide in ACT score gains in 2015, according to Greater Baton Rouge Business Report; and

  • The Southwest Louisiana’s Creole Nature Trail, a 180-mile scenic byway, receiving an All-American Road designation.

Applicants and Nominees

Submit applications on the LSU Career site. Applicants and nominees must possess a DVM degree or equivalent (VMD, DMV, BVSc) and hold academic or professional credentials appropriate for the appointment at the rank of full professor. The successful candidate will have a sustained record of scholarly publication or comparable professional achievement, demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and possess a strong background of effective leadership with oversight of personnel and budget. Desired qualifications include an earned Ph.D. in a field relevant to veterinary medicine and/or specialty board certification, attainment of full professor rank at a comparable institution of higher education, and a record of extramural programmatic support for research or educational programs.

Letters of nomination may be e-mailed to Lauren Foster, Executive Recruiter, at lfoster1@lsu.edu or Mary Lukas, Talent Acquisition Partner, at vancamp1@lsu.edu.  The search committee will begin reviewing applications immediately and continue to accept applications and nominations until the position is filled. However, in order to assure the fullest consideration, candidates are encouraged to have complete applications submitted by February 12, 2021. Applicants must include a letter of interest; curriculum vitae; a written statement detailing past, present, and future contributions to promoting equity, inclusion, and diversity in their professional careers, and a list of at least five professional references. All applications, nominations, and inquiries will remain confidential. References will not be contacted until after the first screening of applications and then only after the applicant has given explicit permission. All application materials must be submitted electronically in Microsoft Word or PDF format. Salary will be competitive and commensurate with qualifications.  An offer of employment is contingent on a satisfactory pre-employment background check.

LSU Values Diversity

Diversity is fundamental to LSU’s mission. The university is committed to creating and maintaining a living and learning environment that embraces individual differences. Cultural inclusion is of the highest priority. LSU recognizes achieving international prominence depends on the human spirit, participation, and dedicated work of the entire university community. The LSU Strategic Plan will be realized by bringing together diverse ideas, perspectives, skills, and talents of the nation’s preeminent scholars, brightest students, and leading higher education professionals. Through its Commitment to Community, LSU strives to create an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually challenging climate that embraces individual difference in race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, religion/spirituality, socioeconomic status, disability, family or marital status, genetic information, veteran’s status, experiences, opinions, and ideas. LSU proactively cultivates and sustains a campus environment that values open dialogue, cooperation, shared responsibility, mutual respect, and cultural competence—the driving forces that enrich and enhance cutting-edge research, first-rate teaching, and engaging community outreach activities. To learn more, visit LSU Together at https://lsu.edu/together/

Louisiana State University is an exceptional university committed to serving its state, the nation, and the world through education, research, and public service. Located in one of America’s most beautiful and unique locations, LSU is a community of scholars and professionals committed to opportunity without restrictions that are based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, mental or physical disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

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