The University of Wisconsin-Madison invites applications and nominations for the position of dean of its School of Veterinary Medicine. UW-Madison is a major land-grant university committed to excellence in teaching, research and public service, with revenues of $2.4 billion, a student body of approximately 42,000 and faculty/staff of approximately 20,000. The university seeks a charismatic individual with a record of visionary, optimistic leadership who can extend the school’s positive trajectory in advancing its excellence in research/scholarship, learning, and public service through a bold vision of the role of veterinary medicine in discovery, research translation and global health. The school, dedicated to advancing animal and human health with science and compassion, is one of only 28 schools of veterinary medicine in the United States. It consistently ranks among the top five in the nation. It has graduated more than 1,900 doctors of veterinary medicine since its first class of students enrolled in fall 1983. The dean serves as the chief academic and executive officer of the school with responsibility for faculty and staff development, personnel oversight, fund raising, budget planning and management, curriculum, student academic affairs, clinical resources, and facilities development. The school, with a budget of $54.5 million, including research expenditures of $20.2 million, is comprised of approximately 325 FTE faculty and staff, and 300 FTE employees in training, graduate assistants and student hourly workers.

The dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine reports to the chancellor and the provost, serves on the university’s council of deans, and provides leadership for veterinary medicine and public health initiatives across the campus. The dean contributes to the state of Wisconsin, including service on the board of the Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association, and to the veterinary medicine profession at the national and international levels, acting as ambassador for the school and the profession. The dean leads the advancement of the school through its instructional programs, through its leading edge research initiatives, and by building strong internal and external communities to support the school’s continued success and growth. This includes aligning the school with new and developing priority campus initiatives such as the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery and the Global Health Institute.

The School of Veterinary Medicine plays a central role in basic science research within the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and beyond, housing several units dedicated to research and teaching. The dean is responsible for upholding the quality of instruction for veterinary medical students, as well as graduate and undergraduate students, including compliance with requirements for accreditation. The dean also has oversight of the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, which includes responsibility for teaching within the hospital, patient care, and research. The dean shares responsibility for promoting and facilitating the success of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, executed in part as a member of the WVDL Board. The dean’s outreach responsibilities include continuing education, community outreach, and maintaining ties with professional organizations, plus building new and improved business and legislative contacts.

More comprehensive information about the school and the university can be found on the following websites:

www.vetmed.wisc.edu/home/              www.wisc.edu

Candidates will be evaluated on the following professional and personal characteristics: a record of successful visionary and collaborative leadership; a bold vision of the future role of veterinary medicine in society; strong management, communication and fund-raising skills and success including a talent for identifying entrepreneurial opportunities and visionary fundraising; commitment and ability to work with faculty, staff and students within one of the strongest shared governance environments in the United States; a demonstrated commitment to advancing learning, research, and public service; an understanding and appreciation of the diverse missions and constituencies of a major public research university; proven ability to build coalitions and engage diverse constituencies to advance the school; a commitment to the diversity of students, faculty and staff, and to advancing an inclusive diverse climate that stimulates excellence; experience with governmental agencies and philanthropic foundations; the ability to represent the school and university effectively in educational, governmental, business, alumni, and public forums; and a record of scholarship and teaching that qualifies the candidate for a tenured appointment at the rank of full professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Candidates must hold the earned degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent.

Electronic applications and nominations must be received by 9 March 2012 to ensure consideration. Later applications and nominations may also be considered. The committee encourages applications and nominations of women and persons of underrepresented groups. Applicants should include a current resume or curriculum vitae and a comprehensive cover letter that addresses how their strengths and experience match the qualifications for the position, and what they see as challenges and opportunities of the position, as well as the names, addresses, email addresses, and telephone numbers of five references. Candidates will be consulted before references are contacted. Please note that in accordance with Wisconsin statutes the names of nominees and applicants who explicitly request confidentiality will not be made public, although the university is required to release the names and titles of the finalists who will be interviewed by the chancellor and the provost. Submit applications and nominations electronically to the School of Veterinary Medicine Dean Search and Screen Committee at:

Questions may be directed to the search committee office at 608-262-1677 or

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer.