Position Announcement: Department Chair, Veterinary Population Medicine

January 10, 2023 — University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota's (UMN) College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) seeks a highly accomplished researcher/educator/clinician with proven leadership skills to be the next Chair of the Department of Veterinary Population Medicine (VPM).

This individual will contribute to leading vital research, teaching, clinical and outreach programs in a veterinary school that is part of UMN Health Sciences on the campus of a major public research and land-grant university. The role offers exceptional potential for transdisciplinary research and curriculum development in undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs focused on health and disease challenges. The CVM is committed to advancing the concept of One Health, "the collaborative effort of multiple disciplines working locally, nationally and globally to attain optimal health for animals, people, and the environment."

With its 59 faculty, 34 staff members, and 48 graduate assistant/fellows/house officers/residents, VPM is one of three departments in the CVM, which also includes Veterinary Clinical Sciences and Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences. VPM is a premier research department, discovering new knowledge about animal, ecosystem and human health and disease; translating and communicating new knowledge into innovative applications to health professionals, animal producers, industry stakeholders, and scientists. VPM faculty are recognized nationally and internationally for teaching and research excellence in infectious disease, genomics, comparative medicine, raptor conservation, public health, ecosystem health, epidemiology, and food-animal production and medicine. VPM has a long history of success in securing external funding from diverse sources.

VPM faculty educate outstanding veterinary students and train residents through clinical instruction in medicine, surgery, production medicine, pathology, public health and other specialty areas. Faculty mentor a diverse body of graduate students in the Veterinary Medicine, Comparative and Molecular Biosciences and transdisciplinary graduate programs. Faculty members provide clinical services in the University of Minnesota Leatherdale Equine Center and Large Animal Hospital, as well as diagnostic services through the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, and play lead roles in the Center for Animal Health and Food Safety, John Fetrow Dairy Education Center, Swine Disease Eradication Center, Minnesota Center for Prion Research and Outreach, West Metro Equine Practice, and The Raptor Center. Our faculty consult with producers, government and tribal agencies and veterinarians in the community and provide continuing education and extension programs for veterinarians and stakeholders.

Reporting to CVM's dean, the Chair will provide academic and administrative leadership for VPM, including faculty and curriculum development, research, budget management and allocation of resources. In collaboration with the faculty, the Chair will foster excellence in research, teaching, clinical services, and outreach for the advancement of animal and human health. The Chair will establish interdepartmental and intercollegiate relationships to generate new opportunities.

While no candidate may embody all, the following are the qualifications, experience, skills, and qualities of the ideal candidate:

• Earned veterinary degree (DVM or equivalent), and/or a requisite terminal degree, such as PhD.
• Proven skills as an effective, innovative, collaborative leader gained through serving in an academic leadership position requiring solid management, financial and administrative skills, ideally in a large public research university.
• A combination of accomplishments sufficient to qualify for a tenured appointment at the rank of full professor at UMN.
• An accessible and engaging style with the inclination to circulate, listen and learn; the commitment to consult extensively, act decisively when required or when consensus is elusive, a bias for action and an orientation towards results.
• Able to inspire constituencies, students, faculty, administration, alumni, as well as external audiences, with vision and leadership.
• Ability to lead and inspire within a model of shared governance and demonstrated capacity and commitment to mentoring faculty and staff to assume expanded responsibilities, and a proven track record of appropriate delegation.
• Demonstrated ability to build and foster partnerships and teams; with demonstrated excellence in inter- and multi-disciplinary academic pursuits.
• Experience building collaborations with public and private sector veterinary organizations, practices, and industry.
• Outstanding communication skills as a listener, writer, articulate speaker.
• Record of success securing funds from government agencies, industry or foundations for research or other types of programs, and assisting or supporting others in their pursuit of financial resources.
• Commitment to professional, undergraduate and graduate education and to promoting and maintaining a high quality learning environment, responsive to changing needs and expectations.
• Deep appreciation and understanding of the role a public land grant university plays in the vitality of the region and state.
• A strong record of promoting and advancing diversity, equity and inclusion through collaborative leadership with faculty, students and staff from diverse academic, personal, and cultural backgrounds, particularly Black, Indigenous, People of Color, those with disabilities and/or people who identify as LGBT and/or Queer or from marginalized backgrounds.

To Apply

Qualified applicants should apply online at https://humanresources.umn.edu/content/find-job and use Job ID 353169 in the search function. Candidates should attach 1) a cover letter, 2) curriculum vitae, 3) statement of intent highlighting relevant accomplishments, experience and interests (maximum three pages) 4) DEI written statement (see instructions below), and 5) names, addresses and email contact information for three professional references. Applicants will be notified before references are contacted.

To be considered for this position, in addition to the standard application process, all applicants must submit a separate written statement on: why diversity and inclusion are important to you and offer specific examples of how you have demonstrated this commitment. Applicants are encouraged to reflect on their philosophy of diversity, experiences, and how diversity affects the workplace and Veterinary Medicine. The maximum word length is 500 words. Examples could include:

• created a program that impacted low-income communities
• identified and met a need in care for a certain community
• current participation in professional development in DEI and attending DEI conferences, etc.

The University of Minnesota shall provide equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.