Hi Everybody,
The last couple of months have been busy ones at the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. First off, thanks to everyone who joined us for the Dean’s Office Open House on Oct. 29. This was an informal gathering and a great chance to meet those who reside in the Dean’s Office, take a tour, and grab a sandwich. We had a great turn-out and now quite a few more people know where the Dean’s Office is located!
Faculty and staff members had another opportunity to get together at the College Fall Forum: “Celebrating Our Success; Envisioning our Future,” on Oct. 30. We had a great turn-out here as well, with everyone enjoying Oktoberfest-inspired refreshments, and I enjoyed meeting and greeting more people from the College whom I had not yet had the chance to meet.
Earlier this month, I attended the American Association of Equine Practitioners 58th Annual Convention in California where the College hosted an alumni reception and showed the new documentary “Horse Sense,” that showcases the College’s equine health programs. It was great to see so many of our alumni in attendance.
In other events, in November Dr. Barb Powers, Director of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, myself, and a number of DVM students attended the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association’s BIG Ideas Forum in Colorado Springs where we shared upcoming plans and new initiatives. One University-level initiative is the development of collaborative partnerships with universities in Kenya and Ethiopia. Dr. Sue Vandewoude, our Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education, represented the College as part of a CSU team led by President Tony Frank that traveled to Ethiopia and Kenya last month. As a result of that trip, we look forward to the possibility of working with our partners in Africa and eventually signing a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize these agreements.
In January, I’ll be attending the Dean's Retreat for the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges where two major topics of discussion will be student debt load and how we can help. After that, it’s the Western Veterinary Conference in February where we’ll be hosting an alumni reception, and finally, back on the Colorado State University campus, for the 1870 dinner celebration in honor of the University’s donors.
To update you on one more ongoing initiative, we continue to have a productive dialogue with the University of Alaska Fairbanks team with regards to the establishment of a 2+2 veterinary program that will enable UAF students to complete two years of veterinary school in Alaska, and then transfer to Colorado State University to complete their Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. I hope to have some news on this endeavor early next year.
Before I sign off, I went to congratulate all of our students who will be graduating during this weekend’s Fall Commencement. In addition, our College will be recognizing two amazing women, Nan Stuart and Sophie Craighead, who will receive honorary degrees during the Graduate School commencement. I’m looking forward to the regalia of the celebration. For students who are coming back for the spring semester, my best wishes for a wonderful and relaxing holiday break, and I look forward to seeing you back on campus in January.
Cheers,
Mark Stetter, DVM, DACZM
Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences