Applications are invited for the position of Department Head of Large Animal Clinical Sciences in the School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University. The incumbent will serve as the chief administrative officer of the department and as an advocate for the department’s academic, research, clinical, outreach, and service programs. The Department Head reports to the Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. The Head is responsible for leading and managing departmental staff and faculty with a scope of responsibilities including supporting clinical activities within the Large Animal Teaching Hospital; increasing contributions to knowledge and science through research; supporting excellence in professional and graduate education; fostering professional development and interdisciplinary collaboration; strengthening relationships with diverse stakeholder groups such as industry and legislative entities; promoting key outreach programs locally and across the state; collaborating with development to promote well-stewarded philanthropy, and continuing to build the Veterinary Educational Research and Outreach (VERO) partnership with West Texas A&M University (WTAMU). This is a full-time 11-month appointment with an anticipated start date of June 1, 2023. The position has significant administrative responsibilities, with some flexibility for teaching, research, and clinical activities based upon the interests and experience of the applicant.

The Texas A&M University Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences (https://vlcs.tamu.edu) is 1 of 5 departments in the highly ranked School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, which was founded in 1916. The department houses approximately 35 faculty members (including 2 endowed chairs) who are located on our College Station campus and at VERO in Canyon, Texas. Departmental faculty are very active in the delivery of all 4 years of our highly experiential and integrated Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) curriculum. They are also involved in supporting our VERO-based DVM 2+2 program. Pre-clinical training in College Station occurs within our Veterinary & Biomedical Education Complex (VBEC), a 330,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility that opened in 2016. VBEC is home to a variety of educational venues for lectures, laboratories, small group learning, and an array of hands-on skills training. This complex also houses the Center for Educational Technologies, which provides pedagogical support to faculty for teaching and learning. Our 34,000square-foot VERO facility was completed in 2020 on the campus of WTAMU in Canyon, Texas, and supports key research initiatives focused on the livestock industry in the Texas Panhandle as well as our DVM 2+2 program.

Clinical operations are based primarily in the Large Animal Teaching Hospital, which is totally climate controlled with separate facilities for isolation and theriogenology cases as well as an intensive care unit. Clinical services in the hospital include equine orthopedic surgery, equine soft tissue surgery, equine internal medicine, equine community practice, equine sports medicine & imaging, equine theriogenology, and food animal medicine & surgery. Equine and food animal field services provide ambulatory services. The imaging facilities within the LA-VMTH include a dedicated ultrasonography room with numerous start-of-the art ultrasound units, 3 dedicated radiography rooms (3 digital radiograph units), and a full array of endoscopic equipment. There is an attached Diagnostic Imaging and Cancer Treatment Center which houses additional imaging equipment including a 3T Siemens Verio MRI, and a 40-slice Siemens computed tomography unit designed to accommodate both small animals and horses. The Department has over 25 interns and residents, with approved residency training programs in internal medicine, radiology, surgery, and theriogenology.

Areas of research emphasis in the department include infectious diseases, production medicine, reproductive biology, antimicrobial resistance, biosecurity, and imaging. Departmental faculty enjoy productive relationships throughout the Texas A&M University System and with other external collaborators. Extramural acquired is primarily from industry and the United States Department of Agriculture. The department has a robust graduate education program and engages undergraduate students in experiential learning of applied research.

Texas A&M University is one of the largest universities in the United States, with more than 73,000 students from all 50 states and 124 countries. It is supported by a multibillion?dollar endowment (ranked 4th among public universities) and is a top-20 research enterprise. The community of Bryan-College Station (BCS), population 250,000, is a growing and diverse college town with a wide variety of cultural and recreational opportunities, excellent schools, and a relatively low cost of living. BCS is centered in the Texas Triangle, a megaregion consisting of the state’s 5 largest cities. The VERO Program is located in the Texas Panhandle, one of the most productive animal agricultural regions in the world. The Texas A&M University System has invested nearly $160 million in new facilities and programs at WTAMU to promote the future of agriculture and animal health in the region.

Application Instructions
Interested applicants must submit: 1) a statement highlighting career accomplishments relevant to the position and administrative philosophy, 2) curriculum vitae, and 3) a statement of the applicant’s ’s commitment to and involvement in diversity enhancement, and 4) names of 5 individuals who have been requested by the applicant to act as references to the Search Committee Chair. Applications must be submitted online for Tenured/Tenure- Track: apply.interfolio.com/112962; Academic Professional/Clinical Track: apply.interfolio.com/111661. Applications will be reviewed as they are received and will be considered until the position has been filled. Inquiries may be directed to Dr. Jonathan Levine (Chair, Search Committee) at (979) 845-2351 or jml15@tamu.edu.

Texas A&M University is a smoke-free workplace. Texas A&M University is committed to enriching the learning and working environment for all visitors, students, faculty, and staff by promoting a culture that embraces inclusion, diversity, equity, and accountability. Diverse perspectives, talents, and identities are vital to accomplishing our mission and living our core values.

Texas A&M University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer/Educator dedicated to excellence through diversity.

Qualifications
Applicants for the Department Head position must have earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or equivalent degree. Tenured/tenure upon review applicants, and clinical track applicants, at the rank of Associate or Full Professor will be considered. Demonstrated experience in academic administration is preferred. Applicants should provide evidence of visionary leadership; innovative thinking; commitment to student education and the land-grant mission; the ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, and students; and the ability to represent those departmental constituencies effectively to university administrators, state and federal agencies, industry, stakeholders, and the general public. A commitment to promoting a multidisciplinary, multicultural, and diverse community of scholars and educators is essential. A record of success in the development of funding and program support is also highly desired.