The Department of Veterinary Diagnostic and Production Animal Medicine (VDPAM) in the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) is seeking a dynamic and accomplished individual to serve as Department Chair. This is a full-time, 12-month appointment with a proposed start date of July 1, 2025.
VDPAM is one of five academic departments in the CVM comprising 50+ faculty and more than 165 staff members across a wide range of disciplines, all allied in teaching, research, and clinical efforts relevant to the food animal industry and diagnostic medicine. VDPAM is also home to the ISU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL), a full-service laboratory accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians that is a national leader in protecting animal and human health. The successful candidate will also serve as Executive Director of the VDL.
VDPAM faculty currently teach over one-third of the professional veterinary curriculum courses in our fully accredited DVM program, instruct numerous graduate classes, provide internship and specialty resident training programs, and offer MS and PhD degrees. The majority of VDPAM faculty hold appointments in the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center (LVMC), the Veterinary Field Services unit (VFS) or the VDL where they provide outstanding clinical service to patients, animal owners, referring practitioners and other external stakeholders. Research in VDPAM concentrates on the identification, diagnostic approaches, and treatment of issues that impact food animals. The successful candidate will be expected to support and promote a diverse array of teaching strategies, clinical practices, and research initiatives. We seek a visionary in the field who embraces collegiality, community, collaboration, and our unique departmental role within the college and University by upholding and advocating for the impact of our efforts both internally and externally.
The Chair will facilitate the VDPAM community’s excellence in clinical practice, research, education, extension, and professional outreach. We are seeking an academic leader who is skilled at strategic and fiscal planning and able to execute long term initiatives while also serving as the department’s chief administrator responsible for effective and timely management of budget, personnel, and other resources. Demonstration of strong interpersonal, communication and organizational skills, and the ability to effectively network with other departments, professional organizations, grant funding sources, animal agriculture industry groups, and state and federal veterinary medical agencies are important. The Chair will be responsible for initiating all VDPAM personnel actions including hiring, supervising, evaluating and mentoring faculty; managing the VDPAM budget; leading curriculum development, graduate student recruitment, and career and program development; and promoting scholarships and procurement of funds to support departmental activities. Serving as Executive Director of the VDL, the chair will work alongside the VDL Director in making strategic decisions that ensure the success of the lab in meeting its missions. The chair will also work with the LVMC Hospital Director and the Chair of the Veterinary Clinical Sciences to enhance clinical service in the teaching hospital. The candidate must understand the multifaceted role of the department in creating opportunities for knowledge- sharing, innovation, and entrepreneurship while fulfilling the mission of a land grant university. Limited direct participation in teaching, clinical service/outreach, and/or research/creative efforts can be accommodated to allow the candidate to experience the dimensions of the land-grant mission.
The term of appointment will be five years. The Chair will be part of the Dean’s Cabinet and report directly to the Dean. The successful candidate will be a productive and collegial member of the college’s leadership team and will be expected to perform other duties of a departmental chair as described in the ISU Faculty Handbook and CVM Shared Governance Document.
Required Minimum Qualifications
- DVM or equivalent
Preferred Qualifications
- Advanced degree (M.S., Ph.D.) or research-focused experience (fellowship, post-doc), or board certification in a relevant specialty area.
- Experience in clinical practice.
- Evidence of strong leadership or administrative experience in animal agriculture. Includes evidence of success in developing people, managing complex budgets, and supervising teams of veterinary professionals.
- Evidence of nationally recognized professional success and/or leadership experience in an academic setting.
- Evidence of strong interpersonal and communication skills, strategic planning experience and ability to articulate a vision for the department.
- Documented understanding of the national animal agriculture landscape and a proven ability to develop and maintain productive partnerships across a broad spectrum of stakeholders both inside and outside the university, commodity groups, and legislators.
- Evidence of experience working with or in a progressive food animal veterinary diagnostic laboratory.
- Evidence of an entrepreneurial mindset and professional success in developing and growing a best-in-class unit, business, or program in food animal veterinary medicine.
- Proven track record of basic or applied research accomplishments.
- Proven track record of veterinary student mentoring or teaching accomplishments.
- Record of success in fundraising or skills necessary to be successful in fundraising.
Department and College Description
VDPAM was created in 1997 to strategically grow the resources and emphasis in production animal medicine at the ISU College of Veterinary Medicine. VDPAM consists of approximately 50+ faculty and 165 staff across a wide range of disciplines and species interest. The mission of VDPAM is to educate current and future food animal veterinarians, population medicine scientists and stakeholders by increasing the understanding of issues that impact the health, productivity and well-being of food and fiber producing animals; developing innovative solutions for animal health and food safety; and providing the highest quality, most comprehensive clinical practice and diagnostic services.
ISU College of Veterinary Medicine Employment Opportunity Profile
To Apply
To apply for this position, please go to https://isu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/IowaStateJobs/job/Ames-IA/Department-Chair—Veterinary-Diagnostic-and-Production-Animal-Medicine_R16297.
Click on “Apply” and complete the Employment Application. Please be prepared to enter or attach the following:
- Resume/Curriculum Vitae
- Letter of Application/Cover Letter
- Contact Information for Three References
For guaranteed consideration, applications must be received by February 28, 2025.
For questions regarding this position, please contact Search Committee Chairs Dr. Rodger Main at rmain@iastate.edu or Dr. Michael Kimber at michaelk@iastate.edu.
If you have questions regarding this application process, please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515- 294-4800 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485.
Why Choose ISU?
Iowa State Faculty enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental; as well as:
- Retirement benefits, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans
- Generous leave plans
- Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)
- Life insurance and long-term disability
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Various voluntary benefits and discounts
- Employee Assistance Program
- Wellbeing program