Clemson University College of Veterinary Medicine welcomes inaugural dean

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On July 20, 2023, the Board of Trustees officially named Steven Marks, BVSc, as the very first dean of Clemson’s brand new College of Veterinary Medicine. Clemson will also be the first college in South Carolina to open a college of veterinary medicine.

“The veterinary school will be a graduate degree,” Marks said.¹“They will try and attract undergraduate degree holders from degrees like animal science, pre-vet, zoology, chemistry, really any science, and then parlay that into a curriculum that provides a doctorate of veterinary medicine.”

According to the release,² the school will use a distributed model, which means students will go directly to local veterinary hospitals for clinical study and training. The students will then gain practical experience as well as a unique advantage compared to others entering the veterinary industry at the same time.

“My vision is that we will create a day 1-ready veterinarian,” Marks explained.¹ “When students finish their degree of veterinary medicine, they will be prepared to go into any practice and be able to work on any species, large animal, farm animal, small animal or exotic species.”

Prior to coming to Clemson, Marks served as the director of veterinary medical services at North Carolina State University. He has also held positions at the University of Illinois, Louisiana State University, Colorado State University, Cardio Pet, Inc, and Washington State University. From 2009 to 2012,² Marks was the president of the Small Animal Internal Specialty in the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

Marks and his wife fellow veterinarian Dianne Dunning, DVM, MS, DrPH, DACVS, will head to the Clemson College of Veterinary Medicine with plans to welcome its first class in the fall of 2026.²

“I think we will build a veterinary school and veterinary program that Clemson will be proud of, and it’ll be representative of the quality education that Clemson provides,” concluded Marks.¹ “Although this is a new college at Clemson, it will be designed in the style and quality that Clemson is used to. I’m very excited to be here.”

Clemson is just one of a few veterinary colleges to be opening up within the United States in the next few years. Rowan University will begin welcoming students to its Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine in 2025, making it the first veterinary school in New Jersey.³ Arkansas State University will also be opening its own College of Veterinary Medicine with hopes to open in Fall 2025.⁴

Reference

1. Coates J. Clemson welcomes new College of Veterinary Medicine and its inaugural dean. The Tiger. Accessed September 21, 2023. https://thetigercu.com/14385/news/clemson-welcomes-new-college-of-veterinary-medicine-and-its-inaugural-dean/
2. Clemson names Steven Marks founding dean for the College of Veterinary Medicine. News release. Clemson University. July 20, 2023. Accessed September 21, 2023. https://news.clemson.edu/clemson-names-steven-marks-founding-dean-for-the-college-of-veterinary-medicine/?
3. Rowan University receives $30 million donation for New Jersey’s first veterinary school. dvm360. Published April 28, 2023. Accessed September 21, 2023. https://www.dvm360.com/view/rowan-university-receives-30-million-donation-for-new-jersey-s-first-veterinary-school
4. ASU trustees approve the creation of a new veterinary school. DVM 360. Published March 23, 2023. Accessed September 21, 2023. https://www.dvm360.com/view/asu-trustees-approve-the-creation-of-a-new-veterinary-school