Colorado State's veterinary dean to retire in 2012

Fort Collins, Colo.

— Dr. Lance Perryman, dean of Colorado State University's veterinary college, is about to begin his last year at the helm of the school.

Now finishing his second five-year term as dean, Perryman says he is ready to explore “other professional and personal opportunities.” He told university leaders of his plans to retire at the end of his term, but also agreed to stay on one more year to complete the university’s capital campaign.

The campaign’s goal is to raise $500 million university wide, and the veterinary college claimed a $100 million portion. So far, the veterinary college has raised $115 million toward the university goal with a year left to go. The capital campaign will provide additional scholarship opportunities for students, more endowed chair positions, and resources for physical expansions and improvements across campus.

Perryman will stay on as dean until July 2012.

“That allows me to help the college finish the campaign very strongly,” he says.

Perryman earned his veterinary degree from Washington State University (WSU), a master’s degree in comparative pathology from The Ohio State University and a PhD, also in comparative pathology, from Washington State. He spent the next 19 years on WSU's faculty, the last five as associate dean for research and graduate education. Perryman then went on to serve as the head of the departments of microbiology, pathology and parasitology at North Carolina State University's College of Veterinary Medicine.

“It’s a tremendous privilege to serve as a dean for an excellent college of veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences,” Perryman says. “But I’m ready to move on to other challenges.”

Dr. Janice Nerger, dean of the College of Natural Sciences at CSU says the university just began the search for Perryman’s replacement last month. Ideally, the new veterinary college dean will be named by the end of the year. The university has started to receive nominations for the post already, but applications are not due until Sept. 1, she adds.