Crouch to head biomedical sciences program at Texas A&M

COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS — Dr. Elizabeth Merriam Crouch is the new director of Texas A&M University's Biomedical Sciences program, the first woman to lead the program in its 30-year history.

Promoted from assistant director, Crouch succeeds Dr. Skip Landis, who was promoted to Assistant Dean of Biomedical Sciences.

With about 2,300 students, the biomedical-sciences program is the university's largest undergraduate degree-granting program. Crouch received her BIMS degree through the program in 1991, her PhD in genetics from the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biological Sciences in 1996 and became an administrator in the BIMS program in 2001.

"We're looking ... at increasing opportunities for students, which could include international programs and a Spanish-language certificate," says Crouch, who becomes the fourth BIMS director. "It's also important to continue the success of our 2+2 programs and the diversity efforts implemented under the leadership of Dr. Landis." Her new role also will carry some additional oversight for academic appeals.

Texas A&M's Biomedical Sciences program is the only undergraduate degree program housed in a professional school in Texas, and one of 12 in the United States.

H. Richard Adams, DVM, PhD, is the Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M.