CSU names new dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
With this appointment comes a historical first for the college
Sue VandeWoude, DVM ( Image courtesy of Colorado State University)
Sue Vandewoude, DVM, has been appointed dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVMBS) at Colorado State University (CSU). With her new role, Vandewoude has become the 11th dean of the school and the first woman to hold this position since the college's inception in 1907.
“Sue is a gifted scholar and leader who has pursued a path of academic and research excellence at CSU for more than three decades. This has prepared her for this important role,” expressed Mary Pedersen, PhD, university provost, and executive vice president, in a university release.1
“Sue has great passion for the influential and impactful work of CVMBS and has witnessed first-hand the evolution of its standing as a world leader in veterinary medicine. She will work hard to carry forward and advance the college’s exceptional reputation and success,” she continued.
Vandewoude received her undergraduate degree from the California Institute of Technology and went on the receive her doctorate in veterinary medicine from Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. She completed her postdoctoral training in comparative medicine at John Hopkins University and is board certified in laboratory animal medicine.
According to the release,1 Vandewoude joined the CSU faculty in 1990 and held multiple leadership positions over the past 15 years, including associate dean of research at CVMBS from 2011-2019. She has been a faculty member within the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology specializing in studying infectious conditions that affect cats, including feline immunodeficiency virus.
“I hope to contribute to a culture that is a rewarding, exciting, and fun place to work and learn, where we advance critical knowledge contributing to the health of animals, people, and the environment,” VandeWoude said.1
VandeWoude has received a significant amount of awards and honors during her career. She was a Fullbright Scholar at the University of Tasmania, received the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges Excellence in Research Award, the Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine’s Lifetime Achievement Alumni Award, and the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine Comparative Medicine Scientist Award. In 2019, she was elected to the National Academy of Sciences, one of the highest honors for scientists in the United States.
“Frankly, it speaks to the quality of our faculty that the very best, most qualified candidate to lead one of the world’s top programs in veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences came from here at CSU,” said interim president Rick Miranda. “Sue is unquestionably one of the world’s most respected researchers and educators in this arena, as well as a seasoned academic leader.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have her at the helm and look forward to even greater success under her leadership.”
She will begin her role as dean on August 16, 2022.
References
- CSU’s Sue VandeWoude named next dean of College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. News release. Colorado State University. July 7, 2022. Accessed July 27, 2022. https://cvmbs.source.colostate.edu/sue-vandewoude-dean-announcement
