Oklahoma dean to step down; search for replacement already underway

STILLWATER, OKLA. — Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences Dean Dr. Michael D. Lorenz announced recently that his tenure as dean is coming to a close.

His official departure date is up in the air, with Lorenz pledging to stay until a new dean is named or until July 2012.

The search for a new dean already is underway, but no firm timelines have been identified for finding Lorenz's successor.

Lorenz was named dean in 2004 after serving three years as interim dean. During his tenure, he established the National Center for Veterinary Parasitology and helped find funding for an addition to the Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. Prior to his career at Oklahoma, Lorenz served as dean at Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine from 1988 to 1994. He also has served on veterinary faculties at Cornell and the University of Georgia. Lorenz earned his veterinary degree from Oklahoma State in 1969. Lorenz completed specialty training at Cornell University and earned board certification from the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in small-animal internal medicine.