University of Florida chooses James Lloyd as new veterinary school dean

The University of Florida (UF) College of Veterinary Medicine has named James W. Lloyd, DVM, PhD, as its new dean. The school hopes Lloyd’s experience will expand the scope of the school and bring strong leadership to its programs. He will be the college’s sixth permanent dean, replacing Glen F. Hoffsis who will retire this summer.

“I’m thrilled with the opportunity to lead the College of Veterinary Medicine at UF,” Lloyd said in a university release. “It’s an outstanding institution with a core of exceptional faculty, staff and students. Together with the leadership team, I look forward to working with both internal and external stakeholders to build on the college’s existing strengths in research, teaching and service and to expand the college’s recognition as a respected leader in academic veterinary medicine.” Lloyd states that he is particularly excited to collaborate with the Health Science Center and UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS).

“We look forward to working with Dean Lloyd to grow the size, scope and diversity of these programs and bring ever greater visibility to the college,” says Jack Payne, PhD, senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources at IFAS. “IFAS is very proud of its partnership with the College of Veterinary Medicine in our joint research and extension efforts, such as the extension efforts in livestock, aquatic animal health, environmental toxicology, the Food Animal Reproduction and Medicine Service and the Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank.”

Lloyd is accomplished in the academic realm, most recently serving as the associate dean for budget, planning and institutional research at Michigan State University’s (MSU’s) College of Veterinary Medicine. He also maintained joint appointments as a professor in the large animal clinical sciences and agricultural economics departments. In addition, he was an adjunct professor at MSU’s Eli Broad College of Business. An alumnus of MSU, Lloyd earned a doctorate in veterinary medicine from MSU in 1981 and a PhD in agricultural economics in 1989. Lloyd has taught extensively in both preclinical and clinical courses, with an emphasis on epidemiology, food safety, herd health management, production medicine, veterinary medical career development and veterinary practice management, while publishing more than 165 journal articles, technical reports, proceedings and book chapters. He has secured grant funding for veterinary education and animal health projects, as well as for his research interests, which include nontechnical behaviors that contribute to veterinarians’ success, markets for veterinary medical services and financial dimensions of veterinary medical education.

“Dr. Lloyd’s experiences as an agricultural economist, veterinary practitioner, educator and associate dean responsible for budget, planning and institutional research have prepared him well for the leadership position as dean,” says Teresa A. Dolan, DDS, MPH, a professor and dean of UF’s College of Dentistry and co-chair for the hiring committee. “I have no doubt that he will work to develop an outstanding leadership team and advance the College of Veterinary Medicine to one of the top programs in the country.” Lloyd will assume his post this July.