ATHENS, Ga. – Sheila W. Allen, the interim dean of
the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, will be the college’s
permanent dean.
Arnett C. Mace Jr., senior vice president for academic
affairs and provost, announced today that Allen has been chosen from among
three finalists in a national search.
The appointment is effective Nov. 1 subject to approval by the
University System of Georgia Board of Regents.
Allen has served as interim dean since March 1 following the
retirement of former dean Keith W. Prasse.
She was associate dean for academic affairs and acting head of the
department of small animal medicine and surgery before becoming interim dean.
She will be the second female dean of a veterinary college in the country.
“I’m always pleased when we find the best leadership here at
home, among our own faculty,” said UGA President Michael F. Adams. “With more than 20 years in the veterinary
medicine college, and an outstanding record in teaching, research and
administration, Dr. Allen is eminently qualified for this position, and I’m
confident she has the experience, knowledge and skills to lead the college to
new heights of performance and achievement.”
Allen came to the college in 1981 as an intern in small
animal medicine and surgery. She
completed her residency in 1985 and the following year received a master’s
degree in veterinary clinical pathology and joined the faculty. She also holds
bachelor’s and doctor of veterinary medicine degrees from Cornell University.
Mace said Allen has “provided outstanding service to the College of Veterinary
Medicine, the University
of Georgia and the
profession. She has demonstrated
outstanding leadership skills as a faculty member and in administrative
positions, particularly as interim dean.
“Dr. Allen’s vision for the college is exceptional, and her
understanding of the college’s future needs in instruction, research and
service is superb,” Mace added. “These
traits will significantly advance the college and university in the years
ahead.”
As associate dean for academic affairs, Allen was
extensively involved in developing and revising the college’s DVM curriculum to
give students more flexibility in focusing on their areas of interest. She also guided the faculty in changing college
admissions procedures so applicants can be assessed on criteria in addition to
academic credentials.
She contributed to budget development and management in the
college and was primarily responsible for overseeing the college’s
instructional facilities.
“I am honored to be appointed dean of the college,” Allen
said. “I am excited about our future,
and look forward to working with all the wonderful faculty, staff and students
in meeting our goals together.”
Allen’s area of expertise in teaching and research is
oncologic and reconstructive surgery and perioperative pain management. Allen
and colleagues in the college are authors of numerous articles, reports and
other professional publications in these areas, and she has made presentations
at regional, national and international meetings. She has developed several auto-tutorial
programs using instructional technology to teach basic surgical skills, and has
received national awards for creativity in teaching.
A Diplomate of the American College
of Veterinary Surgeons, Allen has served as an elected member of the
organization’s Board of Regents and was on the group’s examination committee.
She was chair of the research committee, which awards Surgeon in Training
grants and Diplomate Investigator awards, and she also chaired the publications
committee, overseeing publication of the group’s journal, Veterinary Surgery.
She is also active in the Association of American Veterinary
Medical Colleges, serving as executive committee chair of Associate Deans for
Academic Affairs. She has served on the
examination committee of the European
College of Veterinary
Surgeons, and is on the board of directors of the Georgia Veterinary Medical
Association.
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