Dean, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine

About Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine

Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine (RUSVM), an Adtalem Global Education institution, prepares students to become veterinary leaders by drawing connections among animals, people and the planet, as a member of the One Health Initiative. RUSVM offers research programs focused on emerging infectious and zoonotic diseases, conservation medicine and ecosystem health. RUSVM has graduated more than 6,000 students and offers postgraduate master’s, PhD, and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) programs accredited by the St. Christopher & Nevis Accreditation Board and the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education. RUSVM is located on St. Kitts and includes the Ross University Veterinary Clinic, accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association.

Visit veterinary.rossu.edu for more information, and follow on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
 

Adtalem Global Education is seeking a strategic and visionary academic leader who can harness the boundless potential of its veterinary school, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, as Dean.  Reporting to the President of Adtalem’s Medical and Veterinary segment and to an independent Ross Vet Board of Trustees, the Dean is responsible for the overall leadership and management of the institution.  The Dean will articulate a strategic vision for academic excellence and career outcomes; recruit and retain key talent including talented and high credentialed faculty; ensure student outcome goals are continually achieved; and engage with the international veterinary education community and key stakeholders to raise Ross Vet’s visibility and strengthen its reputation. The Dean of Ross Vet is expected to live on the beautiful island of St. Kitts as their primary residence.  The Dean works in a matrixed organization within Adtalem Global Education (Adtalem), in close collaboration with enrollment and operational teams.  

The Dean is responsible for Ross Vet’s academic performance and ensures that the institution has the resources and support needed for centralized services to meet student outcome goals and achieve expected growth. The Dean will be expected to travel to represent the University to the Government of St. Kitts, the international medical education community, US federal and state regulatory bodies, and Adtalem.  The Dean leads a team comprising the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, the Associate Dean for Veterinary Clinical Affairs, and Associate Dean of Research. The Dean also leverages shared support for functions like legal, IT, HR, and financial aid centralized in Adtalem. The Dean is part of the Adtalem Medical and Veterinary President’s leadership team. 

To download the Executive Summary for the Dean, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, click here:  Dean, Ross University School of Medicine
 

The success of Ross Vet will be determined in large part by the Dean’s ability to continue progress elevating key student outcomes, partnering with enrollment to manage growth in student numbers, work effectively in a matrixed organization, and positively engage with many different stakeholders.

Major responsibilities include:

• Ongoing development and execution of a forwardlooking strategic agenda that positions Ross Vet as a distinctive, innovative, and desirable academic environment for both students and faculty.
• Academic stewardship of the school, its policies, its students, and its faculty, ensuring continued positive student outcomes in the evolving field of veterinary medicine.
• Maintenance of the highest academic standards including continued accreditation by the St. Kitts Accreditation Board and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
• Appointment, oversight, and mentoring of associate and assistant deans.
• Appointment of standing academic and ad hoc committees and oversight of their activities.
• In partnership with the Dean for Faculty, recruitment, mentoring, and retention of high-quality faculty members, students, and staff.
• Maintenance of respectful and productive relationships with the government of St. Kitts and with other important entities on the Island. Serves as the representative of Ross Vet to top government officials, including the prime minister of St. Kitts.
• Preparation of annual operating budgets, capital budgets and development plans, and monitoring of income and expenses.
• In partnership with the Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs, maintenance and development of adequate clinical sites and productive relationships with affiliate schools.
• Maintenance and expansion of Ross Vet’s collaborative working relationship with Adtalem. Effective representation and communication of Ross Vet’s status, needs and long-term strategic planning which will enable informed, consistent and unified oversight from Adtalem.
• Serving as a designated Campus Security Authority.

The successful appointee:

• must possess an advanced degree in veterinary medicine and be appointable at the professorial level.
• will have a strong track record of veterinary school administration with significant responsibility for veterinary education in the US system.
• will have prior experience in fundamental educational tasks such as directing student teaching, developing new courses or programs, assessing programs and students, managing curriculum and curricular changes, overseeing accreditation documentation and site visits, and faculty development.
• will be experienced in leading people and teams, including faculty.
• will have experience with institutional strategic planning, financial management, and budgeting.
• will have extensive managerial experience in an AVMA accredited school at the level of Dean, Associate Dean, or Chair of a large department.

The Search Committee acknowledges that no individual possesses all of the following qualifications in equal measure. However, it has developed the following criteria as an ideal candidate profile.

• Demonstrated intellectual leadership and vision to guide the school in maintaining and strengthening its reputation for excellence in professional education.
• National reputation as a leader in veterinary medicine, with a proven record of distinguished professional and scholarly achievement.
• Demonstrated innovation in veterinary medical education.
• A history of effective recruitment and retention of both students and faculty members.
• Proven ability to articulate and execute a vision in both small and large group settings.
• Success in managing constructive change in an academic institution.
• An understanding of the nature and operations of veterinary medicine and its role in society.
• Demonstrated accessible, transparent, and dynamic leadership and communication style, as well as a track record of behaving consistently with the mission and values of Adtalem Global Education.  This leader will understand how to build upon previous successes and position this complex organization for academic growth, financial health, and an enhanced national and international profile.
• Within a complex, highly matrixed, and more geographically-remote environment, the successful candidate will establish credibility as a well-regarded, high energy, and high-impact leader who is able to break down barriers and build relationships across programs, universities, and constituencies.
• They will exhibit the stature, confidence and ability to add value to senior academic and clinical leaders within both the school and the larger academic and healthcare communities.
• With an understanding of the importance of functioning on a global scale, the successful candidate will ideally bring national and international exposure and will thrive on the ability to foster interdisciplinary, clinical, and business relationships.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate and lead at all levels of an organization; is able to speak the language of education and the language of business.
• Possess a high level of emotional intelligence, and the ability to both share all the praise and shoulder the bulk of criticism.
• Innovative while maintaining a strong presence in both academia and with regulators.
• Willing to take charge and make difficult decisions when necessary.
• Works productively with large administrative and governmental entities.
• Ability to manage up, down and across a large, complex organization.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion, and demonstrated success in working with diverse communities

Equal Opportunity – Minority / Female / Disability / V / Gender Identity / Sexual Orientation