Illinois dean returning to faculty position

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Dr. Herbert E. Whiteley
Dr. Whiteley

Dr. Herbert E. Whiteley announced Oct. 16 in an email to alumni that he will be stepping down as dean of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine.

In August 2013, he will have completed his 12th year as dean; Dr. Whiteley plans to return to faculty responsibilities in the fall of 2013 or when a new dean is in place.

Dr. Whiteley’s background includes 11 years on the veterinary faculty at Illinois, followed by seven years as head of the Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science and the diagnostic laboratory director at the University of Connecticut.

Since returning to Illinois in 2001 as its sixth dean, Dr. Whiteley focused on strategic planning to ensure strategic growth despite budgetary constraints. Greater multidisciplinary collaborations in translational biomedical research and the creation of a comprehensive facilities plan for the future are hallmarks of his tenure.

Specific achievements he oversaw include the following:

  • Implementation of all four years of the Illinois Integrated Veterinary Professional Curriculum.
  • Development of the Clinical Skills Learning Center.
  • Establishment of the Chicago Center for Veterinary Medicine.
  • Surpassing the veterinary college’s fundraising campaign goal by $16 million to raise more than $51 million.
  • Crafting and implementation of the veterinary college’s strategic plan.
  • Establishment of the Illinois Center for One Medicine, One Health.

Dr. Whiteley received his DVM degree from Purdue University in 1977 and his doctorate in pathology from Colorado State University in 1984. He is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists.

U of I Provost Ilesanmi Adesida is identifying a search committee for the veterinary college’s new dean.