Former Ohio State dean to lead College of Veterinary Medicine

August 8, 2006

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Glen F. Hoffsis, D.V.M., has been named dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida, UF administrators announced today.

Recognized for leading the College of Veterinary Medicine at The Ohio State University to national prominence, Hoffsis was chosen after a nationwide search, according to Dr. Douglas Barrett, senior vice president for health affairs, and Jimmy Cheek, senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources.

“During his tenure as dean at Ohio State University, Dr. Hoffsis oversaw a remarkable expansion in the college’s research and academic output, expanded its clinical teaching hospital and moved the college forward in peer rankings to become one of the best in the country,”
Barrett said. “He knows how to build and grow a college, and he’s extraordinarily enthusiastic about this opportunity.”

Hoffsis will officially begin his new job Oct. 1, when he will become the college’s fifth permanent dean.

“Dr. Hoffsis brings an incredible amount of experience and commitment to this position,” said Cheek, UF senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources. “He’s done everything from researching cattle diseases and directing a veterinary teaching hospital to significantly expanding development efforts and leading the veterinary services division of a major corporation.”

After a long career at OSU culminating with 11 years as dean, Hoffsis joined Iams, a Procter & Gamble company, as associate director of veterinary services. As such, he has led a group that implements academic programs in colleges of veterinary medicine in the United States and overseas.

“At this point, I’m looking forward to combining my experience in academia with my new perspectives gained in the corporate world and putting them to good use at the University of Florida,” Hoffsis said.
“I see the UF veterinary college as a top-ranked college with a bright future.”

Hoffsis noted Florida’s strong agricultural, equine and small animal industry constituencies are valuable resources for UF’s veterinary college and would continue to be assets in the future.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the fine College of Veterinary Medicine at UF to a new level of excellence,” he said.

The OSU College of Veterinary Medicine progressed from a limited accreditation status with the American Veterinary Medical Association during Hoffsis’ term as dean to a ranking of sixth among veterinary medical schools in the country by U.S. News & World Report.

In the meantime, sponsored research at the college doubled, the budget nearly tripled and a major fundraising effort resulted in the acquisition of nine new endowed chairs and professorships, including the endowed deanship. Three new buildings were added at the college.

Hoffsis is an established and visible leader among veterinary medical school deans, having served as a former president of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, UF administrators said.
Furthermore, he has also been president of the American Association of Bovine Practitioners and chairman of the Food and Drug Administration’s veterinary medicine advisory committee.

Hoffsis received his veterinary medical degree from Ohio State in 1966 and completed an internship in large animal medicine at Colorado State University in 1967. He is a board-certified veterinary internist. He replaces former dean Joseph DiPietro, who served nine years in the job and left in February to become vice president for agriculture at the University of Tennessee.