Overview

Michigan State University (MSU), the nation’s pioneer land-grant institution, is one of the world’s leading public research universities and a model for integrating teaching, research, and service in ways that directly benefit society. Founded in 1855, MSU has long advanced a mission grounded in access, discovery, and engagement, and continues to lead nationally and globally in translating knowledge into impact. A member of the Association of American Universities and the Big Ten Conference, MSU offers a rich environment for academic leadership at scale.

With approximately 40,000 undergraduate and 11,000 graduate and professional students, MSU delivers a comprehensive academic experience across 17 degree-granting colleges and more than 200 programs of study. The university’s land-grant mission is reflected in its emphasis on experiential learning, public engagement, and global scholarship, requiring coordination across academic programs, research enterprises, and service initiatives.

MSU’s more than 12,000 faculty and staff are central to this mission, advancing nearly $1 billion in annual sponsored research while delivering high-quality education and service to communities in Michigan and around the world. Faculty operate within a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment, where success depends on integrating scholarship, clinical or applied practice, and outreach in response to evolving societal needs.

The College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), established in 1910, exemplifies this integration. Building on a legacy of veterinary education dating to the university’s founding, the College has evolved into a complex enterprise spanning biomedical sciences, clinical care, diagnostics, and public engagement. Its structure—including three biomedical science departments, two clinical departments, the Veterinary Medical Center, the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, and multiple research centers—requires coordinated leadership across diverse missions and stakeholders.

CVM faculty are nationally and internationally recognized for their contributions across teaching, research, clinical service, and outreach, with representation across nearly all specialty boards recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Beyond disciplinary excellence, faculty train veterinarians, veterinary nurses, scientists, and food safety experts, while advancing translational and applied research and delivering services that support animal health, public health, one health, and the agricultural economy.

The College’s scale creates both opportunity and complexity. One of the largest clinical and diagnostic caseloads in the country supports hands-on education and clinically relevant research, while strong partnerships with the State of Michigan, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and industry stakeholders position the College to address critical challenges in animal health, food systems, and workforce development.

The College is navigating a period of growth and transformation, including expanding clinical capacity, advancing interdisciplinary research within a One Health framework, and responding to emerging challenges such as veterinary workforce shortages and new technologies in education and practice. These dynamics call for leaders who can align teaching, research, and service while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and innovation.

Within this context, the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences plays a central role in advancing the College’s mission and impact.

The Opportunity

Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine seeks a collaborative, strategic, and forward-looking leader to serve as Chairperson of the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences. This is a compelling and energizing opportunity to join a nationally recognized department at a pivotal moment defined by strong momentum, meaningful investment, and a shared commitment to advancing the future of veterinary medicine.

The Department is distinguished by its breadth across species, disciplines, and mission areas, as well as the strength of its community. The department is supported by an accomplished, collaborative faculty who are committed to their students, their work, and the College’s mission. Their efforts are enabled by exceptional facilities, including the Veterinary Medical Center, the Pegasus Critical Care Center, the Mary Anne McPhail Equine Performance Center, the Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center, and other Teaching and Research Centers.

The department operates within a dynamic ecosystem spanning the university, state government, and industry. MSU’s partnerships with state agencies, agricultural leaders, and allied industries create opportunities for applied research, policy engagement, and real-world impact, reinforcing the university’s land-grant mission. MSU and the state of Michigan have been recognized nationally for their collaborative approach to handling emerging animal health issues, such as highly pathogenic avian influenza.

The timing of this role is especially exciting. The College is advancing a significant capital campaign, including plans for a new veterinary college and hospital, offering the next Chair the opportunity to help shape the future of veterinary medicine. At the same time, the department is navigating important priorities, including strengthening clinical capacity, addressing workforce needs in rural and underserved areas, enhancing integration across mission areas, and responding to emerging trends such as Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Within this context, the Chair will play a central role in bringing people together around a shared vision for the future. This role is well suited for a leader who values listening, partnership, and community; someone who can engage faculty across diverse roles, build alignment, and help the department fully realize its collective strengths.

Purpose of the Position

The Chairperson of the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences serves as the academic, administrative, and strategic leader of a dynamic department spanning clinical service, research, teaching, and outreach. Reporting to the Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, the Chair will advance the department’s mission while fostering a culture grounded in collaboration, accountability, and professional citizenship. This is an exciting opportunity to join a talented community and help shape the future of a department with broad impact.

The role calls for a visible, approachable, and unifying leader who can bring together a diverse faculty across disciplines, species focus areas, and responsibilities. A central opportunity for the next Chair will be to develop a shared vision that reflects the department’s full breadth, while building alignment, strengthening trust, and fostering a cohesive culture. Success will come from listening thoughtfully, engaging broadly, and bringing people together around a clear path forward.

The Chair is responsible for supporting and developing faculty across all mission areas, including recruitment, mentoring, retention, and promotion and tenure processes. The Chair will foster an environment in which faculty can succeed as educators, researchers, clinicians, and contributors to outreach.

The Chair will articulate and implement a clear strategic vision for the future of large animal veterinary medicine at MSU. Priorities include strengthening the integration of clinical care, research, and education; expanding clinical capacity and outreach; and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly within MSU’s One Health framework. The Chair will also guide the department’s approach to emerging issues, including generative AI, workforce needs, and innovation in veterinary education and practice.

With a minimum 50% administrative appointment, the Chair will remain engaged in teaching, research, clinical service, and/or outreach. As such, credibility as a clinician and/or scholar, and the ability to engage meaningfully with students, trainees, faculty, and external stakeholders, is essential.

The Chair will ensure operational effectiveness and academic excellence by setting clear expectations, fostering strong communication, and supporting shared governance. The role also requires a strong commitment to teaching and student outcomes, including strengthening engagement and expanding pathways into large animal and rural veterinary practice.

Externally, the Chair will serve as a key ambassador for the department and College, engaging stakeholders across veterinary, agricultural, and policy communities. In partnership with College leadership, the Chair will support advancement efforts, contribute to the growth of the clinical enterprise, and build strategic collaborations across disciplines.

Ultimately, this role offers the opportunity to stabilize, strengthen, and elevate a complex academic and clinical enterprise, aligning people, programs, and resources to advance a mission at the intersection of animal and public health.

The Candidate

The Chair will provide visionary leadership and strategic direction for the department, setting clear expectations and fostering a culture where faculty and staff can thrive and succeed. This includes promoting strong communication across written, verbal, and interpersonal channels, and cultivating an environment grounded in kindness, collegiality, accountability, and professionalism. Faculty and staff take pride in being part of a supportive and engaged community; one where people show up for one another, value diverse perspectives, and are united by a shared sense of purpose.

The Chair is responsible for supporting and developing faculty across all mission areas, while fostering collaboration, shared governance, and a cohesive, team-oriented culture. A commitment to excellence in teaching and student outcomes is essential, including addressing declining interest in large animal practice by recruiting more graduates into this career field through innovative programming and sustained outreach.

The Chair will actively engage internal and external stakeholders, representing the department across veterinary and agricultural communities at the state, national, and international levels. In alignment with College and University priorities, the Chair will advance educational, research, and clinical initiatives, partner with development and clinical leadership to enhance departmental growth and visibility, and build strategic collaborations across medical, biomedical, and animal science disciplines to strengthen MSU’s One Health impact.

Importantly, while the department spans clinical services, research, teaching, and outreach, the College does not expect the Chair to be an expert in all areas. Rather, the role calls for a leader who brings strength in one or more mission areas and demonstrates the ability to support, elevate, and integrate the full breadth of faculty contributions across the department. The College is committed to supporting development of multiple associate chairs within the department to ensure all mission areas have representation and voice.

Minimum Requirements

Candidates must possess the experience to merit tenure at the rank of Associate or Full Professor.

Knowledge of the animal agriculture landscape

Ability to articulate a vision for the future of large animal veterinary medicine

Strong record of accomplishment and advancing knowledge in at least two of the academic missions of service, research, teaching, and/or outreach

Excellent and timely written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills

Ability to effectively engage with others and collaborate within team settings

Experience successfully leading groups or programs, managing budgets, and managing personnel

Experience mentoring colleagues and trainees, fostering their professional growth and career advancement

Ability to model and foster an environment of kindness, collegiality, professional citizenship, and collaboration

Desired Qualifications

Experience in large animal clinical medicine

Board certification in an AVMA-recognized specialization relevant to large animals

Earned advanced graduate degree (PhD, MS, MPH, or equivalents) or professional certification

Experience in formal leadership positions

Record of successfully leading, representing, and advocating for teams or groups

Familiarity with the various types of external stakeholders, including commodity groups, producers, and government and regulatory agencies

Media relations and communications training and experience

Education

Required Degree: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent degree.

Desired Degree: Other advanced graduate degree (PhD, MS, MPH, or equivalents) or professional certification

Application Process

Interested and qualified candidates are welcome to submit a resume and cover letter to: MSUDepartmentLCS@KornFerry.com.

Additional Information

Department Statement

The Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences (LCS) is in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University. Our faculty provide patient care, conduct research, and train students on agricultural and other large animals. This work includes animal models of human diseases and the interactions between the health of humans, animals, and the environment. Faculty work closely with students pursuing DVM degrees, veterinarians in internship and residency programs, and MS and PhD students. Learning to better understand, prevent, diagnose, and treat disease takes place in some of the most advanced facilities and laboratories. Faculty and students work together to find new solutions and put them into practice for a better world.

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

This position is a full-time, annual appointment at the rank of Associate or Full Professor and must be in the Tenure System.

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Korn Ferry shall provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified candidates, and will refer candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected basis. Artificial Intelligence tools may be used in connection with the recruitment process for this position.