Lorenz to step down as OSU Veterinary Center dean
Friday, October 22, 2010
Dr. Michael D. Lorenz, dean of the Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, is stepping down as dean at his alma mater. The first alumnus to serve as dean of the state’s only veterinary college, Lorenz served as interim dean from 2001 to 2004 and has been dean of the veterinary center from 2004 to the present.
The OSU/A&M Board of Regents approved a position description to begin the search for a new dean of the Center for Veterinary Health Sciences at its regular meeting Friday in Miami. Lorenz will remain as dean until a replacement is hired or until July 2012.
“Mike Lorenz’s passion for students and his leadership have helped our veterinary school continue its prominence as a premier producer of outstanding veterinarians,” said OSU President Burns Hargis. “We are pleased he will remain in place during our search and wish him all the best.”
A native of Kremlin, Okla., Lorenz earned his B.S. degree in pre-veterinary medicine from OSU’s College of Agriculture in 1967 and his DVM degree from the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine in 1969.
He went on to receive specialty training at Cornell University and earned board certification in Veterinary Internal Medicine (Small Animal) in 1976. He served on the faculties of Cornell University and the University of Georgia before accepting the deanship at Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine (1988-1994).
He returned to Stillwater in 1997, joining the OSU veterinary faculty as Professor and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
In addition to small animal internal medicine, Lorenz has a strong interest in veterinary neurology. He continues to teach that subject and others to veterinary students. He has authored or contributed to many textbooks that are in current use throughout the profession.
Lorenz’s honors and awards range from the Dean McElroy Award, earned by the outstanding student of each graduating class, to the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine Distinguished Alumnus Award.
“I’ve enjoyed serving as dean of the veterinary center,” says Lorenz. “As a graduate of this college, it is near and dear to my heart. When I accepted the deanship at OSU, I said I would stay for five years. I’ve been in this position for nine years altogether.”
Lorenz plans to follow a phased retirement plan. He wants to go back to where he started—small animal medicine—working and teaching in the Small Animal Clinic at the veterinary center’s veterinary hospital until he fully retires.
Photo of Dr. Michael D. Lorenz available at Flickr.com
The Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health Sciences is one of 28 veterinary colleges in the United States and is fully accredited by the Council on Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association. The center’s Boren Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital is open to the public and provides routine and specialized care for small and large animals. It also offers 24-hour emergency care and is certified by the American Animal Hospital Association. For more information, visit www.cvhs.okstate.edu or call (405) 744-7000.