Announcing new deans of Dentistry, Education and Human Development, and Veterinary Medicine

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce that, pending approval by the Board of Regents at their June meeting and effective June 21, 2021, Dr. Keith A. Mays will be appointed Dean of the School of Dentistry; Dr. Michael C. Rodriguez will be appointed Dean of the College of Education and Human Development; and Dr. Laura K. Molgaard will be appointed Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine.

These appointments are the result of University-led searches, which included public interview processes that engaged internal and external constituencies. As deans, they will serve as the chief academic and executive officer and collaborate with faculty, staff, students, and stakeholders to advance the school’s/college’s mission, quality, stature, and strategic goals; promote and foster diversity, equity, and inclusion; promote outreach efforts that engage the University and its partners appropriately in state, national, and international issues; and partner with University leaders on initiatives to advance the University’s mission and vision, including strengths and opportunities reflected in the University’s Systemwide Strategic Plan, MPACT 2025.

Dr. Keith Mays has served as interim dean of the School of Dentistry since May 2020. A faculty member in the Department of Restorative Sciences since 2015, he previously served as the school’s associate dean of academic affairs, overseeing the school’s educational programs and working collaboratively with faculty, staff, and students to advance excellence in all dental disciplines, especially focusing on patient care, curriculum, teaching, faculty development, and student support.

Dr. Michael Rodriguez has served as interim dean of the College of Education and Human Development since August 2020. As a faculty member in the Department of Educational Psychology since 1999 and Campbell Leadership Chair since 2013, he previously served as the college’s associate dean of undergraduate education, diversity, and international initiatives. In 2015 he co-founded the Educational Equity Resource Center, which he continues to direct, supporting University work and campus-community collaborations to reduce achievement gaps and expand collaborations to improve educational access and success.

Dr. Laura Molgaard has served as interim dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine since August 2019. A faculty member in the Department of Veterinary Population Medicine since 1997, she previously served as the college’s associate dean for academic and student affairs, overseeing the doctor of veterinary medicine educational program and working collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, and stakeholders to advance excellence in curriculum, teaching, and student support. She also had oversight responsibility for recruitment, admissions, accreditation, and outcome assessments.

Thank you to everyone who participated in these important searches; I recognize that the interviews and public sessions represented a significant time commitment at an already busy time of an unprecedented year. I want to express my particular appreciation to the members of the search committees, especially to Dean Lynda Welage for chairing the Dentistry Dean search committee; to Dean Valery Forbes for chairing the CEHD Dean search committee; and to Dean Beverly Durgan for chairing the CVM Dean search committee.

Please join me in congratulating Keith, Michael, and Laura. Their talented leadership has served them well throughout their tenures as interim deans throughout this challenging year, and I have every confidence in their abilities to work with their faculty, students, staff, and stakeholders as well as all of us in advancing the mission of the University.

Sincerely, Rachel T.A. Croson
Executive Vice President and Provost

email sent to the systemwide administrative email list (AEL) on June 7, 2021