Dr. Stephan Carey has been named the Associate Dean for Student Engagement and Success (SES) at the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, effective March 1.

In this role, Carey will lead the College’s SES Office, which provides pre-veterinary advising, professional student services, academic support, and connections to university services (such as financial aid and student health). He will also oversee the administration of the DVM admissions cycle, ensuring a consistent, equitable, and evidence-based process. He will partner closely with the College’s Veterinary Nursing Program, the Office of Professional Education, the Office of Health and Wellbeing, and key units across campus to provide coordinated, multi-dimensional support to students at the College of Veterinary Medicine.

“Dr. Carey has a long-standing commitment to education and a genuine passion for student success,” says Dr. Kim Dodd, Dean of the College. “Students and colleagues alike know him for his exemplary teaching, compassionate approach, and dedication to creating an inclusive, welcoming environment for all. I’m confident that under his leadership, SES will continue to deliver exceptional support to students while broadening the resources available to them.”

Currently, Carey serves as Associate Chairperson of the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences and professor of internal medicine, treating patients while training students, interns, and residents in the Veterinary Medical Center’s Internal Medicine service. His dedication to teaching has been recognized multiple times, most recently with the student-selected SAVMA Excellence in Teaching Award.

“I’m incredibly excited to take on this role,” says Carey. “I owe my career to the guidance and support I received as a student—from advisors, counselors, and career and learning opportunities that opened my mind to the paths before me. At CVM, we have a talented and committed SES team and enthusiastic and innovative faculty. I believe this positions us to create a supportive environment and an engaging experience for our students, and it’s an honor to advance that mission.”

An alum of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s DVM program, he first came to MSU as a rotating intern in 2000. He subsequently completed a residency and PhD at the College, and has been a faculty member since 2008. He is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and his laboratory investigates the effects of air pollutants and airway disease in companion animals and children.

Carey assumes this position following Dr. Annette O’Connor, whose leadership as Interim Associate Dean of SES guided the team through a successful restructuring under its new name in 2025.