Building relationships

Connecting across campus, the state, the nation, and the world

In his office in the Justin S. Morril Hall of Agriculture, Dean John Baker was never far from the College of Veterinary Medicine. It's only a short walk through the maze of sidewalks that connects the north side to the south side of campus.

"I may have been away from the college for ten years, but this has always been my home," said Baker. He was named the dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine in June, 2014.

He began his career at MSU in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, where he was section head for Food Animal Medicine and Surgery. He also served the college as associate dean for research and graduate studies before his tenure with AgBioResearch.

"Serving as associate dean of research and graduate studies started to give me a broader view of campus and the communities across campus," Baker says.

Baker's view further expanded during his time with AgBioResearch, first as the acting director and then as associate director. The possibilities generated by relationships between the MSU community and industry or the government became increasingly more clear to Baker.

MSU Provost June Youatt says this is what makes Baker ideally suited for the dean's position at this time. "He has a broad understanding of the college, its assets and—perhaps most significantly— its importance to the university, the practitioner, and the scientific communities."

"We want to elevate an understanding of the role of veterinarians in society as a whole."

Veterinarians have very diverse roles to play. That includes making contributions to food safety, food security, public health, laboratory animal medicine, industry, pharmaceutical, and government agencies. Those opportunities abound—and include research.

"It is our responsibility to show students the breadth and opportunities of the profession," says Baker. "We do that through our curriculum, externships, and summer research programs."

Baker considers the summer research program one of the College's shining stars. He and Dr. Vilma Yuzbasiyan-Gurkan launched the program in 1998 and brought NIH funding to the program. He recalls about eight students participating in the first summer program, and now there are more than 30.

The program is one of the largest of its kind, and is the only one that admits undergraduates. Students, from MSU and around the country, experience what Baker calls "extraordinary facilities and a breadth of superior faculty that is not common."

"Coming back to the college, I want to make sure I have a clear understanding of where we are and what our possibilities are."

During his first months as dean, Baker conducted listening sessions with faculty and staff. He was joined by his leadership team. Julie Funk, DVM, MS, PhD, associate dean of Professional Academic Programs and Student Success, and Vilma Yuzbasiyan- Gurkan, PhD, associate dean for Graduate Studies and interim associate dean of Research.

The purpose of the sessions was to help Baker, Funk, and Yuzbasiyan-Gurkan identify the issues and the opportunities for the college. He is interested in current and potential contributions and successes.

"We're one of the larger veterinary schools, and we'll be working with funding agencies and faculty members to enhance research funding, and will continue to build collaborations across the university—and the world," Baker says.

"My goal now is to increase the visibility of the college here on the campus and across Michigan—as well as on the national level."

September 2014
Casey Williamson

Hospital

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