Colorado State University professor of equine medicine Dr. Paul Lunn has been named dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University.
An expert in equine immunology and infectious disease and head of the Department of Clinical Sciences at Colorado State University's College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Dr. Lunn will take up the new role on February 15, 2012.
"It's a great privilege and a challenge to have the chance to take up the position of dean at the College of Veterinary Medicine at NC State," Dr Lunn said. "Above all, I have been hugely impressed by the enthusiasm and positive attitude of the faculty of the college, and I look forward to working with them to accomplish their ambitious goals."
At Colorado, Dr Lunn's lab researches equine influenza and equine herpesvirus (EHV-1), a highly infectious virus that can cause abortion and neurological disease in horses.
North Carolina State Provost Warwick Arden announced the appointment this week.
"I am extremely pleased we have been able to attract Dr. Lunn to lead the College of Veterinary Medicine," Provost Arden said. "I believe he has the experience, skill and vision to continue to move this outstanding program to a position of international eminence."
NC State's College of Veterinary Medicine is one of the top colleges of its type in the United States, ranking third in the most recent U.S. News and World Report survey of the nation's 28 colleges of veterinary medicine. The NC State CVM includes 312 DVM students, 146 graduate students, 81 residents and interns, 155 faculty members, and 400 staff members.
Dr Lunn has served at Colorado State since 2003. From 2000 to 2003, he served as associate dean for clinical affairs and director of the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. He also was a professor in the University of Wisconsin-Madison's School of Veterinary Medicine from 1991 to 2000.
He is currently the chairman of the Research Advisory Committee of the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation.
Dr Lunn, 53, was born in Wales and received his bachelor's degree in veterinary science with honors at the University of Liverpool in 1982.
Before returning to school for his advanced degrees, Lunn worked as a practicing veterinarian from 1983 to 1985. He earned a master's degree in veterinary medicine from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1988 and his Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge in 1991. He became a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine in 1992.
Dr Lunn becomes the fourth dean of the NC State CVM, which graduated its first class in 1985.