Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty member Candace Croney, who holds a joint appointment as professor and director of the Center for Animal Welfare Science in the colleges of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, has been named associate vice provost for the Purdue University Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging. Her appointment is effective immediately.
In her new role, Dr. Croney will report to Dr. John Gates, vice provost for diversity and inclusion. She will maintain a 50 percent faculty appointment in her home colleges as professor of animal behavior and well-being. “I am incredibly excited for Dr. Croney to join our team,” Dr. Gates said. “Her efforts will be crucial as we work to implement the recommendations of the Equity Task Force.”
Dr. Croney will have specific responsibility for faculty- and staff-facing educational and professional development opportunities, including those related to recruitment and success. She also will focus on teaching and learning initiatives, external institutional and community partnerships and research and other forms of scholarly engagement. Additionally, she will work to strategically align efforts across colleges and pursue and guide external funding. “I’m honored by this appointment and excited by the challenge it presents — to help Purdue be innovative about inclusive excellence and cultivating a campus community where every Boilermaker experiences the sense of belonging we all need to thrive, ” Dr. Croney said.
Dr. Croney came to Purdue in December 2011 after holding the position of associate professor of preventive medicine in the College of Veterinary Medicine at The Ohio State University. A graduate of Rutgers University, she went on to earn her master’s and doctoral degrees from Penn State, where she is an adjunct professor. She also served on Oregon State University’s faculty as assistant and associate professor of animal behavior and bioethics in animal sciences, and for several years co-chaired the Association of Faculty and Staff for the Advancement of People of Color. Additionally she was instrumental in developing Oregon State’s Search Advocate curriculum.
Dr. Croney has received numerous awards and honors, including Purdue University’s Seed for Success Award and the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Excellence in the Scholarship of Engagement Award, in addition to being a Purdue University Faculty Scholar. Dr. Croney’s research on applied animal behavior and bioethics illustrates how integrating principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion can facilitate socially just and sustainable food production systems and equitable access to the benefits of the human-animal bond. She has provided related leadership for diverse multinational corporate boards and professional organizations.