A Purdue Veterinary Medicine graduate is the new dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University. Dr. Nicholas Frank (PU DVM ’93; PhD 2002) was announced as the new dean yesterday (May 11). His appointment comes as he is currently in his sixth year as associate dean for academic affairs at the Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine.
Mississippi State President Mark Keenum made the announcement, which concludes a comprehensive and competitive national search conducted in conjunction with an advisory committee that included President Keenum and other MSU academic leaders, College of Veterinary Medicine faculty, and university and industry/farming community stakeholders. Dr. Frank’s selection is pending formal approval by the Board of Trustees for Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning.
“We conducted a thorough national search and, in that process, interviewed some of the nation’s best veterinary medicine university administrators,” President Keenum said. “After extensive review of these outstanding candidates and with due consideration of the vital importance of Mississippi’s farming and agribusiness interests to our state’s economy, I am convinced that in Nicholas Frank we found a dynamic leader who has extensive experience in both large and small animal veterinary medicine teaching and research. He also understands and shares our commitment to providing exemplary service and support to Mississippi’s farmers and ranchers, poultry producers, and equine interests.”
Dr. Frank said of his appointment, “It is an honor to have been selected as the next dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. I look forward to working with all members of the community to advance veterinary medicine, support agriculture, and further the mission of Mississippi State University.”
Dr. Frank grew up in the United Kingdom and he earned his Purdue DVM degree in 1993, before completing an internship in large animal medicine and surgery and his residency in large animal internal medicine at Purdue. Board certified by the American College of Veterinary Medicine in large animal internal medicine in 2000, Dr. Frank earned his PhD in equine endocrinology and nutrition at Purdue in 2002.
While at Tufts, in addition to his administrative role, Dr. Frank served as a professor in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. He also is an honorary professor of endocrinology at the University of Nottingham’s School of Veterinary Medicine and Science in Nottingham, England. Before joining Tufts in 2011, Dr. Frank served as director of the Center for Equine Veterinary Research at the University of Tennessee.
Speaking about Dr. Frank’s background, MSU Provost and Executive Vice President David R. Shaw said, “The search committee was impressed that Dr. Frank has spent his career in equine medicine and brings a wealth of experience in large animal veterinary practice. From his service at Purdue University and the University of Tennessee, he also brings extensive experience with the land-grant university mission.”
Click here to view a complete news release from Mississippi State University about Dr. Frank’s appointment.