BY JOHN HAGEMAN
[email protected]
Patrick Lloyd called his time as dean of the University of MinnesotaâÄôs School of Dentistry an âÄúopportunity of a lifetime.âÄù
But after more than seven years in the post, heâÄôs moving on: same job, new state. Lloyd was named the dean of Ohio State UniversityâÄôs College of Dentistry, the University of Minnesota announced Wednesday. Lloyd will remain at the University until Aug. 1.
In addition to his duties as dean, Lloyd will become director of dentistry for Ohio StateâÄôs medical center. âÄúThis is a new challenge for me,âÄù Lloyd said.
âÄúItâÄôs something that I look forward to in a new setting.âÄù
Lloyd said among his proudest accomplishments at the University was increasing diversity through the 40 new hires made in the past seven years. Of those new faculty members, 42 percent were women. Six years ago, he recruited Judith Buchanan, an associate dean in the school of dentistry, from the University of Pennsylvania. She said the news of LloydâÄôs departure was âÄúa surprise for all of us.âÄù
âÄúIâÄôm not sure thereâÄôs another individual that could have come into this school at the time he did and do as much as he did,âÄù Buchanan said. âÄúHeâÄôs the hardest working person IâÄôve ever met.âÄù
In a press release, University Provost Tom Sullivan wished Lloyd good luck, while indicating he plans to help find a new dean. The schoolâÄôs Council of Chairs will meet May 25 to start preliminary discussion on finding LloydâÄôs successor.
âÄúAs we move forward with these next steps, I will be in consultation with President [Bob] Bruininks and President-designate [Eric] Kaler so as to insure an effective and successful appointment of an interim dean and ultimately a search committee,âÄù Sullivan said in the release.
Lloyd sent an email to the schoolâÄôs faculty, staff and students thanking them for their âÄúoutstanding effortsâÄù in developing the school. âÄúI donâÄôt regret any minute that IâÄôve been here,âÄù Lloyd said.
âÄúIâÄôve developed more close friendships with faculty, staff and that I have in my entire life.âÄù