Academic Health Center officials named Jeffrey Klausner interim dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine on Tuesday. He is the chairman of the college’s small animal clinical sciences department.
Klausner will replace David Thawley, who will leave the University on Sept. 7 to become dean of the agriculture school at the University of Nevada-Reno. He will also become director of Nevada’s agricultural experiment station.
Terry Bock, associate vice president of the Academic Health Center, said administrators will begin searching for a permanent dean this fall. He said he expects the national search to take about a year.
Bock said the Academic Health Center will consider both internal and external candidates to fill the position, using input from faculty members, alumni and University officials. He added that it is not unusual for national searches in the health science fields to take more than a year.
“When deans leave, it’s always a big change,” Bock said.
Until a new dean is hired, Klausner will be responsible for the education curriculum and outreach programs as well as all departments in the college.
Thawley served as dean for 10 years. In 1997, he implemented changes in the college’s education and clinical curriculum. Klausner said he hopes to continue revising the curriculum and build the college’s scholarship and clinical research initiatives.
Klausner is a professor of veterinary medicine and has been a faculty member since 1977. He became chairman of the small animal clinical science department in 1992.

— Amy Olson