Leadership position – Inaugural Director of the Margaret and Richard Riney Canine Health Center

The College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, invites applications to be the inaugural director of the Margaret and Richard Riney Canine Health Center (RCHC). The RCHC was established in December 2021 through a major gift from the Margaret and Richard Riney Family Foundation.  

The center is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of dogs through clinical, basic, and translational research. It will encourage collaboration between investigators to optimize their expertise and resources. The RCHC will also provide a direct interface between the public and the CVM to help meet the needs of dog lovers seeking reliable health information and opportunities for engagement. 

The Director will play a key role in developing the center. The successful applicant must be able to articulate a vision of how Cornell’s strengths will have a significant impact on canine health globally. In collaboration with the Associate Dean for External Programs and other members of the college leadership, the director will help create and implement a comprehensive plan for the advancement of canine health-related research at the college.  This plan will expand on institutional strengths, encourage creative collaborations, and anticipate future research needs. The RCHC director will work closely with their colleagues in the other Animal Health Centers (Feline Health Center, Wildlife Health Center, Duffield Institute for Animal Behavior, and the Baker Institute for Animal Health).

The new director will have an important role as a public facing ambassador for canine-related research at Cornell’s CVM.  This will include pursuing outreach opportunities and educating the public.  An important external function will be to facilitate collaboration between Cornell, individual veterinarians, veterinary practices, and industry.

Candidates must have a D.V.M., M.D., Ph.D., or equivalent degree and a distinguished record of accomplishment in research related to the health of dogs. The successful candidate will have an academic record consistent with the rank of Associate or Full Professor. Cornell will provide resources to facilitate the new director’s continuing scholarly activity which should align with the goals of the center.  Candidates should have demonstrated leadership skills and success in building sustainable, innovative programs involving diverse, broad-based teams. The ideal candidate will possess a passion and vision for improving canine health, and the ability to unite an internal community of talented, committed researchers throughout the college and university with a vibrant external community of dog lovers interested in working together to advance canine health.  

The Cornell University CVM seeks to lead, enable, and inspire others to attain a healthier world for animals and people. Consistently ranked among the top veterinary schools in the world, the college is a global leader in outstanding multidisciplinary clinical and diagnostic services as well as exemplary animal care. The college continuously produces a stream of scientific breakthroughs while also preparing students, veterinarians, and scientists to assume vital roles in scientific inquiry, local and global health, public policy and clinical, population, and diagnostic veterinary medicine.  

Cornell University is in Ithaca on the shores of Cayuga Lake in the beautiful Finger Lakes Region of New York State.  Although it is situated in an area of outstanding natural beauty, all the major East-coast metropolitan centers are easily accessible from Ithaca by car, bus, train, and air.  Cornell is a center for discovery, academic leadership, and service.  Commitment to achieving excellence through diversity and inclusion has been Cornell University’s heritage.  We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities.  We welcome candidates who are equally committed to these values and who will strengthen our climate by fostering diversity and inclusion.  The College of Veterinary Medicine also seeks to meet the needs of dual career couples through Cornell’s Dual Career Program and membership in the Upstate New York Higher Education Recruitment Consortium www.hercjobs.org/upstate_ny. 

Salary, rank, and title will be commensurate with academic credentials and experience.

For more information contact Dr. Robin Gleed, Chair of the Search Committee, rdg2@cornell.edu.

Electronic application submission is through Academic Jobs Online:  https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/21650

The required sections of the electronic application include: a cover letter that incorporates a statement of the candidate’s career goals; a curriculum vitae, a description of their research interests and plans, a description of their contributions to inclusion and diversity; and the email addresses of three referees who will be invited to upload their letters of reference at a later date.

What is a Statement of Contribution to Diversity? 

This statement invites applicants to describe their past, present, and/or future efforts at promoting equity, inclusion, and diversity in their careers as researchers and educators.  It should convey how they see these continuing at Cornell and can focus on research, teaching, and/or service.

The safety and well-being of applicants and our team members is of the utmost importance. Because of campus closures and the likelihood of ongoing travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we will be conducting virtual interviews with qualified candidates for this position with the intention of scheduling additional in-person meetings.  

Review of applications will begin on June 1st, 2022 and continue until the position is filled.