Steering Committee

The Steering Committee is the governing body that directs the Teaching Academy’s detailed functions and affairs. The duties of the steering committee are to oversee the activities of the academy; serve as Academy Liaisons for their respective colleges; determine priorities; approve budgets and identify resources; establish benchmarks and metrics to determine success; and promote the teaching mission of the Academy.

Membership

The Steering Committee shall comprise two representatives from each of the Consortium member colleges. Initial members of the Steering Committee shall be appointed by their respective Deans, with one serving a two-year term and one serving a three-year term. Thereafter, members will be elected in alternate years by a majority vote of the membership from the respective college and shall serve a two-year term with the possibility of renewal.

Steering Committee Members

  • Chair: Susan Matthew, PhD BVSc(Hons) BSc(Vet) GradCertEdStud(Higher Ed) (WSU)
  • Immediate Past Chair: Holly Bender, DVM PhD DACVP (UA)
  • Chair-Elect: Heloisa Rutigliano, DVM MS PhD (USU)
  • Treasurer: Dean Hendrickson, DVM MS DACVS (CSU)
  • Executive Coordinator: Rachel Halsey, DVM GCertEdRes (WSU)
  • Paul Avery, VMD PhD DACP (CSU)
  • Patrick Chappell, PhD (OSU)
  • Maria A. Fahie, DVM MS DACVS (WU)
  • Samantha Gizerian, PhD (WSU)
  • Brisa Hsieh, DVM DACVIM (UA)
  • Rachael Kreisler, VMD MSCE DACVPM (MWU)
  • Christiane Löhr, MedVet, Dr. Med. Vet PhD DACVP (OSU)
  • Thomas (Tony)  Anthony Marino EdD MS (WU)
  • Jeffrey Norris, DVM, PhD (MWU)
  • William Vernau, BSc BVMS DVS PhD (UC Davis)
  • Johanna (Joie) Watson, DVM PhD DACVIM (LAIM) (UC Davis)

Working Group Liaisons:

At least one member of the steering committee will serve as the liaison for each academy working group and committee. Working Group liaisons shall be responsible for communicating committee and working group activity progress to the Chair and Steering Committee.

Officers:

The officers of the academy shall be a Chair, a Chair-Elect, and a Treasurer. Chair-Elect will be elected annually by the steering committee from its membership and will serve a one-year term and advance to the position of Chair for a one-year term. The Treasurer shall be elected in each even-numbered year by a majority vote of the steering committee membership. The Treasurer shall serve a two-year term.

The responsibilities and duties of the teaching academy’s officers shall be as follows:

  • Chair: The Chair shall call and organize meetings of the academy; shall preside at all academy functions; shall serve as primary liaison with the Consortium; shall prepare an annual report, program plan, and (in collaboration with the Treasurer) the annual budget for the coming year for submission. The budget will be presented to the steering committee for approval, provided to all academy members electronically, and presented at the annual/biannual meeting of the academy.
  • Immediate Past Chair: The Immediate Past Chair shall work as a team with the Chair and Chair-Elect to help with institutional memory and strategic decision making.
  • Chair-Elect: The Chair-Elect shall be responsible for organizing all academy meetings in collaboration with the Chair and Immediate Past Chair; shall keep minutes of all academy meetings; shall act in the absence or incapacity of the Chair at any academy meeting; shall maintain academy archives and membership records, and shall be responsible for the planning of the annual/biannual academy meeting program and logistics with assistance from the Chair and Steering Committee.
  • Treasurer: The Treasurer shall receive monies from the Consortium and other sources; shall assist the Chair, Immediate Past Chair and Chair-Elect in preparing a budget; shall keep all financial records, coordinate the AAVMC for billing; and shall prepare a year-end financial report for the academy and the Consortium.

Past Steering Committee Chairs

  • 2024-25: Holly Bender, DVM PhD DACVP (UA)
  • 2024: David Kersey, PhD (WU)
  • 2022-23: Paul Avery, VMD PhD DACP (CSU)
  • 2021-22: Rachael Kreisler, VMD MSCE DACVPM (Epidemiology) (MWU)
  • 2020-21: Christiane Löhr, MedVet Dr. Med. Vet PhD DACVP (OSU)
  • 2019-20: William Vernau, BSc BVMS DVS PhD (UC Davis)
  • 2018-19: Peggy Barr, DVM PhD (WU)
  • 2017-18: Phil Mixter, PhD (WSU)
  • 2016-17: Patrick Chappell, PhD (OSU)
  • 2015-16: Kristy Dowers, DVM (CSU)
  • 2014-15: Johanna (Joie) Watson, DVM PhD DACVIM (LAIM) (UC Davis)
  • 2013-14: Peggy Schmidt, DVM PhD (WU)
  • 2012-13: Steve Hines, DVM PhD DACVP (WSU)