Renate Weller renewed as dean, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

I am pleased to announce that Dr. Renate Weller, DVM, PhD, has been renewed for a second term in her appointment as dean, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM), through to Dec. 31, 2032.

Dr. Weller has served as dean since September 2021. Under her leadership, UCVM has experienced significant growth and advancements in its ability to serve and meet the growing needs of the veterinary community within Alberta.

This includes opening the Veterinary Learning Commons in September 2025 after a $68.5-million capital investment from the Government of Alberta. The state-of-the-art learning hub is an important facility for enabling a doubling of annual Doctor of Veterinary Medicine enrolments and directly addressing the shortage of livestock and rural veterinarians in Alberta. As well, UCVM created the Diagnostic Services Unit. It offers affordable in-province veterinary expertise and services that provide timely diagnoses to improve animal health and welfare, which help protect public health and food safety, among other important outcomes.

In 2023, on behalf of a team of select members of the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association Council and the UCVM leadership, Dr. Weller accepted Alberta’s Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal for “significant contributions to Alberta” in helping to increase the number of veterinarians in the province. The award recognizes the work of UCVM in ensuring food safety and working closely with our human counterparts in protecting the population from zoonotic diseases.

UCVM will continue to benefit from Dr. Weller’s extensive background in veterinary education, clinical and academic environments, and as a clinician, award-winning educator, researcher, and successful leader. She was previously Director of Veterinary Education at the CVS Group plc, one of the largest integrated veterinary services providers in Europe. She also served as associate dean for undergraduate teaching, as well as professor, comparative imaging and biomechanics, at the Royal Veterinary College at the University of London in the U.K.

Dr. Weller received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Ludwig Maxmilians University in Germany and her MSc in veterinary education and PhD from Royal Veterinary College at the University of London. She also earned a postgraduate certificate in academic practice from King’s College, also in London.

I’d like to thank the members of the Advisory Decanal Review Committee: Stephanie Borgland (vice-president research designate) and tenured academic staff representatives Angelica Galezowski, Sabine Gilch, James Wasmuth and Renaud Leguillette, as well as Justine Wheeler (TUCFA representative), Aoife Mac Namara (decanal representative), Derek Monar (MAPS representative), Nicole Genereux (AUPE representative), Gabriela Dziegielewska (SU representative), Michelle Hua (GSA representative), GFC representatives Fabiola Aparicio-Ting and Jennifer Lock, and David Bailey (community representative).

I would like to thank Dr. Weller for her strong and ongoing leadership. Please join me in warmly congratulating her on the renewal of her appointment.

Dr. Sandra Davidson, PhD, MSN, RN, FAAN, FCAN 

Provost and Vice-President (Academic)