Dean Sheila W. Allen
Prior to becoming the permanent dean of the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine, Sheila W. Allen served as interim dean between March 1 and November 1, 2005, following the retirement of former dean Keith W. Prasse. She was associate dean for academic affairs and acting head of the department of small animal medicine and surgery before becoming interim dean. She holds the distinction of being the second female dean of a veterinary college in the country.
Allen came to the college in 1981 as an intern in small animal medicine and surgery. She completed her residency in 1985 and the following year received a master’s degree in veterinary clinical pathology and joined the faculty. She also holds bachelor’s and doctor of veterinary medicine degrees from Cornell University.
As associate dean for academic affairs, Allen was extensively involved in developing and revising the college’s DVM curriculum to give students more flexibility in focusing on their areas of interest. She also guided the faculty in changing college admissions procedures so applicants can be assessed on criteria in addition to academic credentials.
She contributed to budget development and management in the college and was primarily responsible for overseeing the college’s instructional facilities.
Allen’s area of expertise in teaching and research is oncologic and reconstructive surgery and perioperative pain management. Allen and colleagues in the college are authors of numerous articles, reports and other professional publications in these areas, and she has made presentations at regional, national and international meetings. She has developed several auto-tutorial programs using instructional technology to teach basic surgical skills, and has received national awards for creativity in teaching.
A Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, Allen has served as an elected member of the organization’s Board of Regents and was on the group’s examination committee. She was chair of the research committee, which awards Surgeon in Training grants and Diplomate Investigator awards, and she also chaired the publications committee, overseeing publication of the group’s journal, Veterinary Surgery.
She is also active in the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, serving as executive committee chair of Associate Deans for Academic Affairs. She has served on the examination committee of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons, and is on the board of directors of the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association.
This page last updated on December 5, 2006.
