Minutes of Dean's Advisory Board Meetings > Advisory Board Members
Minutes of First Annual Dean's Advisory Board Meeting
Date: March 21, 2007
Time: 12:30 pm
Present:
| 1. Dr. T. H abtemariam, Dean |
11. Dr. Christine Jenkins |
| 2. Dr. W.C. Bowie (Chairman) |
12. Dr. William O. Jones |
| 3. Dr. H. Davis (Co-Chairman) |
13. Dr. Irving W. McConnell |
| 4. Dr. Eugene Adams |
14. Dr. Adam E. McKee |
| 5. Dr. Leonard Billups |
15. Dr. Ruby Perry |
| 6. Dr. Edward Braye |
16. Dr. Willie Reed |
| 7. Dr. Jerry Clinkscales |
17. Dr. William Watson |
| 8. Dr. Ellis M. Hall |
18. Dr. Jerome B. Williams |
| 9. Dr. James Heintz |
19. Dr. Saul T. Wilson |
| 10. Dr. John L. Williams |
|
Dean's Staff Personnel:
| 1. Ms. Anissa Riley |
| 2. Ms. Elizabeth Offem |
| 3. Ms Angela S-Bascomb |
| 4. Ms. Janet Phillips |
| 5. Ms. Margaret Caddell |
| 6. Ms. Vinaida Robnett |
| 7. Ms. Samina Akhter |
The meeting began by introducing members of the Dean's Advisory Board as well as the Dean's staff personnel who were in attendance. The dean outlined the needs of the school by pointing out reduction and /or depletion of government funding sources and the need for looking for other sources of funding. The dean told the board that one of the single most important goals of the board is to raise funds for resource development in the school of veterinary medicine. He also stressed the need for leadership development as being key to strengthening our college.
Dr. Bowie acknowledged the dean as being a thinker. He urged the members to help the dean carry out his ideas because no one person can provide all the leadership needed to run a school, it takes a team. Dr. Davis summarized the main points of the meeting with Associate VP for University Advancement to the members and reminded the members that the group can only succeed if it works together.
Dr. Bowie asked members to come up with any person they wish could serve on the board and open up lines of communication among the members and to come up with any ideas, thoughts that could help the board's mission. With this, members opened the meeting for discussion.
Dr. Adams: Suggested the formation of smaller group (Executive Committee) who will bring those ideas to the Advisory Board. He suggested additional help for the students concerning the non-passing of the NAVLE exams by including a comprehensive exam before the students enter third year.
Dr. John L. Williams: suggested work groups rather than just committees.
Dr. C. Jenkins: Suggested that membership to the board not be limited only to Alumni, but expand it to include CEOs and Presidents of companies (be targeted). The advantages of this mixture will help tremendously with fund raising.
Dr. Watson: suggested that the group should first organize themselves before embarking on including CEOs and others.
Dr. Irving W. McConnell: suggested looking amongst the members to identify decision makers who will work with the executive committee. He stressed the importance scholarship especially for students who do not have tuition funds. He asked how veterinary medicine could best be marketed. He acknowledged that there are still funds available for government contracts
Dr. Jerome Williams asked if the dean has the personnel to handle all the new responsibilities and then suggested that for all these ideas to develop properly, an economic developer is needed.
The general concern was that there is not enough information sent to alumni after they graduate. Infact, Dr. McKee noted that he gets more information from other schools than he does from Tuskegee. He encouraged emphasis in education about the TU legacy when corresponding with alumni. Dr. Perry also concurred with Dr. McKee about the importance of reaching out more to alumni. She also suggested an alumni website where current information can be obtained.
Dr. Wilson noted that the international alumni have been left out of solicitation for the school. He encouraged the school to try seeking out those international alumni.
Dr. Davis: suggested a strong working mentoring groups for the students by alumni. He stressed the importance of alumni being passionate about the school and that passion should translate into giving.
Dr. Reed: suggested that this group should try to help with infrastructure by helping to identify donors.
Dr. W. Jones: suggested the multiplication of the group. He suggested getting alumni on a one and one type basis. The planning group can help set things in place.
The meeting concluded by the group calling for a follow up and formation of an executive committee meeting as needed. The group did not come to a consensus as where they should meet the next time. Some suggested Washington DC during the AVMA symposium, while others noted the annual meeting of the TUSVM executive committee meeting in Tuskegee to be the best time.
Recommendations:
• Create working groups (not committees) e.g. Government organizations, private organizations (Foundations), Corporations, Mentoring and Recruiting, Pathology/Lab. Animal.
• Create Executive Committee (5 or 7 people) who can meet more often to review and study issues to present to larger Advisory Board during annual or biannual meetings.
• Resource Development/Economic Development office with appropriate staffing.
• Multifaceted mechanisms to multiply ourselves-to create a team of all of our alumni.
• Engaging other non-alumni entities-including high-level CEOs etc.
Actions: a) Will create a list-serve of the Dean's Advisory Board
b) Will create a webpage to facilitate communication, interaction and resource development.
