Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Progress on building South Carolina's first College of Veterinary Medicine continues with a major push to recruit faculty members. Six new positions are now available. Clemson's CVM is looking for candidates who are collaborative, dependable, and committed to professional excellence.

"Establishing a new veterinary college to address the needs of a rapidly evolving society requires a dedicated team of individuals with a diverse set of skills and experience, and so we are looking for faculty that are enthusiastic, innovative, and highly adaptive," said Brian Aldridge, Veterinary Medicine and Science Department Chair. "We hope to build a dedicated, generous and collaborative academic community of faculty, staff and students, that can contribute to the advancement of animal and community health in the State and beyond."

Student learning and the student experience are a core focus of the CVM; however, the college is also placing a strong emphasis on developing a supportive working environment where faculty and staff can help one another thrive, both personally and professionally.

"Our vision is to create an environment where faculty can realize their full potential while helping others do the same," said Aldridge. "We aim to cultivate a workplace that fosters strong, enduring relationships among faculty, staff, students, and our community partners and where each individual will be equipped and encouraged to achieve excellence in all that they do. We also hope that the college can host a broad network of scholars and partners that will collaborate to discover new knowledge and innovate solutions to some of the critical challenges to animal, human, and environmental health."

From Left to Right: Nicki Wise, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs; Brian Aldridge, Department Chair; Brian Butler, Associate Dean of Clinical Programs

As part of the accreditation process, CVMs current staff have designed a curriculum that has been approved by Clemson leadership. However, these six new faculty positions will be responsible for shaping the curriculum in critical units of study. As such, these professionals will hail from a variety of backgrounds.

"We are looking for faculty with a passion for teaching and learning who are in any stage of their veterinary career," said Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Nicki Wise. "Candidates can be experienced educators with specialty board certification or general practitioners with a passion for teaching students. We want faculty who are excited about developing a curriculum that will be delivered in a state-of-the-art facility where student engagement and a caring community are prioritized."

Training confident and compassionate veterinarians who will be ready to enter the work force upon their graduation is the mission of the CVM. This mission will be realized by creating a culture where the entire learning experience is rigorous, effective, and fulfilling. This starts with building a faculty community that is supported and empowered to deliver the #1 student experience while pursuing their own professional and personal goals.

"At Clemson, we hope to attract faculty who not only bring academic and technical expertise but also have the ability to shape the daily learning environment," said Aldridge. "Our goal is for faculty to provide the coaching and mentorship needed to channel the enthusiasm and refine the talent of our incoming students so that they can become dependable veterinary professionals who excel in their field and demonstrate strong character. By contributing to the development of a strong, relationship-centered learning environment, new faculty will guide students in shifting their focus from academic transactions, like exam results, to the journey of becoming reliable and competent veterinarians that are dedicated to serving their communities and the profession."

Faculty and staff hiring is just beginning. The CVM anticipates hiring 50-60 faculty with skills and interests across the teaching-research-service spectrum who will join a staff of over 50. Building a college from the ground up is a rare professional opportunity. Working together, the CVM will make history for Clemson University and the entire of South Carolina.

"Clemson University is a very special place," said Founding Dean, Steven Marks. "As the Clemson University College of Veterinary Medicine moves toward our inaugural class in the Fall of 2026, pending accreditation, we are looking for faculty members who bring a wealth of experience in the veterinary profession and who can focus on veterinary student education. Our goal is to produce skilled veterinarians who are committed to serving the animals and people of S.C. and beyond."

Follow us on our journey as we make history. We are @ClemsonVet med on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and X. If you are interested in learning more about our current faculty positions, they are linked on our job website.

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