Provost Ed Ray names new dean of the College of Pharmacy

COLUMBUS -- Executive Vice President and Provost Edward J. Ray has recommended to the president the appointment of Robert W. Brueggemeier as dean of the College of Pharmacy, effective July 1, 2003, through June 30, 2008. Ohio State President Karen A. Holbrook will ask the university’s Board of Trustees to approve the appointment at its May 2 meeting. Brueggemeier succeeds John M. Cassady, who is stepping down June 30 after serving as dean for 15 years. Cassady will return to the faculty.

Brueggemeier joined Ohio State in 1979 and became chair of the Division of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy in 1992. He has concurrently served as director of the Radiochemistry and Instrumentation Support laboratories in Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center since 1979 and as program director of the center’s Hormones and Cancer Program since 1985.

“Bob’s strong credentials and outstanding record of accomplishment as an administrator, scholar, and researcher are extremely impressive,” Ray said. “His scholarship is reflected by his Fellowships in the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

“He is a leader of great integrity with strong personal skills who, after a lengthy national search, I believe is best qualified and prepared to guide the college forward, building upon the substantial accomplishments of colleagues in Pharmacy under the leadership of John Cassady.”

Brueggemeier’s research focuses in the areas of steroid chemistry and biochemistry, hormones and cancer, medicinal chemistry, and radiochemistry. He is the principal or co-principal investigator on several research grants funded by the National Cancer Institute and the U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command. His primary teaching responsibilities include undergraduate, professional pharmacy, and graduate-level courses in the general areas of medicinal chemistry and biochemistry. He received his doctorate and master’s degrees from the University of Michigan, and was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Biological Chemistry at Harvard Medical School.

“I am excited about assuming the deanship of the College of Pharmacy on July 1,” Brueggemeier said. “Our college’s outstanding reputation and excellent academic programs are reflections of our high-quality faculty, students, staff, and alumni. This is what attracted me here years ago as a junior faculty member and continues to keep me excited about the opportunities for the future. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the college and the university as we move forward to the next level.”