The College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences has completed its search for new department heads for the Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences (ERHS), and the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology (MIP). Dr. Ed Hoover, a Professor in MIP, has accepted the position of Department Chair and began working in his new capacity on July 1. Dr. Jac Nickoloff, a Professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology at the University of New Mexico, will begin work at CSU on October 1.
“We are very pleased with the outcomes of our searches and look forward to moving ahead with our two new department heads,” said Dr. Lance Perryman, Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. “Dr. Hoover brings with him a wealth of research, teaching and administrative experience, as well as an understanding of the department. Dr. Nickoloff has an extensive record of successful research endeavors, and also has administrative experience as the former chair of his department at the University of New Mexico."
Dr. Hoover, a University Distinguished Professor, has done extensive research work in feline leukemia virus, feline immunodeficiency virus, and chronic wasting disease in deer and elk, focusing on prion research. He started his career at Colorado State in 1981 as chair of the then Department of Pathology.
“We conducted a national search for this position, and Dr. Hoover emerged as the superior candidate,” said Dr. Perryman. “I look forward to working with him and am confident his leadership will greatly benefit the department, the college and the university.”
Dr. Nickoloff received his doctorate’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Colorado in 1984. Following two postdoctoral fellowships, he joined the faculty at the Harvard School of Public Health. In 1996, he began his career at the University of New Mexico, serving as chair of the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology from 1998 to 2006. His research interests include molecular mechanisms involved with DNA repair processes.
“Dr. Nickoloff brings to the department experience as a productive researcher, and administrative experience from his years as a department chair,” said Dr. Perryman. “He will be able to continue to move ERHS forward with strong leadership while fostering collaborative research and teaching efforts across the department, college and university.
“I want to thank Dr. John Zimbrick who has served as Department Head for ERHS since 2003, and Dr. Carol Blair for her service as Interim Department Chair during the past 19 months. Dr. Zimbrick and Dr. Blair will both continue as faculty members in their respective departments, and we value their on-going contributions to the College.
