Retired College of Veterinary Medicine Dean James Voss Receives Honor Alumnus Award from Colorado State
Note to Editors: A print quality photo of James L. Voss is available by request.
Colorado State University will name James L. Voss, retired dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, as its 2004 Honor Alumnus Award winner at the Colorado State University Alumni Association’s annual Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner on May 7.
Voss, a triple alumnus of Colorado State with a bachelor’s in 1956, DVM in 1958 and master’s in 1965 – and a 43-year employee of the university – is being honored for a lifetime of professional accomplishments and his enduring commitment to the college.
Voss’ many contributions to Colorado State were recognized in September 2001 by the naming of the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital in his honor.
"After so many decades as an outstanding student, faculty member and leader, there is no doubt that Jim’s personal commitment to serving our profession, this institution and the state of Colorado has contributed immeasurably to who we are today," said Lance Perryman, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
Throughout his distinguished veterinary career at Colorado State, Voss served as an ambulatory clinician, a faculty member in the Department of Clinical Sciences, head of the Department of Clinical Sciences and, for 15 years, dean of the college. Voss also is accredited to leading an internationally recognized animal reproduction program that put Colorado State on the map for advancements in assisted reproductive technology for horses and other animals.
Voss fostered the most successful period of growth for the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in terms of buildings, research funding, faculty numbers, post-graduate training and impact of the college on the profession of veterinary medicine. He foresaw changes in the direction of biomedical and veterinary sciences and responded to these observations by hiring and mentoring a faculty that has led Colorado State to acquire more federal funding than any other school of veterinary medicine in the country. Under his direction, the program has been consistently recognized by the U.S. News and World Report among the top three professional veterinary medical programs in the nation.
"As dean, Jim fostered the largest, most successful period of growth in buildings, research funding, faculty numbers, post-graduate training and impact of our college on the profession of veterinary medicine experienced in modern times," said Martin Fettman, associate dean of the college.
As an internationally recognized expert in equine reproduction, Voss has served the veterinary profession as a champion for improved animal and human health. Voss also filled key industry leadership positions, serving as past president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners and past president of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges.
Voss is author or co-author of more than 200 scholarly research papers and publications. He has served on many committees for Colorado State, the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association Equine Practitioners and the American Veterinary Medical Association. Among many accolades, Voss received the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association’s Colorado Veterinarian of the Year award in 1990.
"Respect for his wisdom and altruism have earned him enormous influence over other leaders in our profession as well as politicians, government agencies and professional societies at home and aboard, through which new opportunities for Colorado State arose and continue to evolve," Fettman said.
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