Stanley Terlecky, Ph.D., associate professor of pharmacology for the Wayne State University School of Medicine, has been appointed associate dean of Graduate Programs for the school.
He will be directly responsible for student and curricular affairs, with particular emphasis on the Interdisciplinary Biomedical Sciences program.
"Dr. Terlecky is an accomplished researcher with a long-standing interest in, and commitment to, graduate student training at our school," said Bonita Stanton, M.D., vice dean of Research. "He has mentored several doctoral students in his laboratory, and served on the dissertation committees of many others. He has participated in developing the school's formalized M.D./Ph.D. program and been involved in a number of initiatives to increase graduate student recruitment. Dr. Terlecky has long been considered a trusted advisor to, and powerful advocate for, graduate students in the biomedical sciences."
The appointment follows the retirement in July of Robert Pauley, Ph.D., who served as associate dean of Graduate Programs since 2009. A school-wide search committee considered a number of internal and external applicants, which were narrowed to four candidates. The position will now be split between Dr. Terlecky and Daniel Walz, Ph.D., associate dean of Research, whose new title is associate dean of Research and Graduate Programs. Dr. Walz will oversee programmatic policy and manage academic concerns within the school and as they relate more broadly to the university.
"I am honored to be named associate dean of Graduate Programs here at the School of Medicine," said Dr. Terlecky, a resident of Bloomfield Hills. "Graduate biomedical education is an integral part of our school's mission, and I welcome the opportunity to play a role in its continued success.
"I am deeply committed to the graduate biomedical enterprise here at the Wayne State University School of Medicine. In my 15 years here, I have been involved in virtually every aspect of graduate student recruiting, teaching and mentoring and am ready to oversee an established culture of academic and research excellence," he added.
Dr. Terlecky founded EXT Life Sciences Inc., a Michigan-based biotechnology company whose goal is to develop and ultimately commercialize a now-patented protein biologic developed in his laboratory at the School of Medicine. The company focuses on developing new classes of proprietary targeted antioxidants for the global cosmeceutical and pharmaceutical markets.
"Our distinguished cadre of biomedical investigators trains outstanding students in state-of-the-art research facilities," Dr. Terlecky said. "Our goal going forward is to continue and expand these efforts, with an eye toward preparing students for an ever-expanding list of biomedical-based scientific careers. It is an extremely exciting and transformative time in science - a time of great opportunity."