Roseman University to Begin Planning for College of Veterinary Medicine in Nevada, Names Founding Dean

Roseman University announced that it has submitted a letter of intent to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council on Education, formally initiating the planning process for a proposed College of Veterinary Medicine at its Henderson, Nevada, campus.

 

The university has named Dr. Katherine Fogelberg the founding dean to lead the development of the proposed program. A seasoned educator, scholar, and veterinary professional, Dr. Fogelberg brings a unique blend of academic leadership, clinical experience, and global service to the role. She will guide the early planning stages as Roseman works closely with the veterinary community and other stakeholders across Nevada.

 

“Launching a veterinary college requires both a strong vision and deep engagement with the community it will serve,” said Dr. Renee Coffman, president and co-founder of Roseman University. “Dr. Fogelberg brings the right combination of experience, insight, and passion to help Roseman build a veterinary program that responds to the growing needs of Nevada and the surrounding region.”

 

Dr. Fogelberg earned a Ph.D. in science education from Texas Christian University, an M.A. in educational leadership from St. Mary’s University, and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from Texas A&M University. An Army veteran, she has more than a decade of clinical experience in small animal general and emergency practice, with additional work in zoo and wildlife medicine. Over the past 15 years, she has served in higher education as a professor and administrator, publishing widely across veterinary medicine, education, and public health.

She is editor and contributing author of a recently published veterinary education textbook, a founding member and past president of the Academy of Veterinary Educators, and one of only 32 distinguished educators selected to lead the development of a global veterinary educator certification process.

 

While there is no definitive timeline for the program’s launch, the submission of the letter of intent to the AVMA Council on Education allows Roseman to begin the preliminary planning and development process. This includes consultation with veterinary professionals throughout Nevada to establish clinical partnerships.

 

The need for more veterinarians in Nevada is well documented. Urban areas face long wait times for appointments, and rural regions often lack access to veterinary care entirely, affecting not only companion animals but also livestock, public health, and food safety.

As of 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated several regions in Nevada, including west-central, southern, eastern, and northern areas, as high-priority shortage zones for veterinary services, especially in food animal medicine. These areas include counties such as Douglas, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, Lincoln, Pershing, and Lander. Shortages also persist in all states in the western U.S., with high-priority zones in parts of California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Arizona.

 

“Our goal is to create a veterinary program that is not only academically rigorous but also deeply mission-driven,” said Dr. Fogelberg. “We want to train veterinarians who are equipped to serve all communities—urban and rural, pets and livestock, locally and nationally.”

 

The proposed College of Veterinary Medicine would expand Roseman University’s growing portfolio of health professions programs, which includes colleges of pharmacy, nursing, dental medicine, and medicine, and reinforces its mission to advance health and wellness in Nevada and beyond.