Colorado State selects Disney's Dr. Mark Stetter as new veterinary college dean

Fort Collins, Colo.

— Colorado State University (CSU) announced today that Dr. Mark Stetter has been named the new dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Photo courtesy of CSU

Dr. Mark Stetter

Stetter replaces Dr. Lance Perryman, who announced his retirement from the post in June 2011. Perryman served as dean since 2001 and will stay on at the college until July 2012.

Stetter will begin working on the CSU campus in May, taking over as dean in July, following Perryman's departure in June. Stetter is a 23-year DVM who currently serves as director of animal operations for the Walt Disney Co.

“In seeking the next dean, we wanted someone with vision, leadership, research and administrative experience to advance the college’s research, support faculty achievement, engage alumni and constituents, and provide extraordinary education to our students,” says CSU President Tony Frank. "We found those qualities in Mark, and I am pleased to welcome him to Colorado State.”

At Disney, Stetter directed the company's animal- health programs around the world and managed a team of more than 500, including veterinarians, curators, zookeepers and aquarists. He also helped oversee company’s international wildlife research and conservation programs.

Stetter also has been heavily involved with supporting animal and wildlife research efforts at Disney and developed and chaired the company’s Animal Care and Welfare Committee. In addition, Stetter worked with media outlets under Disney Co. including ESPN, Disney Studios and ABC to ensure the appropriate use of animals in their productions. Stetter also serves as chair of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians Research Committee and as past chair of the Morris Animal Foundation’s Wildlife Scientific Advisory Board as well as an executive board member of the American College of Zoological Medicine.

Stetter is president and founder of The Elephant Population Management Program, which helps African countries address biodiversity issues associated with elephant overpopulation while assisting in wildlife conservation.Before joining the Disney Co. in 1997, Stetter was a veterinarian with the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Animal Health Center in several New York facilities including the Bronx and Central Park zoos and the New York Aquarium. He also directed the Animal Health Care Center at the Audubon Institute’s Zoological Garden in New Orleans.