The academic year is almost over, and this weekend we will celebrate the accomplishments of our fourth-year students during their well-earned hooding and commencement ceremonies. They will bring their exceptional talents with them into new jobs, internships, research endeavors, and service work that truly embody the mission of veterinary medicine – to advance animal and human health here and across the world. Fourth-year students, your community is proud of you, and we are excited to see the mark you make on the world. We look forward to welcoming your family and friends to the college to celebrate with you.

During the last five years of construction on college facilities, the support we received from donors and the State of New York was integral in bringing blueprints to reality. While a few more changes are still on the way, the major benchmarks of updating our teaching facilities and increasing our energy efficiency have given us an excellent space in which to advance veterinary medicine and biomedical research. This Friday we will hold the first of two dedication events for the new facilities. The first event will be held in conjunction with the Cornell University Board of Trustees meeting and will recognize private donors and New York state support that made the construction possible. The college community is invited to hear remarks by President Pollack and other visitors at 12:45 p.m., Friday March 25^th in the atrium.

June is fast approaching, and with it our preparations for Reunion 2018. All faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to participate in Reunion festivities and welcome our alumni back to the college. I especially hope you will join alumni and friends on June 8 at 2 p.m. in the atrium for a celebration of our new facilities.

Thanks for all you have done to contribute to another successful academic year and I wish you a healthy, productive summer.

Lorin D. Warnick DVM, Ph.D. ’94
Austin O. Hooey Dean of Veterinary Medicine