Beginning February 15, Shannon Wallet, Ph.D., takes on a newly created position in the University of Florida College of Medicine, or COM, as the first assistant dean for biomedical sciences where she will be leading the Biomedical PhD Program, the largest PhD program at COM with over 240 current students.
“I can’t imagine someone more suited to this role than Dr. Wallet whose career experiences and professional expertise make her the perfect person to lead the PhD program,” said A. Isabel Garcia, dean of the UF College of Dentistry. We look forward to the ways she’ll further strengthen our partnerships within the UF Academic Health Center and help build the future of oral health research at UF, and for Florida and the U.S.”
Wallet will remain in her College of Dentistry role as the chair and Louis and Marge Atkins Endowed Professor in the UF College of Dentistry Department of Oral Biology; she is also appointed as a professor in the COM Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics. Wallet has been an active participant in the Biomedical Sciences PhD program since 2005 contributing to the didactic education, mentorship of trainees and service to the program and its research community. She brings on board a history of administrative experiences ranging from associate dean for Faculty Affairs to Associate Dean for Research where she has developed a toolbox that will allow her to effectively and efficiently aid the Associate Dean for Graduate Education in developing and executing a strategic vision to advance the goals and academic operations related to the
“Dr. Wallet strongly believes in leading by example and as such she will remain active and engaged in her current administrative duties as chair as well as teaching, mentorship of trainees, and running a productive research program. Above all, Dr. Wallet is passionate about the Biomedical Sciences PhD Program and enthusiastic about the work ahead necessary to ensure that this top-tier graduate program can continue to support and promote the success of our trainees and mentors,” said David C. Bloom, Ph.D., who is the chair of the COM Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, the COM interim associate dean for graduate education and the director of the COM Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences.
Bloom said that creating and filing this position of assistant dean for biomedical sciences represents a milestone in the first phase of the build out of the COM Office of Graduate Education infrastructure to better serve our students and our programs.
“We are appreciative of the dean’s support huge support of our graduate students and the opportunity to provide resources and innovation to our graduate programs with the goal of making them among the best in the country,” Bloom said.