Tesh to lead academic affairs at Texas A&M Health Science Center

Vernon L. Tesh, Ph.D., has been appointed vice president for academic affairs at Texas A&M Health Science Center. The appointment, which formalizes Tesh’s previously interim status, was approved at the January 30 meeting of The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents.

At the helm of the institution’s Office of Academic Affairs, Tesh will lead comprehensive academic initiatives at the health science center including:  driving new curricula designed to maximize learning and preparation for health professions students, advancing faculty promotion and tenure processes, overseeing national accreditation initiatives, and developing new academic programs to meet the needs of the state while improving capabilities to accelerate new preventions and cures. He will also serve as a liaison with the Texas A&M University Office of the Dean of Faculties and Office of the Provost.

“Dr. Tesh is unwaveringly committed to student success and comprehensive, supportive faculty development – from instructor through full professorship,” said Brett P. Giroir, interim executive vice president and CEO at Texas A&M Health Science Center. “He represents the exact type of dedicated, servant leader that we aspire to add to the health science center team.”

Tesh began serving as interim vice president for academic affairs on January 1, 2013. During his interim basis, Tesh was instrumental in advancing programmatic initiatives and new curricula to support growth of the institution, while simultaneously shepherding complex accrediting and merger-related activities to ensure continued academic excellence.

Prior to the interim appointment, Tesh served as associate dean for faculty affairs and curriculum management at the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine. He also is a tenured professor in the Department of Microbial and Molecular Pathogenesis at the college. During his research career, Tesh made groundbreaking discoveries related to the deadly Shiga toxin-producing E. coli bacteria that are often transmitted in undercooked meat and may cause acute kidney failure or even death.

Tesh earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Virginia and a doctorate degree in microbiology and immunology from Emory University in Georgia. He then completed a post-doctoral fellowship in microbiology at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Maryland.