To the Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Community:
Earlier this spring, President Dewey informed me of his intention to retire from ACPHS. Over the last several weeks, the Board of Trustees has worked with Dr. Dewey to ensure that we have sufficient time to select his successor and maintain strong leadership of the College. We appreciate that Dr. Dewey will continue to serve the College during this period of transition.
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I would like to thank Dr. Dewey for his visionary leadership of ACPHS. The College has significantly benefited from his entrepreneurial expertise – early on establishing two student-operated pharmacies in underserved areas in the Capital District as part of the Beyond Practice Ready Campaign. His vision was also instrumental in the establishment of the Collaboratory, which is the physical manifestation of our core values of Collaboration and Community.
Dr. Dewey led a strategic planning process in 2019 that surfaced those values that highlight the important roles of our students and our College both locally and beyond. This plan also provided the framework for our efforts to build Bridges to Industry, which connects our students to the future of pharmacy and health care. The centerpiece of this effort is the Stack Family Center for Biopharmaceutical Education and Training, which is focused on training the next generation of life science professionals for the biotechnology and biomanufacturing industries.
We have much to be proud of. Today, ACPHS is a financially stable, dynamic, health sciences institution and in its best position in decades. Our Mission to educate the next generation of leaders to improve the health of our society is as relevant now as it was 140 years ago. And we continue to adapt. The curricula have been diversified, key accreditations renewed, and alumni engaged in the past year alone. Importantly, with two successful capital campaigns in recent years, the endowment has grown 80% to ensure ACPHS’ success in the future.
ACPHS has emerged stronger from the pandemic. Under Dr. Dewey’s leadership and with the hard work and support of the ACPHS community, the College successfully mitigated the COVID pandemic – focusing on both student safety and student success. Our Faculty led the development of campus protocols, supporting testing for other colleges in the area and training pharmacists to give vaccinations. Positive momentum continued during this challenging period with progress continuing on the Campus Master Plan, the launch of the Discovery for Life Campaign, and the opening of the Stack Family Center for Biopharmaceutical Education and Training. Our recent experience has reinforced the importance of health science professionals and provided real-world experience in public health crises. As a result of Dr. Dewey’s innovative guidance and direction, the ACPHS community is well positioned to thrive and prosper.
The Board will establish a Presidential Search Committee composed of faculty, students, staff, alumni and trustees to oversee the search process. Our goal is to conduct a search inclusive of the ACPHS community with the diversity and experience needed to effectively evaluate candidates, ensure that ACPHS has the capability to address key issues in higher education in the future, and continue the College’s leadership role and innovation in pharmacy and health sciences education.
I speak for the Board in expressing our sincere appreciation for the many contributions Dr. Dewey has made to ACPHS and the community, and his desire to assist the transition in any way. We wish him and his wife Cindy all the best in his well-earned retirement. Although this leadership transition is bittersweet, we are ready to prepare for the exciting opportunities ahead.
