After a comprehensive national search, it is my distinct pleasure to announce the appointment of Keith Jenné, DVM, as Executive Director of the Animal Care Program and Campus Veterinarian – effective immediately.
Dr. Jenné joined UC San Diego as Associate Director of the Animal Care Program (ACP) in June of 2001 and was appointed to the Interim Director position in July of 2022. He stepped into the role following Dr. Philip Richter’s retirement after nearly 30 years.
During his tenure as associate director, Dr. Jenné contributed to departmental efforts critical to the university’s success as a top-10 research institution. Funding for research benefiting from the animal care program’s expertise exceeds more than $300 million annually. Dr. Jenné’s contributions over the years have been immeasurable to the teams engaged in scientific discovery on campus and within the international research community we serve.
As associate director, Dr. Jenné directed a range of technical service functions with significant impact on UC San Diego’s in vivo research programs. In addition to generating more than $500,000 in annual external revenue for the university, Dr. Jenné spearheaded the development and operation of more than 50,000-square-feet of in-vivo research space, and managed logistics, equipment and maintenance for ACP, including the first-of-its-kind $15 million centralized research services facility funded in part by a grant from the National Institutes of Health.
A graduate of the University of California system, Dr. Jenné received his Bachelor of Arts in cell biology and biochemistry from UC San Diego in 1989, his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from UC Davis in 1996, and he completed a residency program in laboratory animal medicine at UC Berkeley in 2000.
I sincerely appreciate Dr. Jenné’s expertise and willingness to accept the interim role and am proud to recognize his outstanding leadership throughout the search to fill the permanent position. I also appreciate the contributions of the entire ACP team to the effective operations of the program during the last nine months – particularly Dr. Katherine Makowski, who served as interim Attending Veterinarian, and who continues to play a key role in the leadership of the Veterinary Residence Program. Finally, I want to extend my gratitude to the Search Advisory Committee, chaired by Dr. Michael Gorman, for its work in helping to fill this position.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Keith Jenné on his appointment as executive director. We are excited to move forward as the university continues to grow and the intricacies of research become more complex and life changing.
