This year will be the last for the dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State.

Norman Cheville announced Wednesday he will retire at the end of this academic year, at a time when he said he feels the college needs new leadership. Cheville served as interim dean of the college in October of 2000 and became dean in May of 2001.

The college has made progress in the production of animal medicine, food security and public health training, and Cheville said he’s stepping aside to allow for fresh ideas.

“I’ve had my input and it’s been successful. The college is very well-positioned to go into the modernization plan,” he said. “The next phase needs new ideas and new creativity. I’ve reached a stage in my life where [working for] one or two more years would be fine, but now is the time to make that change in leadership.”

Cheville will spend this year leading the college through its upcoming accreditation process and advocating for the renovation and expansion of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.

Donald Reynolds, associate dean of research and graduate studies in the college of veterinary medicine, said Cheville has been a “strong advocate for improvement” in the college.

“He’s an outstanding person. He has helped out the college in many ways,” he said. “He’s provided leadership in many of our new areas.”

Reynolds said Cheville has helped bring the College of Veterinary Medicine’s deficit problems to the forefront.Donald Draper, interim associate dean of biomedical sciences, said Cheville’s absence will be felt in the college next year.

“Dean Cheville has been a visionary leader for the college and has implemented many constructive programs,” he said. “He’s a very good friend and we look forward to working with him for the rest of this year and in other capacities in the future.”

The College of Veterinary Medicine has had three deans during the last 15 years.

“More recent deans’ tenures have been shorter than they were years and years ago,” Reynolds said.

The tenures seemed to be longer in the early to mid-1900s, he said.

“Back in the 20s, 30s and 40s it was not unusual for deans to have tenures for 10 to 15 years,” Reynolds said. “Times change.”

Charles Stange served as dean for 27 years from 1909 to 1936, which was the longest tenure for a dean since the college was founded in 1879. Milikan Stalker, the first dean of the college, served 21 years.

Ben Allen, provost and vice president for academic affairs, is expected to begin the search process for a new dean soon. Allen was unavailable for comment Wednesday.

Cheville has agreed to keep his position until a new dean is chosen. After that, taking a fishing trip will be the top priority, followed by retirement in the Ames community, he said.

Rachel Allbaugh, senior in veterinary medicine, said she had Cheville as a professor during her first year at the college.

“The times that I have interacted with him, he was very helpful and informative, always willing to take time out of his schedule to talk with students,” she said. “He seemed to take students’ thoughts and concerns very seriously.”

Cheville said he is confident his involvement with the college won’t end on his last day of work this spring.

“Being retired from the veterinary school doesn’t mean I’ll retire intellectually,” he said. “I’ll continue to help out whenever and wherever I’m asked.”

— Daily staff writers Ayrel Clark and Luke Jennett contributed to this story.