WSU College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences welcomes new dean

Serrine S. Lau, Ph.D., will take office as the Dean of Wayne State’s Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences on January 19, 2016.

Associate Dean Howard James Normille, Ph.D., was temporarily instituted as interim Dean of EACPHS on May 27 of this year due to the previous Dean, Lloyd Young, Ph.D., departing because of family reasons. Normille will step down as Lau takes office.

In search of a new Dean, Provost Margaret Winters appointed a search committee chaired by Dean Wayne Raskind of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The search committee constituted of EACPHS faculty and staff, who were also supported by an independent search firm.

Approximately 12 candidates were identified and interviewed. Among them, four were chosen to visit campus for two days in order to gain familiarity with the faculty, students, and administration. Winters said that the breadth and depth of Dr. Lau’s experiences made her stand out from the very beginning.

“Dr. Lau will serve as a leader in both research and education for the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. She is already investigating the potential for collaboration with the other health science schools and colleges, and will participate in the new iBio integrative programs,” said Winters. “She will be active beyond EACPHS in the realm of research and will also, as a member of the Council of Deans, be part of the leadership of WSU.”

Lau has served as a professor of pharmacology and toxicology at the University of Arizona, as well as the director of both the Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center and Center for Toxicology.

“I am a hard worker, dedicated to those I lead and to those I serve, I pay attention to detail, and never leave a stone unturned,” said Lau.

She has done intensive research on genetics and tumor tissue analysis. In regards to the effects of environmental carcinogens, she has studied both renal and prostate cancer in particular. She has also contributed to studies regarding retinoid medication for tissue injuries and proteomics about nephrotoxicity, hematotoxicity, diabetes, asthma, and cancer.

“I am looking forward to getting to know our new dean and using her vast wealth of knowledge and wisdom to serve the students of EACPHS, as well as the rest of the Wayne State Student body,” said Mohammed Ibrahim, EACPHS college-appointed student senator. “I am very excited about her appointment. I am sure Dr. Lau has a lot to offer our college, and her credentials are superb.”

Ibrahim hopes Lau brings a heavier emphasis on team-based learning to EACPHS. As a student, he believes that it is an effective method of teaching, and he would like to see more of it moving forward.

Lau’s long-term goals include: increasing student recruitment and college diversity, focusing on attracting the best scientists and educators as college faculty, encouraging community engagement, providing pipeline training opportunities to high school students, emphasizing multidisciplinary research, and implementing innovative teaching methods.

“Together with the collegial faculty and leaders on campus, I intend to substantially elevate the national reputation of the College,” she said.

Helana Makki, a first-year in her pharmacy graduate program at EACPHS heard about Lau’s appointment through a mass email. “I was excited, she seemed impressive, and they put a lot of consideration into their decision to hire her,” she said.

Upon learning of Lau’s background as a researcher, Makki said she believes that her specialties will bring forth exciting research opportunities and as a student. She said she wanted to continue to push herself to see what she can learn at EACPHS under Lau’s leadership.

“I very much enjoy nurturing and mentoring young faculty and to witness their maturity into nationally and internationally recognized scientists and educators. I enjoy this aspect more than my own success,” Lau said.

Contact Info:

Aleanna Siacon

Email: fv7748@wayne.edu

Cell #: (586)3545040

Twitter: @Aterese11

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