David Dietz named University of Kansas dean of pharmacy

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas has selected David Dietz as the next dean of the School of Pharmacy. Dietz is currently a professor and chair of the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology as well as the associate dean of research strategy at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo.

He will begin his new role Aug. 1.

“With a proven record of excellence in scholarship and research, as well as innovation in academic programs and administrative practice, David will serve as a visionary leader to advance the School of Pharmacy in future years,” said Barbara A. Bichelmeyer, university chief academic officer and provost and executive vice chancellor of KU Lawrence and Edwards. “I’m sure he will be a valued addition to KU and strengthen our mission of educating leaders, building healthy communities and making discoveries that change the world.”

As dean of the pharmacy school, Dietz will lead the school’s faculty and staff with a clear vision and strategies to strengthen research and academic programs. He will be responsible for personnel, budgets, alumni engagement, fundraising, and government and industry relations. He will also be a strong proponent for pharmacological research, professional pharmaceutical education and the school as a whole. He will bridge pharmacy research across the school, campus, KU Medical Center and the University of Kansas Health System.

“This represents a phenomenal opportunity to move the school forward, building on its already amazing track of progress and positioning the School of Pharmacy as a major hub of activity in terms of education and research at the University of Kansas,” Dietz said. “I want to support faculty, staff and students in continuing excellence and empowering them to be even stronger members of KU. This will enable all of us to facilitate the opportunities we need to reach our goals, while connecting communities and partners throughout the state, nation and world.”

He will succeed Barbara Timmermann, who has served as KU’s interim pharmacy dean since May 2024. Timmermann is a University Distinguished Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and was the former chair of the department for seven years.

“Many thanks to Barbara for her leadership and dedication to supporting our pharmacy school community during this transitional period,” Bichelmeyer said. “I also thank the search committee for their great work and commitment throughout the search process.”

In his position as chair of UB’s pharmacology and toxicology department, Dietz oversees two undergraduate majors, two master’s programs and two doctoral programs. He founded the school’s undergraduate program in neurosciences, and he has also helped develop and implement a medical school curriculum that utilizes an integrated approach to prepare students for developing challenges in the modern health care field.

Dietz’s research has focused on understanding how molecular and behavioral plasticity in the brain mediates the susceptibility of individuals to drug abuse and relapse. He is principal investigator on multiple National Institutes of Health grants to study heroin- and cocaine-induced changes in the brain during addiction.

In addition, Dietz was recognized as a UB Exceptional Scholar, both as a Young Investigator in 2015 and for Sustained Achievement in 2023. Dietz is also a member of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, Society for Neuroscience and American Association for the Advancement of Science. He previously served as the president of his local chapter for the Society for Neuroscience.

Dietz earned his doctorate in neuroscience from Florida State University and his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Rutgers University. He additionally was a postdoctoral fellow in the Friedman Brain Institute at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.

“I’m deeply excited to join the KU community, and it’s truly an honor,” Dietz said. “I’m looking forward to serving as a leader within this premier school to help raise the reputation of KU on a global scale.”

The School of Pharmacy’s mission is to provide exceptional educational opportunities for professional, graduate and postgraduate students. Through exemplary curricula and programs, the school encourages the advancement of patient-centered care to enhance health. The school also maintains a leadership role in developing innovative technologies and pharmaceuticals and conducting drug therapy related research inclusive of basic, clinical and administrative sciences for the state, nation and world.