Donald E. Letendre, dean of the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, will step down as dean in summer of 2024 after serving for 17 years.

Letendre will continue to lead the college until his successor is hired and plans to remain on faculty as a professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science to pursue scholarly work. 

During his time as dean, Letendre achieved substantial transformative changes in the college and beyond. Most notable among these was advocating, planning, and overseeing construction of the new College of Pharmacy building. Opened in 2020, the building is considered one of the premier facilities in the nation, boasting a student-first focus centered on active learning, technologically advanced classrooms, and ample space for informal learning and social engagement. Special attention in the design of the building was directed to inclusivity, bench science and discovery, and innovation. It was the first health sciences educational facility in the country to incorporate the concepts of Universal Design to help accommodate individuals with physical disabilities.

“The past 17 years as dean have been special,” says Letendre. “Serving as dean of the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy truly has been a privilege and an honor. I’m extremely confident that the college—with extraordinarily dedicated faculty, staff, and students—will keep moving on an upward trajectory.”

A champion of entrepreneurship and business innovation, Letendre created a framework for UI Pharmaceuticals, incorporating the former units of Pharmaceutical Services and Center for Advanced Drug Development, to achieve business growth and become the world’s only drug manufacturing facility housed in a College of Pharmacy. UI Pharmaceuticals is the largest and most experienced university-affiliated FDA-registered pharmaceutical manufacturing company in the U.S.

Additional accomplishments include:

• Amplifying outreach and advocacy efforts among legislators, civic and business leaders, and the broader health sciences community across the state.
• Shepherding an innovative Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum.
• Enhancing the college’s research profile.
• Fostering greater alumni engagement and creating a culture of philanthropy.
• Instilling a culture of community and family within the college.

“On behalf of the entire university community, I would like to thank Dean Letendre for his many years of dedication and service to the College of Pharmacy,” says Kevin Kregel, executive vice president and provost. “His leadership in opening the state-of-the-art College of Pharmacy Building was invaluable to the university and positions the college for new, exciting opportunities in the future. I am grateful that while he steps down from this role, he will continue to build upon his legacy of pharmaceutical innovation as a member of our faculty.”

A national search for the next dean will begin soon.