South Jersey legislators deliver $8M for Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine
South Jersey legislators recently visited Rowan University’s new Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine to present $8 million in state appropriations that will support operations at New Jersey’s first veterinary school. The visit came just weeks before the inaugural class is scheduled to begin, with a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony planned for mid-October.
Hosted by Rowan University leadership, including President Ali Houshmand, Founding Dean Dr. Matthew Edson, and Provost Voki Pophristic, the legislators toured the under-construction facilities on the university’s West Campus in Harrison Township. The group explored various areas of the state-of-the-art complex, including clinical spaces, imaging suites, operating rooms, and educational laboratories.
This year’s funding represents the latest in a series of investments supporting the school’s development. In 2021, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy approved $75 million in funding to aid in the construction of the academic and clinical buildings. The facility is designed to serve three core functions: a teaching hospital for veterinary students, a provider of specialty care previously unavailable in South Jersey, and a future center for translational biomedical research and 24/7 emergency veterinary services.
The support from South Jersey lawmakers reflects a broader effort to expand higher education and professional training opportunities within the state. Legislators emphasized the importance of offering in-state veterinary education for New Jersey residents, particularly as the field continues to experience high demand and workforce shortages.
Rowan University, which has more than doubled its enrollment over the past decade, continues to grow its footprint in medical education. The addition of the Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine will make it one of only two universities in the United States to house three medical schools.
Situated along Routes 55 and 322, the new veterinary school will serve as a hub for education, clinical services, and research—positioning South Jersey as a growing center for advanced veterinary and biomedical sciences.
