Leadership Announcement - R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy

Dear colleagues,

Dean Rick Schnellmann has informed me of his decision to step down as dean of the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, effective June 30, 2025. He will be returning to his tenured faculty position in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and will take a one-year research leave before resuming teaching in July 2026.

Since joining the college as dean in 2016, Dr. Schnellmann has led significant advancements in pharmaceutical research and education, enhancing the college's capabilities in drug discovery, pharmaceutics, pharmacology and toxicology, and has strengthened partnerships with the pharmaceutical industry. Under his leadership, the college benefited from a transformative $50 million gift from alumnus R. Ken Coit in 2021, leading to the creation of endowed chairs and the establishment of the Coit Center for Longevity and Neurotherapeutics.  

Dr. Schnellmann’s tenure has also been marked by notable personal achievements. In 2022, he received the Robert W. Berliner Award for Excellence in Renal Physiology from the American Physiological Society, and in 2025, he was named a fellow of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. His research has been continuously funded since 1987, and focuses on mitochondrial dysfunction and the development of therapeutics for conditions such as acute kidney injury, diabetic kidney disease, stroke, spinal cord injury, and Parkinson's disease.

As Dr. Schnellmann returns to research and teaching, he will continue to make a profound impact in the field of pharmaceutical sciences through mentoring the next generation of pharmacists and scientists and advancing research that improves lives.

I am pleased to share that Dr. Brian Erstad, professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, has graciously accepted to serve as interim dean for the college starting July 1.  

Dr. Brian Erstad earned his PharmD from the U of A in 1987 and joined the College of Pharmacy faculty the following year. He served as head of the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science from 2012 to 2024 and was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy in 2025. A former member of the college leadership team and a valued colleague, Dr. Erstad has built a distinguished national and international reputation for his contributions to pharmacy education, clinical practice, and health outcomes research.

As a PharmD, Dr. Erstad brings deep expertise to clinical training programs and curriculum development. He has held prominent leadership positions, including president of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, and has been appointed co-chair of an international panel for the Society of Critical Care Medicine.

Please join me in expressing our gratitude to Dr. Schnellmann for his exceptional contributions to the university and in wishing him continued success as he transitions back to his tenured faculty role and continues his impactful research.

More information on the national search for the next dean of the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy will be forthcoming.

Sincerely,

Patricia A. Prelock 
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

This email was sent to all students, faculty, staff and DCCs in the R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy.