Legislative delegation presents $6M check for Shreiber School

A number of state lawmakers who successfully advocated for $6 million in state funding for Rowan University’s Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine presented the institution with a ceremonial check Tuesday, representing legislative support for New Jersey’s first and only veterinary school.  

The presentation took place at the new veterinary school building during the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey TD Executive Series event, which featured a discussion with Rowan University President Ali Houshmand and Founding Dean Matthew Edson.

Christina Renna, the chamber’s president and CEO, introduced the delegation, which included Majority Leader Louis Greenwald; Sen. Troy Singleton, a 2005 Rowan alumnus; Sen. John Burzichelli; Sen. James Beach; Assemblyman David Bailey Jr.; Assemblywoman Heather Simmons; Assemblywoman Carol Murphy; and Assemblyman Cody Miller. 

Singleton pointed to his legislative colleagues’ advocacy in Trenton and the bipartisan, statewide effort to deliver what he called the state’s “crown jewel,” its first veterinary school. 

“It is not by happenstance that this (school) has been able to rise out of farmland to be the premier higher education institution in the state of New Jersey,” Singleton said. “And it’s done through collaboration and partnership.”  

“So many young men and women who aspire to take care of our animals, both domestic and our working animals, used to have to go across the river or across the country to get that education,” Singleton added. “And now that education stands here and it's kept home.”

Houshmand thanked the lawmakers for their support during a challenging budget process for the new fiscal year, and for making it possible to build the school. In 2021, the state Legislature approved $75 million to help construct the veterinary school’s primary academic and clinical facility.

Higher education shouldn’t rely only on tuition, fees and public funding for support, Houshmand added. 

“We need to find our own way of generating resources and revenues to supplement what we do in order to create this magnificent campus for our students,” Houshmand said. “So the fact that we went from zero appropriation (this year) for this great school to what we received, I am enormously grateful to all of you.”

Rowan University commemorated the opening of Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine in 2025. The University is one of only two public universities in the nation to grant D.V.M., D.O. and M.D. degrees and is the fastest-growing public research university in the Northeast, and among the top 10 in the nation.

One of 36 veterinary schools in the U.S. and among only five in the Northeast, the Shreiber School is named for the late benefactor, business leader and longtime Rowan supporter Gerald B. Shreiber, who used his business success to support animal welfare and education. He pledged $30 million to support the school and student scholarships.

Its veterinary teaching hospital offers primary, urgent and specialty care services for dogs, cats and exotic pets, and field services for large animals.