As plans move forward to create the Dell Medical School, which will be affiliated with UT Austin, a search committee has been formed to find the medical school’s inaugural dean. 

The search committee consists of 18 members, including four UT System deans, several health professionals, two UT students and faculty members including Robert Messing, a pharmacy professor and vice provost for biomedical sciences who was named co-chair of the medical school’s steering committee in January. 

Da’marcus Baymon, a biology senior and member of the committee who plans to attend the UT Galveston Medical School in the fall, said he appreciated the chance to help shape the future medical school’s culture so early on in the process.

“The role of dean is critical in setting the tone for a medical school,” Baymon said. “I’m honored to help and to be a part of UT’s history.” 

Baymon said he does not yet know what qualities he hopes to find in a dean.

“I don’t want to limit myself this early on, especially before we begin to discuss candidates as a group,” Baymon said. “We’re all going to need to keep an open mind.” 

The University hired Witt/Kieffer, an executive search firm with experience in finding deans for medical and health sciences schools, to help guide the search process. 

The committee members will attempt to find a dean before the start of the 2013-2014 academic year to prepare for the expected launch of the medical school in 2016. The inaugural class will likely be composed of roughly 50 students.