Roseman University of Health Sciences President Dr. Harry Rosenberg Announces Retirement; Dr. Renee Coffman Named Successor

HENDERSON, Nev.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dr. Harry Rosenberg announced today his plan to retire as president of Roseman University of Health Sciences on Dec. 14. Dr. Renee Coffman, co-founder of the university and current executive vice president of quality assurance and intercampus consistency, was appointed as the next president.

“After careful thought and discussions with the university’s Board of Trustees, I have concluded it is the appropriate time to pass the torch to a new leader of our innovative institution”

“After careful thought and discussions with the university’s Board of Trustees, I have concluded it is the appropriate time to pass the torch to a new leader of our innovative institution,” President Rosenberg said. “It has been the highest honor of my career to serve as president of Roseman University since our founding in 1999 as the Nevada College of Pharmacy, and through our remarkable growth into one of the finest health sciences universities in the country.”

On August 23, the university’s Board of Trustees approved Rosenberg’s retirement and his appointment as president emeritus, a designation created in December 2007. In addition, Rosenberg was given a three-year ancillary contract beginning December 15 to work exclusively on the strategic growth of the university, reporting directly to the Board.

“Dr. Harry Rosenberg established Roseman University more than 12 years ago, revolutionizing higher education with new educational philosophies and models of teaching. Today Roseman has more than 1,400 graduates who are making tremendous contributions to health care,” said Diana Bond, chair of the Board of Trustees. “I am very impressed with the significant accomplishments Roseman University has made under his leadership. He has been a superb and collaborative president, leading the university with great integrity and vision. We look forward to continuing our work with him in a strategic role as we expand Roseman University’s influence in health care education regionally and nationally.”

At the same Board of Trustees meeting, members approved the appointment of Dr. Renee Coffman as Rosenberg’s successor. Coffman served as dean of Roseman University’s College of Pharmacy for eight years before transitioning into her current position of executive vice president in July 2011.

“It is a privilege and honor to be selected as the next president of Roseman University,” Coffman said. “I’m very proud of the distinct approach to education we have developed, with emphasis on mastery learning and collaboration. Under President Rosenberg’s leadership, the university experienced tremendous growth and success, and I look forward to working with the Board of Trustees, administration, faculty, staff, alumni and students to continue building this extraordinary institution.”

Bond said, “Dr. Coffman exudes the values, leadership style and commitment needed to build upon and continue the extraordinary progress made thus far by Roseman University. Her breadth and depth of experience as a leader at the university, her contributions to the development of the Roseman’s educational philosophies, and commitment to excellence make her the obvious choice to lead this institution.”

Prior to co-founding Roseman University, Dr. Coffman was a founding member of the faculty at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, Calif., where she also held the position of facilitative officer for student services. A licensed pharmacist in the state of Nevada, Coffman earned a pharmacy degree from Ohio Northern University in 1987 and earned a doctoral degree in industrial and physical pharmacy from Purdue University.

Coffman has supported pharmacy, education, and improved health care through her work with the Southern Nevada Medical Industry Coalition, iDO (Improving Diabetes and Obesity in Southern Nevada), the Nevada State Board of Pharmacy Medication Error Discussion Group, and the Nevada State Board of Pharmacy Committee on Standards for Approval of Pharmacy Technician Training Programs.

Coffman and Rosenberg founded Roseman University with the idea that pharmacy education should and could be better, more effective, and capable of producing highly competent graduates. They opened the university (originally named the Nevada College of Pharmacy) in 1999 with $15,000 and a 900-square-foot office in Henderson. Twelve years later Roseman University is recognized as one of the most innovative, creative, and cost-effective health sciences universities in the nation, and includes pharmacy, nursing, dental and health care business programs available on campuses in Henderson and South Jordan, Utah.

About Roseman University of Health Sciences

Founded in 1999, Roseman University of Health Sciences is a private, non-profit institution of higher learning with campuses in Henderson, Nev. and South Jordan, Utah. The university is comprised of the College of Dental Medicine, offering an Advanced Education in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics/MBA residency and Doctor of Dental Medicine program; College of Pharmacy, offering a Doctor of Pharmacy and Professional Continuing Education; College of Nursing, offering a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing; and an MBA program. The university is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and is an equal opportunity institution. For more information, visit www.roseman.edu.