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New Jersey's first veterinary school now has a name thanks to a $30 million gift to Rowan University from the chairman and former CEO of SuperPretzel maker J&J Snack Foods.
The gift comes from Gerald B. Shreiber, who in addition to founding the South Jersey snack company is a board member of the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and has a pet therapy program named after him at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. The gift is the third largest in Rowan's history, and in return the groundbreaking school will be named the Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine.
Rowan President Ali Houshmand announced his intentions to open the state's first veterinary school in December 2021. It will be the country's third named veterinary school, Rowan says.
Plans call for a 108,000-square-foot building with a price tag of $145 million. The project will be built at Zee and Mullica Hill roads on Rowan's West Campus in Harrison.
The New Jersey State Legislature committed $75 million to fund the project, which is being designed by Philadelphia-based architecture firm Erdy McHenry. Included is an animal hospital, classrooms and lab space. The university expects to welcome its first class in 2025 and is aiming for a class size of 60 to 70 students.
Houshmand, along with Shreiber and Gov. Phil Murphy were on hand at the school's West Campus to announce the gift on Friday. Shreiber said the gift "represents everything I'm passionate about."
"I’m fortunate to be in a position where I can help a broader group of talented people pursue their passion to treat and serve animals," said Shreiber, who lives on a 113-acre farm where he owns dogs, horses, burros, pygmy goats and a cat.
Shreiber founded J&J Snack Foods in 1971 after purchasing the failing J&J Pretzel Co. The Pennsauken-based company went public in 1985 and most recently posted revenue of $1.38 billion in fiscal year 2022. It counts brands like SuperPretzel, ICEE and Luigi's Italian Ice in its portfolio.
Shreiber's gift is the third largest behind two gifts that altered the course of Rowan's history. Now dubbed the Rowan Gift, a $100 million donation from Henry and Betty Rowan in 1992 was the largest given to a public university at the time and the school subsequently changed its name from Glassboro State College just a few years later. Another $85 million philanthropic investment from Virtua Health was announced when the two institutions laid out plans to partner to create a new academic health system, the Virtua Health College of Medicine & Health Sciences of Rowan University.
Murphy said that the veterinary school, along with the new health system exemplify the state's "commitment to training world-class health care providers."
“Rowan will be one of the only universities in the country to offer Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Doctor of Medicine, and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degrees," Murphy said.
Rowan has had an acute focus on rapid academic and physical growth under Houshmand, who had his contract extended through at least 2029 this week in his 11th year at the helm. Houshmand detailed plans to the Business Journal to leverage incoming assets like the health system and veterinary school to create a "holistic wellness village" on 210 acres on the school's West Campus. It would be adjacent to the new medical buildings the school is planning and could cost upwards of $500 million, he estimated.
