Rowan University celebrated the groundbreaking of the new Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine April 28, made possible by a $30 million gift from South Jersey businessman Gerald Shreiber that was announced during the event.

The ceremony included a number of state and local leaders, school officials and other key stakeholders, such as Gov. Phil Murphy, former Senate President Steve Sweeney, Rowan University President Ali Houshmand, and Shreiber, the chairman of J&J Snack Foods Corp. and a staunch animal welfare advocate.

Shreiber, who grew up outside Atlantic City, purchased a bankrupt soft pretzel company in 1971 and transformed it into a multibillion-dollar snack food and beverage juggernaut whose brands include: Superpretzel, Icee, Luigi’s and Minute Maid. He is a longtime supporter of Rowan, including a 2019 pledge of $3 million to establish the Shreiber Family Pet Therapy Program, which has provided group and individualized therapy animal visits for more than 8,000 Rowan students and employees.

“I’ve been very fortunate in business over the years,” said Shreiber. “I’m honored to give this gift. Animals are my passion, so I couldn’t think of a better way to give something back to make a positive impact on their lives. I’m excited to see the development of the veterinary school and to know I have a role in that. I believe New Jersey needs better veterinary care and if I can do my small part to help that, I’m happy to.”

‘Truly living up to its motto’

The Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine will be the first veterinary school in New Jersey. Its inaugural class of 60 to 70 students are expected to begin studies in 2025.

With the addition of the veterinary school, Rowan will be one of only two universities in the nation to offer three medical degrees: D.V.M., D.O., and M.D. Currently, there are just 33 veterinary schools in the country and only five on the East Coast.

The 108,000-square-foot school building will include classrooms, a teaching hospital, and educational and diagnostic laboratories. It will also serve as the base for the school’s mobile veterinary services.

The gift by Shreiber is the third largest in university history and the second largest from an individual.

Houshmand said that the contribution will enable Rowan to have the means to offer scholarships to veterinary students and help address growing demand for veterinary professionals here in New Jersey and across the country. He said it will also help keep state residents seeking veterinary careers here while attracting out-of-state students.

“Gerry Shreiber’s generosity has literally changed the lives of students at Rowan University. His confidence in us over the years is both humbling and inspirational,” said Houshmand. “Thank you, Mr. Shreiber, for your investment in Rowan, in New Jersey, in education, and in the health and welfare of animals for years to come. Your gift will be used to support scholarships, making attaining a veterinary degree more accessible and affordable. And that will happen in perpetuity.”

“This is really, really a huge day for the State of New Jersey and the region,” said Sweeney, who serves as the chair of the advisory board of Rowan’s Steve Sweeney Center for Public Policy. “For South Jersey, this is a game changer.”

The construction of the facility is also being supported by $75 million in funding approved by the governor last year.

“Just think about it … there’s going to be a very good chance that not too far in the future, graduates of Rowan University will be providing medical care to every member of a family living in New Jersey,” said Murphy. “When the Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine is added to all else that Rowan University does so well, this institution is truly living up to its motto, ‘Education, hope of the world.’”

“I’m very sure that there are young people growing up in New Jersey right now that could eventually apply to the veterinary school and pursue their dreams of treating animals with assistance from the gift,” said Shreiber. “That’s very satisfying to me. I’m looking forward to that first class walking down the aisle.”