Dr. Vasant Telang
Former Associate Provost, Howard University
View Full Profile
Dr. Vasant G. Telang is an internationally honored pharmacist, a well known scientist and educator, who has attained the highest levels of administrative responsibility in higher education.
Dr. Telang is a product of the University of Bombay, India where he spent his formative years and earned a B.Sc (Honors) in Chemistry, B.Sc(Tech) and M.Sc. (Tech) degrees in Pharmaceuticals and fine Chemicals. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Rhode Island in 1968 and was the key member of Medicinal Chemistry research group of Professor Philip S. Portoghese at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Professor Portoghese is one of the most well recognized experts in the field of drug design in the world and continues to be the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry for over 35 years.
From Dr. Portuguese's laboratory, Dr. Telang was selected over 30 years ago to join the faculty of the Howard University College of Pharmacy in Washington, D.C. Through his record of distinguished research, clinical instruction, service to the university and Pharmacy community, Professor Telang went on to become Assistant Dean, Associate Dean and then interim Dean of the College of Pharmacy. He was in charge of the Pharmacy School when the Colleges of Pharmacy, Nursing and Allied Health Sciences were combined into one college. In 2001, his exceptional professional and personal qualities were recognized further and Dr. Telang was appointed as Associate Provost of Howard University.
In this position, Professor Telang is responsible for a very wide academic portfolio at the highest level at Howard University. The College of Pharmacy, Nursing and Allied Health Services, College of Medicine, College of Dentistry and the School of Law come under his responsibility-excellence in teaching and assessment, institutional faculty grant programs, university-wide academic appointments, promotions and tenure, new academic programs and Fulbright Scholars Program.
Dr. Telang has received several honors and awards: outstanding faculty (1974), Black Apothecary Faculty (1975), Faculty Member of the Year (1982), Rho Chi Faculty (1985), Honored Faculty (1989), Distinguished faculty (1991) and Cultural Diversity Awareness (1999). His active involvement and contributions to the Washington D.C. Pharmaceutical Association garnered him the honor of "Pharmacist of the Year" (1984). Dr, Telang received the "Pharmacy Leadership Award" (1986) in recognition of accomplished Leadership in the Advancement of Pharmacy from the National Association of Retail Druggists. He served as the President of Washington, D.C. Pharmaceutical Association (1985-86) and President of Howard University Chapter of Sigma Xi (1986-87). In 1987, he received the distinguished "A.H. Robins Bowl of Hygeia" Award.
Dr. Telang serves as Executive Director of the National Advisory Council for South Asian Affairs to the U.S. Department of State (1985-present). He was National Vice President of the Association of Indians in America (1987-91). He was awarded the Hind Rattan "Jewel of India" Award (1992) by the Non-Resident Welfare Society of India, New Delhi, India and the " B.V. Patel Memorial Award" (1993) for contributions in the field of Pharmaceutical Sciences by the Indian Pharmaceutical Association. Dr. Telang has served with distinction on various committees of professional bodies including the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA). He served as Secretary/Treasurer (1990-2002) of the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) and AACP, District II. In 2002, District II bestowed the "Distinguished Service Award" on him for his leadership and service.
Dr. Telang's professional affiliations include: Rho Chi, the National Pharmacy Honor Society; (APLA); American Chemical Society; AACP; Sigma Xi, American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS); New York Academy of Sciences and Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA). Dr. Telang has over thirty-seven scientific publications to his credit.
