Contact: Joe Farris
Thomson
An Iowa State University professor is the new dean of Mississippi State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, pending approval of the state College Board.
John U. Thomson, section leader for production animal medicine at Iowa State's College of Veterinary Medicine, will begin his new duties at MSU July 15.
Thomson is responsible for teaching, research and continuing education for the production medicine section of the ISU veterinary college, where he has been a faculty member for two years.
For seven years prior to that, he headed the veterinary science department and directed the Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory at South Dakota State University, where he also spent three years as an extension service veterinarian.
Thomson, who was in private veterinary practice in Iowa for 20 years before entering higher education, was chosen in a nationwide search. He replaces H. Dwight Mercer, who retired this spring after 12 years as dean of the MSU veterinary college.
"Dr. Thomson has significant experience in land-grant universities in Iowa and South Dakota," said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs David Cole. "He understands the vital role of a major research and teaching institution in agricultural states like Mississippi."
Thomson was South Dakota's Veterinarian of the Year in 1993, Extension Specialist of the Year in 1989, and president of the American Association of Extension Veterinarians in 1994-95. His specialties include clinical epidemiology and beef cow-calf production.
"Dr. Thomson's combination of experience as a classroom teacher, productive researcher, extension veterinarian and private practitioner gives him an unusual understanding of the needs of the various constituencies of the College of Veterinary Medicine," said Rodney Foil, vice president for agriculture, forestry and veterinary medicine. "We expect him to hit the ground running."
Thomson received bachelor's and doctor of veterinary medicine degrees from Iowa State in 1965 and 1967, respectively. He also completed a master's from Northwest Missouri State University in 1988.
One of 27 in the country, MSU's veterinary college was established by the legislature in 1974 and admitted its first students in 1977. A pioneer in its early days in computer-based instruction for veterinarians, it now is a national leader in implementing problem-based learning in the curriculum.
MSU veterinary researchers have saved Mississippi producers of beef, catfish, poultry, and pork tens of millions of dollars through disease prevention and nutrition improvements.