Contact: Allison Matthews

STARKVILLE, Miss.—The longtime dean of Mississippi State’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Kent Hoblet, has announced his plans to transition to a part-time faculty role, effective Jan. 1, 2023.

Hoblet has led CVM as dean for more than 16 years.

“Dr. Hoblet’s tenure as dean has resulted in the substantial growth and strengthening of our outstanding veterinary medicine programs,” said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. “Dr. Hoblet has provided outstanding leadership, and I am appreciative that MSU will continue to benefit from his contributions as a faculty member.”

MSU Vice President for the Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine Keith Coble said Hoblet has overseen CVM’s distinctive programs that require two full years of mentored clinical education for Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students. The college also offers Ph.D. and master’s degree programs, as well as a veterinary medical technology program. Students attain a strong, multi-species foundation and may focus on species or discipline interests.

“Dr. Hoblet’s distinguished service has been integral to the college and the Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine. He has led faculty who are internationally recognized in their fields for educating future leaders, researching and developing health solutions, and serving communities through the highest quality of diagnostics and clinical care,” Coble said.

Hoblet earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and master’s degrees at Ohio State University, where he served on the faculty from 1983 until moving to Mississippi State in 2006. For much of his time at OSU, he served as chair of the Department of Veterinary Preventative Medicine and as the university’s Extension veterinarian for dairy cattle. He previously operated a private veterinary practice for 12 years in Ashland, Ohio.

Hoblet said he is especially proud that CVM offers DVM students more surgical experience prior to graduation than nearly any other program in the country. Students have high match rates for internships and residencies, opportunities for clinical training in six locations, training in marine animal medicine, extremely high national board examination passage rates, as well as high employment rates and starting salaries.

“MSU students in the College of Veterinary Medicine have opportunities to learn from the best, and it has been my pleasure to serve as dean for a renowned institution at one of the nation’s leading research universities,” Hoblet said. “I anticipate CVM will make many more strides in the future as new leaders will continue to advance the mission of teaching, research and service.”

MSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine—one of only 32 accredited veterinary medicine programs throughout the U.S.—was established by the Mississippi Legislature in 1974. For more visit www.vetmed.msstate.edu/.

MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.