MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2023 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) McCaughn, Suber, Younger, Harkins, Williams, England, Seymour, DeLano, Whaley, Simmons (12th), Barnett, Butler (38th), Frazier, Hopson
A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE OF LONGTIME DEAN OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE DR. KENT HOBLET ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT.
WHEREAS, we join the students and faculty of Mississippi State University in honoring the longtime Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Kent Hoblet, who announced his plans to transition to a part-time faculty role, effective Jan. 1, 2023. Dean Hoblet has led CVM as Dean for 17 years; and
WHEREAS, "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"; and
WHEREAS, 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; and
WHEREAS, 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. He oversaw the following significant improvements in the college: increase in college revenue; increase in faculty positions; increase in student enrollment; increase in research productivity; increase in study abroad opportunities and enhanced global impact of CVM; launched the veterinary medical technology program; led development of a shelter medicine program; initiated the DVM/Ph.D program; led formation of the Animal Emergency and Referral Center in Flowood, Mississippi; led formation of the Veterinary Specialty Center in Starkville, Mississippi; numerous improvements to CVM facilities and infrastructure; and guided the college to full COE accreditation over three accreditation cycles; and
WHEREAS, Dean 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; and
WHEREAS, 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"; and
WHEREAS, 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; and
WHEREAS, Dean Hoblet (Dr. Hob) has established strengths in areas critical to both the veterinary profession and the nation's health, and it is with great pride that we join and commend this Mississippi university Dean who has brought honor to his university, his community and to the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby recognize the outstanding leadership and service of longtime Dean of Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine Dr. Kent Hoblet on the occasion of his retirement, and extend to Dr. Hoblet and his family the best wishes of the Mississippi Senate for success as they transition to retirement.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Dr. Hob and his family, forwarded to MSU President Mark Keenum and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.