The University of Tennessee (UT) Institute of Agriculture has named James P. Thompson, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, ACVM, as Dean of the UT College of Veterinary Medicine. Thompson’s appointment is effective Oct.1, 2008.

He will be the fifth to serve as dean of the college, which is one of only 28 such colleges in the United States.

Thompson is currently Executive Associate Dean and Professor in the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences at the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine. He also holds a joint appointment in the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology in the University of Florida College of Medicine.

In announcing the appointment to faculty and staff, UT Vice President for Agriculture Joseph DiPietro, DVM, MS, praised Thompson’s background and experience as an exceptional fit regarding the responsibilities of the UT CVM dean. “Dr. Thompson brings a wealth and breadth of previous veterinary college-level administrative experience, as well as outstanding skills, knowledge, familiarity, understanding and know-how to the position