Murray State Board of Regents Appoints Veterinary School Dean Pending DVM Program Approval

In its quarterly meeting, the Murray State Board of Regents appointed Dr. Laura Ken Hoffman as dean of the university’s yet-to-be-finalized School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Hoffman currently leads the university’s veterinary technology and pre-veterinary medicine programs and has been actively involved in planning and design discussions for the new school.

Dr. Brian Parr, dean of the Hutson School of Agriculture, praised the appointment, noting, “Dr. Hoffman is an amazing choice. She has been involved in these conversations from the get-go and has met regularly with our consultant and with our design team for the building.”

The appointment is set to take effect on January 6, 2026, but is contingent upon approval from the Council of Postsecondary Education (CPE) for Murray State’s Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program. A decision from the CPE is expected by November. The university’s ability to apply for the DVM program became possible following the recent passage of Kentucky Senate Bill 77, which allows comprehensive universities to propose new doctoral programs.

Construction Updates on Campus

The veterinary school building is scheduled for construction from February 2026 through October 2027. Meanwhile, campus-wide updates are underway. Several buildings have received new HVAC systems, and parking reconfigurations are being implemented to define pedestrian pathways and improve safety around high-traffic areas, including the Nursing Building, Faculty Hall, and Blackburn Science Building.

Jason Youngblood, assistant vice president of facilities management, emphasized the importance of safe pedestrian access during ongoing construction, noting, “It’s been really dangerous for students at times, so we have a need to really define a better pedestrian pathway to keep them safe and still give our contractors access.”

Additional improvements include window replacements in Blackburn and Wrather Hall, with Wrather Hall also receiving exterior upgrades such as door replacements and mortar repairs. The new Jackson Hall nursing building, named for former Murray State President Bob Jackson and his wife Karen, is expected to be completed by Fall 2026.