Source: WKMS
At its quarterly meeting, the Murray State Board of Regents appointed Dr. Laura Ken Hoffman as the inaugural dean of the proposed School of Veterinary Medicine, contingent on state approval of a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program. Hoffman, who currently leads MSU’s Veterinary technology and pre-vet programs, has been deeply involved in planning. Pending approval from the Council of Postsecondary Education this November, the program would be Kentucky’s first Veterinary school.
Construction of the new facility is scheduled for February 2026 through October 2027. Broader campus updates included HVAC upgrades, parking reconfigurations to improve pedestrian safety, and new contracts for window and exterior improvements in key buildings. The Jackson Hall nursing building is expected by Fall 2026. Additional actions included approval of a vehicle lease program, athletic coaching contract extensions, and the naming of facilities following significant donations, including the Jim and Sue Cash Baseball Clubhouse and the Murray Bank Videoboard.