Athens, Ga. – A veterinary parasitologist and retired professor who continues to serve the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine community was recently recognized as a “Distinguished Alumnus” by the college’s Alumni Association.
Edward L. Roberson (DVM ’61) of Athens received the award at a ceremony held on March 26 during the 48th Annual Veterinary Conference and Alumni Weekend.
Roberson retired from the college’s faculty in 1996 after 34 years as an educator. During his time at the college, Roberson served as the department of parasitology’s graduate coordinator from 1976 until his retirement. Twice he received the Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teacher Award, the highest teaching honor bestowed to a veterinary professor.Five times the college’s second-year veterinary students selected him as “Teacher of the Year.” Roberson also worked on numerous committees within the college, as well as within many professional organizations. In addition, he served as both vice president and president of the American Association of Veterinary Parasitologists.
Roberson now helps to maintain cohesiveness within the college’s retiree community by coordinating gatherings for his fellow retired faculty and staff, including a popular luncheon held four times a year.
For decades, Roberson has served Alpha Psi both locally and nationally, including a continued term as secretary and treasurer of the Lambda Chapter, of which he became a member during his four years as a veterinary student. “While most know Dr. Roberson as a distinguished professor, we know him as the life force of Alpha Psi, the person to call in a crisis and the man always there to share a story at an Alpha Psi event,” said one nominator.
The college’s alumni association recognizes a few Distinguished Alumni each spring.Nominees must have graduated from the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine and made contributions in one or more of the following areas:
- Animal and human health related public service;
- Professional service;
- Involvement in veterinary educational research and/or service;
- Contributions to the local community, state or nation;
- Involvement in veterinary associations at the local, state or national level; and,
- Contributions to the College’s Alumni Association.
The UGA College of Veterinary Medicine, founded in 1946, is dedicated to training future veterinarians, to conducting research related to animal and human diseases, and to providing veterinary services for animals and their owners.Research efforts are aimed at enhancing the quality of life for animals and people, improving the productivity of poultry and livestock, and preserving a healthy interface between wildlife and people in the environment they share.The college enrolls 102 students each fall out of more than 560 who apply.For more information, see www.vet.uga.edu.
The current UGA College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital, built in 1979, serves more than 18,000 patients per year in one of the smallest teaching hospitals in the United States.The college is currently working to raise $15 million toward building a new Veterinary Medical Learning Center, which will include a new teaching hospital as well as classrooms and laboratories that will allow for the education of more veterinarians.The goal is to increase enrollment to 150 when the Veterinary Medical Learning Center is built.For more information, see http://www.vet.uga.edu/giving/campaign.php.
For more information about the Alumni Association of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, see http://vet.uga.edu/alumni/.
