The four-legged community has a new reason to wag their tails for Louisiana Tech.

Dr. William Green, a professor of animal science at Tech and a veterinarian from Dubach, has been elected president of the Louisiana Board of Veterinary Medicine. The board consists of five veterinarians appointed by the governor with the responsibility to oversee the practice of veterinary medicine in the state. Green is the only board member who lives north of Interstate 10.

Dr. William Green

‘We deal with cases involving licensing issues, unscrupulous practice issues, substance abuse and diversion and emergency preparedness, just to name a few, and there are many more,’ Green said. ‘Needless to say, this job is very broad in scope and can be very stressful as we are reviewing complaints from the public, determining guilt and innocence of the veterinarian involved and then applying the appropriate penalty for the veterinarians with violations.’

This new position allows him to draw from greater experiences to mentor students, said Green, who is an adviser for Tech’s Pre-Veterinary Medicine program, one of the most successful pre-vet programs in the state.

‘I can use generic situations that we encounter without giving specifics, such as names, locations, etc., to the students and help them be more aware of their ethical and moral responsibilities when they are attaining their DVM and also when they get into practice,’ Green said.

Dr. Gary Kennedy, head of the department of agriculture sciences, said he was pleased that Green had been chosen for the board.

‘Dr. Green can bring so much of what goes on with the board to the classroom, and this position provides him with a lot of insight,’ Kennedy said. ‘Our students can learn a lot from him being president.’

Kennedy added that while Green’s work load is demanding, he performed his duties at Tech and with the board admirably.

‘It’s a challenge, I know, because it takes his time, and he has his responsibilities here,’ Kennedy said. ‘Hey stays busy, but I’m glad he’s willing to do it.’

Green earned his bachelor’s of science from Tech, his master’s degree from Louisiana State University-Baton Rouge and his doctorate of veterinary medicine from Auburn University. Green’s wife, Barbara McGee Green, and their two children, Kayla Robison and Kyle Green, all have degrees from Tech.

Green practiced veterinary medicine at Dubach Veterinary Clinic for 25 years before assuming his full-time duties at Tech. When asked about hobbies, Green listed grandchildren first, followed by his Border Collie dogs, cows and horses.

Written by Judith Roberts