Administration

Todd A. Jackson named director of Animal Resource Program at Penn State

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Dr. Todd A. Jackson, who holds a doctorate in veterinary medicine and is recognized as a Diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine, has been named director of the Animal Resource Program at Penn State, beginning Sept. 28 and reporting to the senior vice president for Research. Jackson will also hold a position as research professor in the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences.

Dr. Todd A. Jackson, who holds a doctorate in veterinary medicine and is recognized as a Diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine, has been named director of the Animal Resource Program at Penn State. Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

Jackson is an accomplished clinician, educator and administrator with more than 30 years of experience in veterinary medicine. After earning his veterinary degree from Purdue University, he worked as a mixed-animal practitioner treating all species at a multi-doctor clinic in rural Indiana. He completed postdoctoral training to specialize in laboratory animal medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School and became board certified as a veterinary specialist through the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine. He served as a staff veterinarian, associate director, and director within the Laboratory Animal Medical Services unit of the University of Cincinnati and taught laboratory animal medicine to the University’s veterinary technology students. After being recruited to Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, he gained extensive experience in toxicology and drug development while serving as director of veterinary sciences.

Most recently, Jackson served as the director of animal resources, university attending veterinarian, and clinical professor of veterinary pathobiology at Oklahoma State University. He taught classes in both disaster preparedness and comparative medicine to students in the College of Veterinary Medicine. He served on the veterinary school’s admissions committee, and on the university’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and its Institutional Biosafety Committee.  

Jackson was elected to serve as a section leader within AAALAC International’s Council on Accreditation, the global organization that accredits programs of care for animals used in teaching and research. He has served in multiple leadership roles for the American Association of Laboratory Animal Science, chairing committees that certify laboratory animal technicians and technologists, produce training manuals for animal care staff, and developing online training courses for veterinarians, researchers, and animal caregivers. He has presented numerous continuing education seminars to veterinarians and veterinary technicians and co-authored a book on caring for dogs.

Jackson is looking forward to joining Penn State and leading the Animal Resource Program in its mission to provide top quality animal care while simultaneously facilitating the work of Penn State researchers.

“We are excited to have Todd, a demonstrated leader with extensive experience in animal care and research, join us at Penn State,” said Lora Weiss, senior vice president for Research. “Our animal care program is critical to helping the University stay at the forefront of scientific exploration.”

Jackson succeeds Mary Kennett, who served as APR Director for 18 years, as well as Interim Director Jeffrey Dodds.

“We are grateful to Jeffrey Dodds for stepping in as interim director while the director search took place. He was instrumental in keeping operations running smoothly, even during these intense periods of COVID-19 changes. I truly appreciate his unyielding patience, dedication, and commitment,” Weiss said.

Last Updated July 14, 2020