COLUMBIA STATE WELCOMES PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR VETERINARY TECHNOLOGY
Columbia Veterinarian Named Director of Veterinary Technology

Columbia State Community College announces the hiring of Alicia Hardison, DVM, as the new program director for Veterinary Technology. After earning an Associate of Applied Science degree from Columbia State Community College, Hardison worked as a veterinary technician for several years before pursuing her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Tennessee. She comes to Columbia State from the Spring Hill Veterinary Clinic where she served as staff veterinarian and vet tech for a total of 10 years. Dr. Hardison began her new responsibilities at Columbia State on December 21.

"I am excited about coming back to Columbia State. Having graduated from the Veterinary Technology Program here, I feel like I'm coming home and look forward to teaching and mentoring future veterinary technicians as they are a vital part of the veterinary healthcare team," said Hardison. "My goals are to keep the program as strong as it is now and to build on its reputation as being one of the best Vet Tech programs in the Southeast."

As director of veterinary technology, Hardison will be responsible for providing direction for the Veterinary Technology Program, developing and delivering instruction and evaluating student learning, maintaining an environment conductive to learning, and providing academic advising and counseling to student-both current and prospective. She will also be responsible for course and laboratory preparation, remaining current in the teaching area(s) through professional development activities, participating actively on division and institutional committees, maintaining care of animals on campus and leading periodic review and revision of program curriculum.

Hardison is a member of numerous veterinary organizations. She is currently a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Feline Practitioners, the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, the American Veterinary Dental Society, and is USDA Federally Accredited.

Dr. Hardison and the program benefit from the expertise of Columbia State's team of veterinary technician educators, Mrs. Mary Kirby and Mrs. Kathy Massey, who together provide more than 40 years of experience in technician education.

Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee's first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, the sixth largest higher education system in the nation. For more information, please visit www.columbiastate.edu.