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CORVALLIS - L.J. "Kelvin" Koong, an administrator in the College of Agricultural Sciences at Oregon State University, has been named dean of the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine.

Koong will begin his new duties on Nov. 1, continuing through June 30, 2001, when the search for a permanent dean should be concluded. He succeeds Robert Wilson, who resigned as dean on June 30. "Dr. Koong has a wealth of experience that should be invaluable as the college continues to plan for the future of veterinary medicine education in Oregon," said Roy Arnold, OSU provost and executive vice president.

Koong has been the associate dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences since 1994 and also has served as the associate director of university's Agricultural Experiment Station and the agricultural program leader for the OSU Extension Service.

A 1964 graduate of National Taiwan University, Koong continued his education in the U.S., receiving a master's degree in animal science and a Ph.D. in biomathematics from North Carolina State University.

He joined the faculty of the University of California-Davis in 1973, and remained there for seven years, working in animal science and agronomy, and range science. Koong worked as a research leader for three years at the Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Nebraska, before being named associate dean for research and associate director of the Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station at the University of Nevada at Reno in 1983.

Koong joined the OSU faculty as a professor of animal science in 1987, and also served as associate director of the Agricultural Experiment Station. He was named head of the Department of Animal Sciences at OSU in 1991, a position he held for three years until he was named associate dean. As dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Koong will oversee Oregon's only comprehensive, accredited veterinary medicine program.