Members of the John W. Connaway Society met for their annual brunch Sept. 21, 2008, as part of the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine’s Alumni Weekend. CVM Director of Development and Associate Dean for Student and Alumni Affairs Dr. Ron Cott served as the emcee for their event and welcomed those gathered at the Columbia Country Club.

Dr. Neil Olson, CVM dean, discussed progress within the Development office toward meeting the college’s fundraising needs. MU Provost Brian Foster then offered a campus-wide perspective of the university before the program speaker, John Campbell, Ph.D., was introduced.

Campbell, a 1955 graduate of MU’s College of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources, taught and researched at MU for 20 years before serving as dean of agriculture at the University of Illinois and president of Oklahoma State University. He has authored and coauthored a number of books on animal science, agriculture and higher education. He coauthored the book the “Companion Animals: Their Biology, Care, Health, and Management,” along with his daughter Dr. Karen Campbell, DVM. During the Connaway Society gathering, he discussed working with his daughter to develop the book from concept to selling the idea to a publisher to the evolution of the content.

The John W. Connaway Society was established to help continue the vision of Dr. Connaway. The society is a symbol of the abiding interest of its members on the welfare of the MU College of Veterinary Medicine. Its membership is dedicated to securing the future of the college. Through their active involvement, founding members maintain the college’s leadership role and sustain Dr. Connaway’s vision of excellence.

For more information about the Connaway Society, contact the Development office at 573-882-0548.