James Henson

2008 Outstanding Alumni
Dr. James B. Henson, '58

With 49 years of higher education teaching experience, Dr. James B. Henson,'58, has achieved many milestones in his career. He has held positions as assistant, associate, and full professor and administrative posts at Texas A&M University and Washington State University. He is currently Professor Emeritus of International Research and Development and Professor Emeritus of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology at Washington State University. He is specialty board certified as a Diplomat by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists.

Throughout his career, Dr. Henson has fostered strong ties to the international educational and research communities associated with veterinary medicine. He is the former Director of International Programs at Washington State University, and has taught at the undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education levels in the United States and has worked in 27 other countries. He has served as a member or lead of various teams which have established programs such as the Environmental Planning and Management Master's of Science program at the University of Chile, the Master's of Science program in Environmental Biotechnology and Bioremediation at the Pushchino State University in Russia, and the Water Research and Training Center at the University of Jordan.

Dr. Henson established the International Laboratory for Research on Animal Disease in Nairobi, Kenya, and served as its first Director General. He has worked with the World Health Organization in Special Programs for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases in Switzerland, as well as the U.S. Agency for International Development in a number of capacities including serving on the Advisory Committee for Voluntary Foreign Aid.

Dr. Henson's career publications number over 200 articles appearing in peer reviewed scientific journals, proceedings, books, and reports. His research and development interests are varied and include education, research, extension and technology transfer, economic and business policies, institutional and human resource development, strategic planning, and animal disease research and control.

Dr. Henson has been praised by colleagues as "one of the most outstanding veterinary academicians of the past four decades." During his tenure on the faculty of Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, he was awarded the prestigious Distinguished Faculty Teaching Award. His "integrity, honesty, and promotion of the success of others" is well known throughout the veterinary medical academic world.

Dr. Henson resides in the northwestern part of the state of Oregon where he operates a cattle ranch and is extensively involved in local and regional economic development activities, environmental organizations dealing with sustainability of natural resources and the provision of education in isolated rural communities. He enjoys hunting and fishing on the ranch and in the region with friends and his son Ben.