Wigington Named Director of Facilities

COLLEGE STATION, TX - Sam Wigington, a long time supporter of the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM), has assumed the position of Director of Facilities at the CVM.  

Wigington has been a loyal member of the CVM since 1970 when he joined the Veterinary Pathobiology department as a technician. Three years later, he moved to the Large Animal Teaching Hospital to embark on the role as Large Animal Clinical Manager where he resided until his current move to Director of Facilities.  

" During the interview process, we determined that Mr. Wigington was the best candidate for the job and I am delighted to announce his appointment to this important position in the college," explains Dr. Eleanor Green, Carl B. King Dean of Veterinary Medicine. "He has been a mainstay of this college in each of his roles and has proven his commitment to the CVM and his ability to lead while at the CVM many times throughout his 41 years of service and counting. I believe Sam's particular skills will make a significant contribution toward the success of this college."  

Wigington has been an instrumental part of many of the CVM's most well-known successes. In 1995, when the Student Chapter of the American Association of Equine Practictioners was conceived he played a pivotal role in helping the students navigate and coordinate the first Wet Lab; which now is the largest student-run wet lab in the nation with attendees representing 23 different veterinary colleges around the nation last year alone. He is a strong supporter and volunteer for the annual student-run Open House that was started 18 years ago; which brought in 13,000 visitors from across the state last year. He was a key player in maintaining the Large Animal Hospital in 2005 when the state declared that the hospital be transformed into a surge hospital to house and treat human patients due to the influx of sick patients evacuated from  the path of Hurricane Rita. This initiated his interest in emergency response, and since then he has had a strong voice in developing the evacuation plans for Brazos County. His most recent accomplishment came when he and several other members of the CVM developed the Veterinary Emergency Team to be first responders to a disaster site in the state of Texas to ensure the safety and health of animals involved in natural disasters. 

"My history with the CVM is long and deep," notes Wigington. "I have seen the CVM transform from an all male college to almost seventy-five percent of the college population represented by females. I have interacted with over 5000 graduating veterinarians who have become leaders in the veterinary profession around the state, nation, and world. I have also worked with thousands of veterinarians throughout the state and beyond for continuing education efforts during my years in the Large Animal Hospital. I have seen a lot of changes and growth in the past 41 years, and I feel this will give me a boost to keep the innovations coming at the CVM as the trends continue to change in veterinary medicine as they do in all industries." 

As the Director of Facilities, Wigington will report to Dean Eleanor Green and will assist the dean in formulating and implementing facility policies and procedures, establishing performance goals and measures to evaluate the success of facilities maintenance and planning, controlling expenses for facilities and equipment, and leading strategic planning for facilities and major equipment purchases.  

"I have high expectations for this position as I do for the CVM itself," says Wigington. "The CVM continues to be one of the frontrunners in veterinary education in the nation, but I want the CVM to be the premiere learning facility in all aspects of veterinary education in the nation. I have many ideas and I believe we have the gumption to back them up. I feel that with the great knowledge our faculty, staff, and students provide we have the tools to become the predominant learning facility in the nation." 

Contact Information:
Angela G. Clendenin
Director, Communications & Public Relations
Ofc - (979) 862-2675
Cell - (979) 739-5718