Lyon College breaks ground on a new veterinary school

Photos courtesy of Lyon College

The groundbreaking ceremony for the new veterinary school at Lyon College on June 12, 2025.

Lyon College in Arkansas, recently broke ground on a new veterinary school. College officials, state and local leaders, and members of the Arkansas veterinary medicine community marked the milestone for the future Lyon College School of Veterinary Medicine (LCSVM) in Cabot, during a ceremony on On June 12, 2025.

The developing 17.5-acre animal care campus includes both the Lyon College School of Veterinary Medicine and Cabot Animal Support Services. The veterinary school will occupy 14 acres of the site and feature more than 100,000 square feet of educational and clinical space.

Plans include classrooms, laboratories, surgical suites, simulation centers, spaces for large and small animal medicine, and areas for student collaboration. A veterinary teaching hospital will be housed in the same building as Cabot Animal Support Services to allow for integrated learning and service delivery.

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The new school aims to address a shortage of veterinarians in the region. “Arkansas has long needed a veterinary school,” Victor Werley, chair of the Lyon College Board of Trustees, said. “This school allows Lyon College to serve the state in a new and lasting way while remaining true to our values of academic excellence, service and leadership. We are proud to support a program that will improve lives, strengthen communities and extend Lyon’s legacy for generations to come.”

Melissa Taverner, PhD, MSc, president of Lyon College, noted that although there is a need for more veterinarians across the state, rural and underserved areas are especially in need. “This veterinary school will be a place of innovation and compassion, where students gain the technical knowledge and character needed to meet the challenges of modern veterinary care,” Taverner said.

An artist's rendering of Lyon College School of Veterinary Medicine's entry.

Founding Dean Eleanor Green, DVM, said the program is designed with both purpose and impact in mind.“We’re not just building a school—we’re building a mission that prepares veterinarians to serve both rural and urban communities, protect public health, and elevate animal welfare with both skill and heart,” Green said.

The City of Cabot is a key partner in the project, providing key support to bring the vision to life. Officials say the development will generate jobs, attract families and expand access to animal care services. “The Lyon College School of Veterinary Medicine will be a transformative presence in our community,” Ken Kincade, Cabot’s mayor, said. “It will bring students and families here, grow our city, create jobs, and provide a hub of care for animals across the region. This is more than a building—it’s a leap forward for Cabot and for Arkansas.”

The new campus will also be home to The Katharine Reese Shelter Medicine and Animal Welfare Program. The program is funded by an $11 million gift from the Arkansas Animal Rescue Foundation, which aims to improve access to shelter medicine services and give students hands-on experience with real-world animal health needs.

“This partnership means our shelter will evolve into something far greater: a living classroom, a community hub and a model for how shelter medicine can work hand-in-hand with education,” Mike Wheeler, director of community services for the City of Cabot, said. “Our animals will receive expert care. Our staff will gain access to valuable veterinary support. And our city will play a central role in training the next generation of veterinary leaders.”

An artist's rendering of the front exterior of the Lyon College of School of Veterinary Medicine.

During the groundbreaking ceremony, which was attended by state and local leaders, and an Arkansas Veterinary Medical Association representative, Lyon College and city officials celebrated what they called a turning point for Arkansas veterinary medicine. Additionally, Ashley Mounts, DVM, MVEd, associate dean for clinical programs and outreach at the veterinary school, recognized founding clinical partners Briarwood Animal Hospital, Central Arkansas Animal Hospital, Doubletree Veterinary Clinic, Hillcrest Animal Hospital, Honey Hill Animal Hospital, Landmark Animal Hospital, Pine Street Animal Clinic, Shackleford Road Veterinary Clinic and White River Veterinary Clinic.

Chad Towns of Honey Hill Animal Hospital, a practitioner at Honey Hill Animan Hospital, noted the importance of having graduates who are knowledgeable and prepared to “hit the ground running” in a real-world clinical setting. “That’s what this partnership [with LCSVM] is all about. We’re here to provide those practical experiences, to mentor students, and to help shape a program that reflects the realities and responsibilities of veterinary care today,” Towns said.

Pending accreditation by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education, the Lyon College School of Veterinary Medicine plans to seat its inaugural class in 2026. Additionally, the groundbreaking represents a significant step in the college’s expansion into graduate health sciences.

Lyon College plans to open the state’s first dental school in Little Rock on June 30, 2025. The program is designed to prepare practice-ready dentists through a rigorous 3-year curriculum, hands-on clinical training and a commitment to community service, and aims to expand access to healthcare education in the region.

Reference

Lyon College breaks ground on veterinary school in Cabot. News release. Lyon College. June 21, 2025.