Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Nancy Jack To Run UA Equine Program

The equine program being established at the University of Arkansas will be developed and managed by Nancy Jack, currently faculty coordinator for the Equine Teaching Program and Horse Center at Virginia Tech University at Blacksburg.

UA Animal Science Department Head Keith Lusby said Jack will join the faculty in early January.

"Dr. Jack developed and has conducted an outstanding equine program at Virginia Tech since 1992. We are excited that she has accepted the challenge of developing a nationally recognized program for Arkansas," Lusby said.

The fledgling UA program enjoys strong public support, he said.

The new Dorothy E. King Equine Pavilion is to be completed in January. Construction was made possible by a gift of $440,000 from the Carl B. and Florence E. King Foundation based in Dallas. A dedication ceremony is planned for March 5.

The equine pavilion is near the Pauline Whitaker Animal Science Center, completed in 1998, which includes a large indoor arena.

The King Foundation also donated a scholarship endowment of $240,000 to fund scholarships for animal science majors in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, Lusby said.

"Dr. Jack will teach a senior level course in horse production and will develop additional course for study interested in equine science or in learning about horses," Lusby said.

She will provide public clinics, short courses and seminars and will manage equine facilities and resources.

Dr. Jack has a master's and doctorate degrees in animal nutrition from New Mexico State University and a B.S. in animal science from Tarleton State University at Stephenville, Texas.

She worked in cattle and horse management and sales in Texas and Missouri before beginning her university education. She was a riding instructor and graduate student teaching assistant at New Mexico State.

After receiving her doctorate in 1992, Jack was hired by Virginia Tech to develop and manage the equine teaching program there.

She is a member of the American Quarter Horse Association, Equine Nutrition and Physiology Society, National Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture, the National Horse Judging Team Coaches Association and Alpha Zeta.