Gary Hay has been named the new director of the LSU AgCenter School of Animal Sciences effective Jan. 1, 2012. He had been serving as interim director since May 1, 2009, when he replaced Paul Humes, who retired on April 30, 2009 after 41 years with the AgCenter.

A native of north Louisiana, Hay spent 20 years as an LSU AgCenter dairy specialist. He earned his bachelor’s degree in animal science from Louisiana Tech and his master’s degree in dairy science from Virginia Tech. He received his doctorate in dairy science from LSU in 1985.

The School of Animal Sciences includes research and extension programs, housed in the LSU AgCenter, and a teaching program offering B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees, through the LSU College of Agriculture.

The School of Animal Sciences was formed in 2006 with the merger of the Department of Dairy Science and the Department of Animal Science.