UT College of Veterinary Medicine dean elected Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology

Paul Plummer joins an international cohort of scientific leaders

2026-02-19

(Press-News.org) The American Academy of Microbiology has elected Paul Plummer, dean of the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, to its 2026 Class of Fellows. Plummer joins an international cohort of 63 distinguished scientists to the honorific leadership group within the American Society for Microbiology. The Fellows are elected annually through a highly selective, peer-review process, based on their records of scientific achievement and original contributions that have advanced microbiology. The Academy received 145 international nominations for the 2026 Fellowship Class.

“Academy Fellows are leaders in their field whose work influences the direction of scientific discovery and its role in society,” said Vanessa Sperandio, Ph.D., Chair of the Academy Governors. “Election to the Academy is a significant professional milestone, and I am delighted to welcome Dr. Paul Plummer as a member of the 2026 Cohort.”

Plummer, a veterinary microbiologist and board-certified large animal internal medicine specialist, also serves as Chair of the Presidential Advisory Council on Combatting Antimicrobial Resistant Bacteria and as Executive Director of the National Institute of Antimicrobial Resistance Research and Education. “It is an incredible honor to be elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology,” said Plummer, whose roots in East Tennessee shaped his passion for animal health and science. “I am proud to represent our college and state among international leaders in the field. Advancing research in microbiology and antimicrobial resistance has been central to my career, and I look forward to working with colleagues to improve animal and public health through scientific discovery and collaboration.”

The 2026 Fellowship Class brings a wealth of knowledge of the microbial sciences with representation across the globe. The 63 fellows hail from 14 countries, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Israel, Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Learn about the 2026 Fellowship Class.

The American Society for Microbiology is one of the largest professional societies dedicated to the life sciences and is composed of over 38,000 scientists and health practitioners. ASM's mission is to promote and advance the microbial sciences.  
  
ASM advances the microbial sciences through conferences, publications, certifications, educational opportunities and advocacy efforts. It enhances laboratory capacity around the globe through training and resources. It provides a network for scientists in academia, industry and clinical settings. Additionally, ASM promotes a deeper understanding of the microbial sciences to all audiences.

For more than 50 years, the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine has focused on advancing animal, human, and environmental health. This mission is accomplished through educating students in the art and science of veterinary medicine and related biomedical sciences, discovering and disseminating new knowledge to veterinarians and others, and providing exceptional veterinary care to animals. UTCVM is part of the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, which also includes the Herbert College of Agriculture, UT AgResearch, and UT Extension. Through its land-grant mission of teaching, research, and outreach, the Institute touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. to Tennesseans and beyond. utia.tennessee.edu.

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UT College of Veterinary Medicine dean elected Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology

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